Massachusetts Car Accident Settlement Calculator

Massachusetts uses a 51% fault threshold for car accident claims. You can recover compensation as long as you are no more than 50% at fault — even in a perfectly even 50/50 split, you still receive half your damages. This is more permissive than states using a 50% bar, where equal fault results in zero recovery.

You have 3 years to file suit in Massachusetts, a deadline that is in line with the national average of 2.7 years. This is a standard timeframe, but acting sooner preserves evidence and strengthens your position. Massachusetts does apply a discovery rule, which can adjust the starting point of the limitations period when the injury was not immediately discoverable.

As a no-fault auto insurance state, Massachusetts requires you to file a claim with your own insurance company first under your personal injury protection (PIP) policy, regardless of who caused the accident. You can only file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver if your injuries meet Massachusetts's serious injury threshold — typically involving significant disfigurement, permanent injury, or medical expenses exceeding the PIP limit. This two-step process means many minor car accident claims in Massachusetts are resolved entirely through PIP, while serious injury cases proceed as traditional lawsuits.

Massachusetts requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance of $25K per person / $50K per accident in bodily injury coverage and $30K in property damage coverage (commonly written as 25/50/30). These minimums are below the national average, meaning many drivers in Massachusetts may carry only enough insurance to cover a fraction of the costs from a serious accident. Massachusetts also requires uninsured motorist (UM) coverage of at least $25K per person, which protects you if the at-fault driver has no insurance. As a no-fault state, Massachusetts also mandates personal injury protection (PIP) coverage of at least $8K.