We Fight for the Rights of Personal Injury and Accident Victims
Our goal is to make sure you get the justice you deserve and are fully compensated for your harms and losses
Plymouth County, MA Personal Injury Lawyer
Attorney Tracy Paulsen is a passionate Plymouth County personal injury lawyer with over 15 years of experience. When an unexpected injury turns your life upside down, you need more than forms and deadlines. You need a clear explanation of your rights and an advocate who will protect your future. At Rightful Legal, led by managing attorney Tracy Paulsen, we help injured people and families across Plymouth County and the rest of the Commonwealth rebuild their lives after being hurt by someone else’s negligence.
From a car crash on Route 3 to a fall in a Marshfield grocery aisle, a dog bite in Whitman, or a construction accident in Plymouth, our approach is practical, passionate, and centered on getting you justice through fair compensation. Attorney Paulsen and her team have a wealth of experience in claims involving car accidents, construction accidents, dog attacks, and defective products.
We help you:
- Investigate who is responsible for your injuries,
- Collect evidence,
- Deal with insurance companies,
- And fight your case in court if necessary.
Reach out to Plymouth County personal injury law firm Rightful Legal now for a free consultation. There is no obligation, and we do not collect a fee unless we win your case for you.
Have You or Someone You Love Been Hurt in an Accident in Plymouth County?
Contact Rightful Legal Right Today
Call / text 617-821-5856
Or
Common Personal Injury Claims in Plymouth County
Plymouth County is one of the largest and most historically significant counties in Massachusetts, with a population that sits well above half a million residents. Many residents move daily between towns like Brockton, Plymouth, Hingham, Scituate, Duxbury, Norwell, and Bridgewater. All of this activity means busy corridors, seasonally crowded coastal routes, and a wide range of everyday hazards.
In a recent year, Plymouth county recorded roughly thirty traffic fatalities, including pedestrian and bicycle deaths, and far more residents were injured in traffic accidents. Statewide public health records further show that injuries remain a constant source of emergency room visits, with falls, burns, and motor vehicle crashes among the most common causes.
Why Clients Choose Rightful Legal for their Personal Injury Case
At Rightful Legal, your story and health drive the strategy in your case. We have the legal knowledge and experience, but we never forget what this case is about: your body, family, livelihood, and future. From the first conversation, we focus on what you need now and what you will need six months from now. We coordinate with your medical providers, track diagnostics and treatment plans, and keep you updated at every step of your recovery journey. When you work with Rightful Legal, you can expect experienced legal advocates who use plain language, provide prompt responses, and lay out a roadmap that shows how each decision moves your case forward.
Attorney Paulsen and her team handle the full range of personal injury matters throughout Plymouth County. She has represented clients and helped them get their life back who were hurt in:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- bicycle collisions
- premises liability and falls
- Construction accidents
- workplace injuries and incidents involving third party negligence
- dog bites
- dangerous or defective products, and
- wrongful death cases.
Even though Rightful Legal handles many case types, clients are never just case numbers. For each individual client, we secure the facts, protect your medical recovery, build an evidence-based damages picture, and pursue the maximum possible compensation available.
Laws Governing Plymouth County Personal Injury Claims
Every case is unique, but several Massachusetts laws apply universally to Plymouth County personal injury cases. Understanding them early helps you make good choices for the future of your claim.
Time limits to file. In most personal injury cases, you have three years from the date you reasonably discover your injuries (usually the day you were injured) to file a lawsuit. Some claims have special rules or notice requirements. The safest approach is to act as if the clock is already running.
Comparative negligence. Massachusetts follows a modified comparative negligence standard. You can recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50 percent at fault. Any award is reduced by your percentage of responsibility. So for example, if you were speeding and therefore 30 percent responsible for an accident, but the other driver was out of his lane and was 70 percent at fault, you can still recover. We always perform a thorough investigation of the incident that injured you, to truly understand the correct apportionment of fault and your recovery.
Auto insurance and PIP benefits. Massachusetts uses a no-fault system for initial medical coverage. Personal Injury Protection, a small coverage through your own auto insurance usually called PIP, can pay reasonable medical expenses and some lost wages up to statutory limits regardless of fault, subject to coordination with private health insurance. To seek pain and suffering in a motor vehicle case, you generally must exceed a two thousand dollar medical expense threshold or satisfy a statutory exception such as suffering a fracture or permanent and serious disfigurement.
Claims involving public entities. If your injury involves a city, town, Plymouth County, or other government entity, the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act imposes strict presentment rules, a three year filing deadline, and a cap on damages against the public employer. Punitive damages are not available against the public entity. These cases require early and precise action, and it is wise to reach out to an experienced personal injury lawyer who can guide you.
Dog bite liability. Massachusetts imposes strict liability on dog owners and keepers when their dogs cause injuries, with defenses for trespass or provoking the animal. You do not need to prove that the dog owner was negligent, only that the bite occurred. A presumption for children under seven exists that assumes they did not trespass or provoke the dog attack. You do not need to prove prior vicious behavior of a dog in order to bring a claim.
Wrongful death. When negligence or reckless conduct causes death, the estate may recover for the fair monetary value of the decedent to the beneficiaries. That may include lost income and services of the decedent, loss of companionship and guidance, and funeral and burial costs. Punitive damages can be available for malicious, willful, wanton, or reckless conduct, or gross negligence.
Medical malpractice. These claims generally carry a three year limitations period and a seven year statute of repose in most cases, along with a screening tribunal that evaluates the sufficiency of the claim before it proceeds. Expert testimony is central, and detailed medical review is essential.
Pre and post judgment interest. Massachusetts adds a twelve percent annual interest to tort judgments for personal injuries, calculated from the filing date. This can meaningfully increase a final award and often influences negotiation leverage.
What To Do After an Injury in Plymouth County
The most important step is to protect yourself and your health. Always seek medical attention immediately and follow your medical provider’s instructions. Be sure to save discharge summaries, imaging reports, prescriptions, referral notes and any and all medical documentation. If you are physically able, take photographs of the scene, any hazard or defect, your injuries, and all vehicles or equipment involved. Write down the names and contact information for any potential witnesses. Be sure to avoid giving recorded statements to insurers who can use such statements to undermine your claim. This is why it’s vital to contact an experienced personal injury attorney in Plymouth County right away. Early legal guidance can help preserve evidence and prevent common missteps and mistakes that can weaken an otherwise strong claim.
Evidence, Insurance, and Case Strategy in Plymouth County Personal Injury Cases
Positive outcomes begin with solid proof. Our experienced personal injury lawyers at Rightful Legal know firsthand each important step of the process and want you to always be in the know. We move quickly to secure police crash reports, incident logs, 911 audio when available, photographs, and any video from traffic cameras or nearby businesses. In car accidents and truck accidents, we preserve essential evidence such as airbag control module data and cell phone records where appropriate. In premise liability or slip and fall cases, we look closely at inspection and maintenance routines, lighting and weather conditions, and prior incidents to strengthen your case. In product liability cases, we consult with experts and engineers and testing specialists. In dog bite cases, we document ownership and control, identify prior complaints, obtain animal control records, and thoroughly document any scarring and infection risk of the victim.
Rightful Legal works to protect your medical recovery and the financial framework of your claim. We identify all coverage layers that may apply, including liability, PIP, MedPay, uninsured and underinsured motorist insurance benefits, and any umbrella policies that may exist. We coordinate benefits with health insurers and address and negotiate liens from health plans or workers’ compensation carriers so that your net recovery is preserved. Our team will communicate with you regularly for treatment updates and check-ins and help you document the day to day impact of your injuries. Your pain levels, sleep disruption, limits on household tasks, missed family events, and the way your injuries interfere with hobbies and exercise all matter. Capturing those details over time strengthens negotiations and helps a judge or jury understand your loss.
Clients often ask when is the right time to settle. The right time usually arrives after your treatment stabilizes and your providers can offer a reliable prognosis. Settling too early can leave future costs uncovered. On the other hand, waiting without a strategy rarely helps. We prepare each case as if it will go to trial, which builds leverage for fair settlement and keeps options open if the other side refuses to negotiate in good faith.
What Compensation Can You Obtain in a Plymouth County Personal Injury Claim
Damages in a Massachusetts personal injury case can cover the full span of your losses. Medical expenses may include hospital care, physician visits, imaging, surgery, therapy, medications, assistive devices, and home or vehicle modifications when needed. Future medical needs are documented with help from your providers and, in complex cases, life care planners. Lost income includes time away from work and reduced earning capacity if your injuries limit your career. Many clients also qualify for household and replacement services, which compensate for tasks you can no longer perform, like cleaning and shopping. Pain and suffering covers the physical pain, discomfort, anxiety, and loss of enjoyment you experience because of the injury. In wrongful death cases, families may also recover for loss of companionship and guidance, funeral and burial costs, and, in certain circumstances, punitive damages.
No lawyer can predict a precise case value at the start of your case and be weary of anyone who says they can. The value of your case depends on liability facts, the severity and duration of your injuries, the quality of your medical documentation, the insurance available, and how a jury in Plymouth County is likely to view the evidence. With Rightful Legal as your personal injury firm, you will always be in the know. We document and prepare a careful damages analysis backed by records, expert input when needed, and a clear explanation of the tradeoffs at each decision point.
Injured in a Plymouth County Accident?
Contact Rightful Legal TODAY for a Free Case Evaluation
Call / Text 617-821-5856
or
Frequently Asked Questions About Plymouth County Personal Injury Claims
How long will my case take?
Timelines vary with medical recovery and dispute complexity. Many cases resolve after you reach maximum medical improvement and the long term picture is clear. If liability is contested or you need ongoing treatment, the case can take longer because the evidence must be complete. Filing suit may also extend the timeline to your final settlement or judgement, but it can be the best path to a fair result when the insurer is undervaluing your claim.
Should I speak with the other driver’s insurer?
Report the basics to your own insurer as required by your policy, but do not give a recorded statement to the other side before you have legal advice. Insurers are trained to collect information that minimizes payments. We handle all communications with the insurance providers so you can focus on your healing.
What if I may be partly at fault?
You may still recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50 percent responsible. Your recovery would be reduced by your share of fault. Careful investigation, scene analysis, and expert review can shift initial assessments that seem unfavorable at first glance.
Will my case go to trial?
Most cases settle, but the best settlements often come when the defense knows you are prepared to try the case. We build each file as if a jury will see it. That preparation drives better negotiations and ensures we are ready if trial becomes necessary.
Contact Rightful Legal Today
If you or someone you love was hurt in Plymouth County, you do not have to navigate the Massachusetts personal injury process alone. Contact Rightful Legal right away for a free case evaluation. You can contact Attorney Tracy Paulsen directly anytime at 617-821-5856. This consultation is totally confidential, and it can be held over the phone or online if you are not well enough to leave home. We will listen to your story, review the facts, explain your options, and develop a legal strategy that protects your health and future and compensates you and your family for the harm you have endured.
Your case deserves a firm big enough to take on major insurance companies but small enough to provide you with individualized service. At Rightful Legal Your Voice will always be heard. Our mission is to provide tailored, empathetic, passionate legal representation so you can focus on your health and recovery.
