At Sweeney Merrigan Law, we take pride in our achievements and settlements earned on behalf of clients.
Obtained for more than 100 cities and towns in opioid manufacturer settlement
Motor Vehicle Accident: the largest reported Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly single plaintiff tort settlement in 2022
Sexual Assault: the largest sexual assault verdict in Massachusetts history
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Headlined in Massachusetts Lawyer's Weekly as one of the state's "Most Powerful" attorneys
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Your #1 job is to get better, we will take care of everything else
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Hon. Thomas T. Merrigan (Ret.) is a partner at our firm
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There isn't a better testament to the service we provide than the recommendations made by former clients
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When you get hurt in an accident in Boston, MA, you may have the right to compensation. There’s a lot riding on your personal injury claim, and who you choose as your Boston personal injury lawyer can have a sizable impact on how your case unfolds. You need - and deserve - to work with attorneys who know Massachusetts personal injury law through and through.
At Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers, our personal injury attorneys have more than 100 years of combined experience handling cases just like yours - both as litigators and judges. This means that we know the laws and rules that will apply to your case. We’ve gone up against the adversaries you’ll face - and know how to beat them at their own games. We’ll put everything we know and everything we’ve learned into practice to help you get the money you deserve.
Through hard work and dedication, and by executing savvy legal strategies, our Boston personal injury law firm has helped to make meaningful differences in the lives of countless clients. Since our founding more than a decade ago, our Boston personal injury lawyers have recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlement agreements and favorable jury verdicts on behalf of accident victims and their families in Boston, MA.
Suffering an injury can be a life-altering experience, and looking for reparations within our legal system can be confusing and frustrating. But rest assured, we make the process as easy as possible for our clients. Our Boston personal injury attorneys make great effort to reassure our clients, and we explain their options, as well as likely outcomes, so they know what to expect. Our personal injury attorneys handle all types of injury cases, ranging from car accidents to wrongful death.
Immediately following an accident in Boston, MA, your energy and focus should be entirely on receiving the proper and necessary medical care.
When ready, it is important to get an attorney involved in order to facilitate the proper payment of medical bills; investigate insurance benefits; collect accident information, evidence, and witness statements; and handle any inquiries from insurance carriers or investigators.
After hiring a personal injury lawyer near you, your job is simply to focus 100% of your time and attention on your recovery. This means following the instructions of your medical providers and making the necessary appointments to achieve a full recovery.
Itʼs our job to manage the coordination of medical bills, keep insurance companies apprised of your recovery status, handle requests for statements from you, and otherwise prepare your file for a lawsuit.
Settlement is a voluntary process whereby an insurance carrier offers compensation in the form of money in order to avoid a lengthy lawsuit or trial. Insurers consider the extent of injuries, pain and suffering, the amount of medical bills, any lost wages, and any permanency when making an offer to settle. Insurers will also consider the extent to which their insurer is at fault in the accident.
Generally, it is not advisable to settle a trial case until a full recovery has been achieved. After accepting a settlement offer, the case is closed and cannot be reopened should additional injuries be discovered, or the severity of injuries increase.
After determining that a medical end result has been achieved and no more treatment is scheduled, Sweeney Merrigan Personal Injury Lawyers will begin putting together a “settlement package” for the insurance carrier.
In Boston, an insurance carrier will take 30 days to review a settlement demand before making an offer of settlement.
The decision to settle is the clientʼs decision alone – we will make recommendations – but our job is to educate you on the benefits and risks of accepting any offer.
Should the offer be accepted, the money is usually processed in two to four weeks. If an acceptable offer cannot be reached, the next step is to file a lawsuit and/or proceed to trial.
After the decision to file a lawsuit is made, your personal injury attorney will draft a Complaint, detailing the nature of the lawsuit and the underlying allegations that are being made against each defendant.
In Massachusetts, the lawsuit is filed when the court “dockets” the Complaint, which means receives and records the Complaint along with the appropriate filing fee. The filing of the lawsuit is the first step toward going to trial before a jury or a judge, who will decide the outcome of the case.
It is important to know that every state has a “statute of limitations,” which defines the time period within which a lawsuit must be filed. The time period varies depending on the type of case; however, if that time period passes, the case will be forever barred. In Massachussetts, the staute of limitations is usually 3 years.
The Complaint will then be “served,” which means delivered to each defendant, who will then be required to file an “Answer” whereby the defendant admits or denies the allegations contained in the Complaint.
The discovery process is the period of time whereby each party has the opportunity to learn more about the adversaryʼs case.
While there are a variety of tools the parties use, almost every case involves interrogatories, which are written questions the opposing party must answer, and depositions, which are formal interviews conducted by the lawyers in the case.
In Boston, the discovery process can last many months to a year (or more), depending on the order of the court and complexity of the case.
At any time throughout the case, but typically at the conclusion of discovery, the parties may voluntarily engage in alternative dispute resolution. Alternative dispute resolution is primarily seen in the form of mediation, arbitration, or negotiations.
Mediation is a voluntary process in which both the clients and lawyers meet with a mediator, who is a trained professional charged with the job of facilitating meaningful and effective negotiations. Mediations can be as short as a half a day or multiple days. Mediations are non- binding, which means that if the parties do not reach an agreement, the case will proceed to trial in the manner it would have had the mediation never occurred.
Arbitration is also a voluntary process; however, the outcome of the arbitration is binding and cannot be challenge absent unusual circumstances. An arbitration functions similarly to a trial where the parties present evidence, testimony, and argument to a hired arbitrator who will make the final decision concerning the outcome of the case.
Lastly, parties might engage in direct negotiations throughout the course of the case and sometimes even during the course of trial. Any offers to settle during negotiations do not constitute an admission of guilt or liability, but instead are efforts to compromise in order to avoid an unpredictable outcome with a jury.
We are trial attorneys and going to trial is what we prepare to do at all times, from the moment you retain us as your attorney.
Typically, when alternative dispute resolution agreements are not met, the case will proceed to trial. In Boston, Massachussetts, a personal injury trial can be as short as a day or as long as a couple of weeks.
The length of the trial will be determined not only be the complexity of the case, but also by the courtʼs schedule and whether the court allows the trial to span over the course of consecutive full days or if the trial will be held on consecutive half days.
Trial can be delayed unexpectedly for a number of reasons, which include the schedules of the court, the attorneys, the parties, and/or the witnesses.
Personal injury trials are typically before a jury; however, if both parties prefer, the case may be presented to a judge.
“Peter Merrigan was very nice from the time I called. I don’t know what I would have done with my son’s hospital bills from the bus accident, but he has been nothing but helpful and understanding. I will definitely recommend him to my family or friends that need a lawyer.”
Susan / Marlboro, MA View More“My daughter and I reached out to Sweeney Merrigan after a dog attack/bite. Erin McHugh was very professional and empathetic throughout the entire case. I would highly recommend working with her. Erin explained the process to us, answered our questions, listened to our concerns, and kept us up to date, I felt very confident working with her. Thank you, Erin.”
Sarah Walker View More
There's a reason recommendations are one of the main ways we are introduced to new clients. Working with us, you can have:
The results you need. Our outstanding settlements are one thing, but we also take great efforts to hold the responsible parties accountable and ensure they are aware of the effects of their actions. With this commitment to our clients and our practice, we make the city of Boston, Massachusetts, safer for everyone.
Trust and confidence you can depend on. We approach each case with the best imaginable settlement for our clients, but for us, trust means much more. We maintain a relationship with the people we represent. Whether it's simply answers to questions or being available for a phone call or consultation, we stand by our clients to guarantee they are completely informed about the legal process in which they are involved.
Consistent communication. Legal proceedings can be complicated, and it can be easy to worry when medical bills are piling up, or you’ve missed days of work. Our Boston personal injury attorneys will keep you informed throughout the process, giving you all the information you need to make a decision. We will keep you apprised of any changes or new information in your case, which we believe is an integral part of representing our clients.
Immediately following an injury accident, the most important thing is to get the treatment you need and to make sure the doctors are aware of any injuries or pain you are feeling. In the days that follow, you should also contact an attorney right away. An attorney can help navigate initial billing issues with medical providers and will begin investigating your potential claim. This includes preserving and securing evidence, speaking to witnesses, and contacting authorities. Contacting an attorney early will help you focus on your recovery while knowing your legal rights are being protected.
The only way to truly know if you have a personal injury claim is to speak with an attorney. Many people simply aren’t aware that they have a claim because they never spoke to a lawyer. Initial consultations with personal injury attorneys are free of charge, so there is no reason not to explore your potential rights through a consultation. In fact, even if you don’t have a claim, consulting an attorney will be beneficial as it will prevent you from wondering years later whether you should have hired a lawyer.
In Massachusetts, compensation is available to cover medical expenses, lost wages and income, and pain and suffering. In some cases, including wrongful death, punitive damages are available. There are also claims available for spouses of loved ones through consortium claims.
Statute of Limitations vary from State, but most personal injury cases in Massachusetts have a three year statute of limitations which means that if the case is not filed in Court before three years from the date of the injury, then the time window has passed and the case is forever barred. However, some cases in Massachusetts have a much shorter period of time. For that reason, you should not delay in speaking to an attorney. There are also circumstances that require a notice letter to be sent to the potential defendant within a limited period of time.
Ultimately, whether a case goes to trial or settles out of court is a decision made by the client. Some clients want the certainty of an out-of-court settlement, while others need to tell their story at trial. Attorneys will always explain the advantages and disadvantages associated with going either route. Nonetheless, the vast majority of cases settle without the need for a trial in court.
Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning we are only paid if we are successful. We will never ask a client to pay a bill or compensate us for our time during the case. The only time we get paid is through a percentage when we are successful, either at trial or through an out-of-court settlement.
Our team of top-rated personal injury attorneys are ready to help you fight for compensation. Call us to get our century of experience, tens of millions recovered, and reputation in your corner today. We're available to assist clients throughout Massachusetts.
