This calculator estimates what a truck accident injury claim could be worth under Massachusetts law. It applies Massachusetts’s 51% bar rule, the three-year deadline to file suit and the insurance that usually pays, then shows the math line by line, including what you might take home after a lawyer’s fee.
Because Massachusetts is a no-fault state, the calculator first subtracts what your own PIP coverage pays, then asks whether your injury meets the threshold to claim pain and suffering from the at-fault driver.
Massachusetts rules behind this estimate
Fault. Massachusetts uses modified comparative fault with a 51% bar. If you are found 20% at fault, your award drops by 20%. At 51% or more, you recover nothing. Insurers know this, so expect them to argue your share up.
Deadline. You have three years from the crash to file a lawsuit in Massachusetts. A claim against a city, county or state agency usually needs written notice much sooner, sometimes within months. Missing the deadline almost always ends the claim, and with it your leverage to settle.
Insurance. Massachusetts is a no-fault state. Your own personal injury protection (PIP) pays your medical bills and part of your lost income first, up to $8,000, whoever caused the crash. To claim pain and suffering from the at-fault driver, you need $2,000 in reasonable medical bills, or a fracture, permanent and serious disfigurement, loss of sight or hearing, or death. Liability minimums are 25/50/30.
Damage caps. No cap on injury damages. Medical malpractice and punitive damages can have separate limits.
Massachusetts truck accident questions
How much insurance do trucking companies carry?
Interstate trucks hauling general freight must carry at least $750,000 of liability coverage under federal rules, oil haulers $1 million and most hazardous materials $5 million. Many carriers buy more. Trucks that stay inside one state can follow lower state limits.
Can I still claim if I was partly at fault in Massachusetts?
Yes, as long as you were 50% or less at fault. Your award is reduced by your percentage, and at 51% or more you recover nothing.
How long do I have to file a truck accident claim in Massachusetts?
three years from the crash to file a lawsuit. Report the claim to the insurers within days.
Do I need to meet a threshold to sue in Massachusetts?
Yes. Massachusetts is a no-fault state, so your PIP pays first. To claim pain and suffering from the at-fault driver you need $2,000 in reasonable medical bills, or a fracture, permanent and serious disfigurement, loss of sight or hearing, or death.
Does Massachusetts cap pain and suffering damages?
Not in most injury cases. No cap on injury damages. Medical malpractice and punitive damages can have separate limits.