Massachusetts Personal Injury Laws, Deadlines and Local Guides

Personal injury claims in Massachusetts

This is the Massachusetts hub of the Ask Legal Matters injury law guides. It summarizes the rules that apply to every injury claim in the state and links to local guides for 333 Massachusetts communities, each with pages on car, truck, motorcycle and pedestrian accidents, slip and fall injuries, workplace injuries and workers' compensation, medical malpractice and wrongful death.

Massachusetts gives injured people three years to file most personal injury lawsuits (M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A) and a different deadline for medical malpractice (three years). The state follows modified comparative negligence (51% bar): you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault. Massachusetts is a no-fault auto insurance state, so PIP benefits pay first after a crash. Injury cases are tried in the Superior Court of the county where the accident happened, and work injuries must be reported to your employer as soon as practicable (M.G.L. c. 152, § 41).

Massachusetts injury law at a glance

Personal injury deadline: three years from the injury (M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A)
Medical malpractice deadline: three years (discovery-rule exceptions)
Fault rule: modified comparative negligence (51% bar)
Auto insurance: No-fault (PIP pays first)
Minimum auto liability: 25/50/30
Trial court: County Superior Court
Workers' compensation: Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents
Workers' comp claim deadline: About four years

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Massachusetts injury guides by county

Every Massachusetts county has its own page covering the county court, the state rules and every community in the county, large or small.

Largest communities in Massachusetts

More Massachusetts city guides: Leominster, MA, Pittsfield, MA.

Massachusetts cities with the most fatal crashes, 2019-2023

These Massachusetts communities recorded the most fatal crashes coded to them in NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System from 2019 through 2023. Each community page breaks down its own numbers by year, time of day and road.

Massachusetts claims by injury type

Read the statute of limitations overview for every state for a side-by-side comparison of filing deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have to file a personal injury lawsuit in Massachusetts?

Generally three years from the date of injury (M.G.L. c. 260, § 2A). Medical malpractice claims generally must be filed within three years, and claims against government entities require a notice of claim much sooner.

What happens if I was partly at fault in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts applies modified comparative negligence (51% bar): you can recover as long as you were not more than 50% at fault, and your award is reduced by your share of fault.

Is Massachusetts a no-fault state?

Yes. Your own PIP coverage pays first after a car accident, and lawsuits against the at-fault driver are limited to serious injuries.

Where are injury lawsuits filed in Massachusetts?

In the Superior Court of the county where the accident happened or where the defendant resides. Claims against out-of-state companies may be removed to federal court.

How do I find a personal injury lawyer near me in Massachusetts?

Choose your county or community below for local information, or click the free claim review button; your request may be shared with independent attorneys and legal services partners who handle inquiries in Massachusetts.

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Ready to share what happened in Massachusetts?

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Ask Legal Matters is a lead-generation service, not a law firm. Submitting a request does not hire an attorney. Review the contact consent and privacy policy on the form before submitting.