Car Accident Lawyer Berkshire County, MA

Injured in an Auto Accident? We Can Help Get the Compensation You Deserve. No Fees Unless We Win. Call (413) 429-6400 for a FREE Consultation.

The moment an automobile collision occurs, the insurance company representing the negligent party is working to find evidence that their insured is not at fault and to mitigate your damages. That is why it is essential for you to contact a lawyer that specializes in representing injury victims as soon as possible in order to protect your rights and immediately move toward the resolution you deserve and the compensation you are entitled to.

Insurance companies are just that: companies. They are concerned with making money for their business not paying out to protect their policyholders. Insurers try their hardest to settle car accident claims quickly and for the lowest amount of money. Your injury due to the negligence of another is about YOU and the compensation you need to be made whole again.

The sooner you retain a lawyer, the better chance to protect your right of recovery. If your car accident happened a few days, weeks, months or even YEARS in the past, it may not be too late to pursue legal action. Check out my video gallery here if you are wondering what the statute of limitations is for personal injury claims in Massachusetts. The simple answer is that the statute of limitations in Massachusetts is three years and in Texas only two years. You must file a personal injury lawsuit within three years of the date of the alleged negligence in Massachusetts in almost all cases. In some circumstances there are certain notice requirements that require you to respond even quicker.

To learn more, contact the Law Offices of Scott A. Sanes for a free consultation (413) 429-6400 or contact us online.

Car crash data in the Berkshires shows that from 2020–2024, there have been 37 fatal car crashes. Considering that there have been 1,545 fatal car collisions in all of Massachusetts over the past five years, 37 is a significant number of deaths for Berkshire County. I am honored to work with many of these families that file car accident lawsuits against the negligent parties and seek settlements that, will never bring their loved ones back, but deters future negligent conduct and provides some justice and closure.

Here’s what a recent family member/client said, “I had an absolutely positive experience with Scott as my lawyer. He was always available to answer all of my family’s questions regarding the case and was able to fight for a positive outcome out of a terrible situation. Would recommend to anyone who needs representation.” (See our Google Reviews Here.)

When it comes to serious or minor car accidents in Berkshire County, from Sheffield to Great Barrington, Pittsfield to North Adams, the mass.gov data shows the numbers are high for our mostly rural county. Between 2020–2024, there have been 2,131 car collisions with most of those accidents happening in Pittsfield (837), North Adams (159), Lee (138), Great Barrington (114), and Lenox (107).

It’s easy to quote numbers and statistics: it’s not easy for individuals and families to deal with vehicle collisions no matter the severity of the vehicle accidents. That’s why it’s important to contact a car accident lawyer in Berkshire County immediately. An experienced accident attorney will guide you through the process, provide the best expertise, community easily and frequently with you, and bring your car accident lawsuit to a positive resolution resulting in the best possible settlement. Remember, a car accident attorney does not get paid until you do.

If you have been injured in a car, truck, motorcycle, or any other motor vehicle accident, let us review your accident to see if you may be eligible for compensation. Scott Sanes is a car accident attorney with over 40 years of experience in representing injury victims caused in automobile wreck cases. Call (413) 429-6400 or contact us online to request your FREE consultation.

Common Types of Car Accidents We Handle

With so many cars traveling on Berkshire County roads, accidents are an everyday hazard. Many car collisions are caused by another driver’s inattention, recklessness, or impairment.

Common types of car accidents that can lead to personal injury claims filed by drivers, passengers and sometimes families:

Rear-end Collisions

Rear-end collisions are the most frequent type of car accident. This type of accident occurs when a moving vehicle crashes into the back of another vehicle that has slowed and stopped and is usually caused by the trailing vehicle traveling too fast, being distracted or following too close.

Head-on Collisions

A head-on collision is when the front of one vehicle strikes the front of another. Usually caused when one vehicle crosses the center lane into oncoming traffic.

Multi-vehicle Pileups

Multi-vehicle pileups are when three or more vehicles are involved in a collision. Usually caused by chain reactions after a rear end collision or in violent intersectional collisions.

T-Bone Crashes

T-bone crashes are when one vehicle strikes the side of another vehicle; usually caused by an intersectional collision.

Side-Swipe Collisions

Side-swipe collisions are when one vehicle hits the side of another vehicle, usually caused when one vehicle is passing another or swerving out of their lane of traffic.

Single Car Collisions with Fixed Objects

Single car collisions with fixed objects are when only one car is involved in a collision with a sign, pole or railing; usually caused by loss of control of the vehicle.

Rollover Crashes

Rollover crashes are when a collision causes a vehicle to turn over on its top or roll completely over.

Drunk Driving Accidents

Drunk driving accidents happen when an intoxicated driver, whether caused by drugs or alcohol, causes a collision; this includes defendants who served the drunk driver while the driver was obviously intoxicated.

Distracted Driving Accidents

Distracted driving accidents happen when a driver is distracted and not paying proper attention to the road; usually caused by texting, children in the back seat or falling objects in the vehicle.

Hit-and-Runs

When a driver involved in a collision leaves the scene of the accident it’s called a hit and run accident; usually happens when the offending driver is either intoxicated or not properly licensed.

Most common causes of car crashes in Berkshire County, MA

Car accident law firms exist because, well, people are people. We are prone to rush, not pay attention, feel that what we’re doing in the moment is okay because we think we know what we’re doing, on and on. Here are a few common causes of car crashes in Berkshire County:

Distracted driving
Driving while fatigued or falling asleep
Failure to yield the right of way
Speeding
Unsafe or improper passing or lane change
Tailgating
Driving while intoxicated or under the influence
Disobeying traffic signs and signals
Reversing unsafely
Improper turns
Using a cellphone while driving

What to Do After a Car Accident in Massachusetts

Seek immediate medical attention if needed
Report the accident immediately to the police
Document the scene by taking pictures or videos of the scene
Document the current weather or lighting conditions with photos and/or video
Discover the names and contact information of witnesses
Notify your own insurance company
Don’t talk to the other driver’s insurance company or anyone else at the scene, other than police. If the other driver talks, you can listen and write down what they say.
Contact a lawyer who specializes in only representing personal injury victims

What Are the Common Injuries Resulting from a Car Accident?

Most vehicle collision injuries might not be apparent immediately as the adrenalin and shock of the collision takes effect. But within hours or days, swelling of muscles, tendons and ligaments might place pressure on nerves and create more serious pain and discomfort.

Here are some of the most common injuries after a car crash:

Whiplash
Broken bones
Internal bleeding
Head Injury, concussion and/or traumatic brain injury
Injuries to muscles, ligaments and tendons
Wrist injuries
Spinal cord injuries
Eye injuries
Burns
Paralysis
Amputation
Death

How a Car Accident Lawyer in Great Barrington Can Help

If you have been in a car accident and have suffered a more significant injury that…

Impairs your ability to work
Requires medical attention and therefore medical bills
Causes physical pain, mental anguish or impairment or disfigurement of your body

…a lawyer experienced in representing injury victims in car wrecks in Berkshire County, MA can help you.

Know that these insurance companies will do whatever they can to minimize the amount of compensation you will receive; that’s when — and why — you need a personal injury lawyer.

Personal injury lawyers work for YOU and work on a contingent fee basis so that you don’t have to pay anything unless they’re successful in winning you compensation. And for that reason, we strongly recommend that if you have a serious injury, you should immediately contact a qualified personal injury lawyer.

Here at the Law Offices of Scott A. Sanes we are meticulous about investigating and pursuing your car accident lawsuit. We…

Investigate the accident
Gather evidence
Negotiate with insurance companies
File lawsuits when necessary
Bring in top experts when necessary
Represent you in court
And communicate with you every step of the way

If you need to learn more about your rights and whether or not you need an attorney to represent you, please feel free to contact the Law Offices of Scott A. Sanes. Scott Sanes is a car accident attorney in Great Barrington, MA with over 40 years of experience. Call (413) 429-6400 or contact us online to request your FREE consultation.

Why Choose Scott Sanes, Berkshire County Car Accident Lawyer

Experience Matters!

Scott Sanes has practiced personal injury law, with car accident cases as one of his specialties, since 1982. He is the ONLY lawyer in the Berkshires with deep experience in questioning jurors during jury selection – this can make a case. Not every case has to go to court, but when they do, Scott wins. The Law Offices of Scott A. Sanes has won dozens of multi-million dollar settlements and jury verdicts for clients and their families. Scott has helped hundreds of individuals who have suffered car crash injuries through no fault of their own, and their families, to navigate a very complicated system.

Proven Track Record

Scott Sanes has won case after case for 40 years with his law firm in Texas and here in Great Barrington, Massachusetts where he has lived with his wife and son for over 25 years.

Here are a few examples of car accident cases the Law Offices of Scott A. Sanes has won:

A client’s vehicle was broad-sided by another vehicle going 20 mph over the speed limit resulting in brain damage for our client. The insurance company offered $5,000 to settle the lawsuit before trial. The jury verdict against the Defendant driver was $1,100,000.

A client approached a stop sign at the entrance to her office complex and a pick-up truck rear-ended her car shattering her ankle. The truck driver had abruptly shifted lanes moments before the car crash. The force of the collision jammed the driver’s foot on the brake pedal shattering her ankle and causing permanent disability. We sought compensate her for physical pain, impairment, and disfigurement in the past and future. On the courthouse steps before trial, we were able to convince the insurance company that this was not a simple ankle fracture and negotiated a settlement of $1,500,000.

Here’s a recent five-star Google Review from a client:

“I cannot recommend the Law Offices of Scott A. Sanes highly enough for their exceptional legal representation. From the moment I contacted their office, I was met with professionalism and compassion. Scott and his team went above and beyond to ensure that my case was handled with care and attention to detail…Thanks to Mr. Sanes’ expertise and dedication, I was able to receive a fair settlement for my personal injury case. I am incredibly grateful for the Law Offices of Scott Sanes hard work and would not hesitate to use their services again in the future.” — Deborah Thomas

What Compensation Is Available for a Car Accident in Massachusetts?

Unlike criminal cases where a jail sentence is rendered for intentional conduct, money damages are awarded to compensate victims of negligent conduct. Many factors affect the evaluation of a personal injury claim to calculate the amount of money damages for a car accident injury — really ANY personal injury.

First the evaluation is made by the insurance company. They evaluate the injury victim’s background, prior physical condition, family life, education and work background to determine if the injury victim will make a good appearance in front of the jury. The insurance company will immediately investigate to try to mitigate the amount of money they have to pay to settle the claim.

The location of the injury is also important. Some counties have jury pools that are favorable to larger verdicts while others are much more challenging to persuade. The amount of insurance limits is important too. In Massachusetts, drivers are only required to have $20,000 in coverage. Underinsured Motorist Coverage comes into play when the underlying policy is insufficient to cover the money damages to compensate an injury victim.

The insurance company also knows if your attorney is experienced in handling personal injury claims and will actually go to a jury trial if they are not serious in their evaluation. Objective damages, like the cost of medical treatment in the past and future and loss of earnings and earning capacity, are generally easier to calculate. But damages such as pain and mental anguish, impairment and disfigurement, are subjective and an experienced personal injury trial lawyer is necessary to prove them to the insurance company first or to a jury, if necessary.

As your car accident lawyer in the Berkshires, whether the number adds up to $10,000 or $10,000,000, I aggressively and personally represent each of my clients with an eye to get the highest settlement offer possible for my clients and, if my client is not satisfied with the final offer, I will go to a jury to ask for as much money as possible.

I have won car crash cases where I have won for the below compensations:

Medical Expenses
Prescription costs
Nursing care
Property damage
Lost wages and income
Reduced earning capacity
Pain and Suffering
Punitive Damages
Loss of consortium
Scarring or disfigurement

FAQs About Car Accidents in Massachusetts

Car accidents, no matter how major or minor, are traumatizing. People who have been in car wrecks may be injured, in a state of shock, and unable to quickly process what’s going on around them. They may feel anxious, angry, scared, confused. Once the injured individual works through the immediate physical situation of the car accident, they (or their family) are left with questions that need to be answered.

We’ve put together this list of the most frequently asked questions asked by car accident clients. We get asked these questions all the time — hope these answers help.

Why is it important to hire a personal injury attorney as soon as possible after a car wreck?

Car collisions are always sudden and always shocking to the drivers and passengers involved. Although shocking to you, it’s just another day for insurance companies. They routinely have a team of investigators and lawyers that are immediately investigating the collision to defend their negligent insured’s and to mitigate your damages. You need a lawyer, experienced in personal injury claims, to counter the advantage the insurance company already has and to handle the legal matters so you can concentrate on your recovery. Watch our video here (and subscribe to our YouTube channel).

How do I pay an attorney to represent me in a car wreck if I am hurt?

Personal Injury lawyers are paid on a contingent fee. You don’t pay if you don’t recover. If you had to pay $350–$500/hour for attorney time like when clients need a real estate, criminal, divorce or probate lawyer, the insurance companies would just drag the claim out and the cost would prevent you from recovering your damages. That’s why the law allows attorneys to accept a percentage of the recovery to compensate them for their work rather than an hourly rate.

Can an attorney arrange for me to see a doctor after a car wreck if I don’t have insurance?

Unfortunately, too many people do not have health insurance. If you need treatment for an injury caused by a negligent driver, a personal injury attorney can refer you to qualified physicians such as orthopedics, neurologist and pain specialists, who accept “letters of protection” and will treat you without payment up front. With your Lawyer’s guarantee, the doctors and therapists will wait and accept payment from the attorney once your case settles.

How do I prove the other driver is a fault if I am hurt in a car wreck?

The insurance company for the negligent driver is trying to prove it is not the fault of their insured from the moment they are notified of the collision. Whether the negligent driver caused the collision by running a stop sign, disobeying a stop light, speeding or failing to keep a lookout, an immediate investigation is needed to prove the other driver is at fault. This includes the crash report prepared by an investigating officer, photos and video of the scene and damage to the cars involved, statements of witnesses and the use of experts trained in accident reconstruction. Your personal injury attorney will use all of these to prosecute your claim.

If an insurance company calls me after a car wreck, should I talk to them?

For years you have heard TV characters say “anything you say, can and will be used against you in a court of law.” That is true of anything you say to an insurance carrier. A trained car accident personal injury lawyer will do all of the talking for you. Once hired, you simply refer to your attorney rather than say something that can be used against you later.

If a truck driver, who caused a collision with my car, was working at the time, can I make a claim against his employer?

Under the legal theory of “respondeat superior,” the employer of a negligent employee who is acting in the course and scope of his employment, is responsible for the employee’s negligent acts. That is important in case the employee does not have enough money or insurance to compensate you. An experienced personal injury lawyer will always include the employer in the claim to make sure there is enough insurance to cover your damages.

If a driver is drunk when he caused a car wreck that hurt me, can I sue the bar that served him alcohol?

Under Dram Shop law, if the seller or provider of beverage containing alcohol sells or provides alcohol to a minor or to an adult who already appears intoxicated when served, the restaurant, bar, convenience store or even homeowner can be held responsible for the negligent acts of the intoxicated individual. If someone is drunk and hurts you, an experienced personal injury lawyer will seek compensation from the provider of the alcohol to make sure there is enough insurance to cover your injuries.

If I didn’t go to the ER or start to hurt until several days after an automobile collision, can I still make a claim?

Soft tissue injuries many times take a while to start to cause problems. If you don’t break a bone, but instead tear a tendon or ligament, swelling may take a day or even a week before it impacts your nerves and causes pain. Injuries such as bulging or herniated discs in your neck or back can be progressive and get worse with time. Many times our inclination is to wait and see if time heals. When it doesn’t heal, you need to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer so that he can make sure you get the treatment and compensation you deserve.

If I had previous problems with my neck and back, can I make a claim if a car wreck aggravated previous conditions?

If a man is driving a truck of eggs and is rear ended, causing the eggs to break, it would not be fair for the negligent party to say “you should have been carrying rocks.” The same is true if you have previously existing conditions or are susceptible to injury because of your advanced age. The negligent driver is not only responsible for the injury to your body, but is also responsible for the aggravation, acceleration or incitement of any previously existing condition.

What types of damages can I claim from an automobile collision?

In all personal injury claims the negligent person and their insurance carrier are responsible to compensate you for your physical pain, mental anguish, impairment and disfigurement in the past, as well as any of these elements of damage into the future. They are also responsible for your economic damages such as medical bills and loss of earning and capacity to earn in the past or future.

Without a doubt, car accidents are confusing and upsetting, and possibly life-changing experiences. It’s crucial to not settle and sign away your rights without first talking to an experienced personal injury attorney in Berkshire County, MA.

Call the Law Offices of Scott A. Sanes today for a free consultation: call (413) 429-6400 or use our contact page.