Is a claim for my kid's Boston-area crash injuries even worth the hassle?

Q: Is a claim for my kid's Boston-area crash injuries even worth the hassle?

The insurance company will usually tell you PIP should cover it and that pursuing more is probably not worth the trouble. In Massachusetts, that is often incomplete. What is actually true is that your child may have a separate injury claim beyond basic no-fault benefits, and families often do not realize how much they are entitled to protect. Massachusetts Personal Injury Protection (PIP) pays up to $8,000 for medical bills and certain related losses after a crash, no matter who caused it. But PIP is not the whole case. If your child's crash-related medical treatment is more than $2,000, or the injuries involve a fracture, serious disfigurement, or loss of sight or hearing, you can usually pursue a claim for pain and suffering against the at-fault driver. That matters in summer highway crashes around Boston, especially on I-93, the Mass Pike, and other tourist-heavy roads where tire blowouts, rental cars, and unfamiliar drivers cause hard-impact wrecks. A few rights parents often do not know: Your child's claim is not judged only by today's bills. It can include future treatment, scarring, and how the injury affects daily life. In Massachusetts, a minor usually gets extra time to bring a claim because the limitations period is generally tolled until age 18. A settlement for an injured child often requires court approval, which is meant to protect the child's money, not block recovery. Do the practical things early. Get the crash report from Boston Police or Massachusetts State Police, depending on where it happened. If there was injury or $1,000+ in property damage, the driver must file a crash report within 5 days with the RMV, police, and insurer. Keep every pediatric record, discharge note, and photo. If a car seat was involved, do not throw it out right away. In a blowout or equipment-failure crash, the failed tire or vehicle parts can matter too.

Question

Accepted Answer

The insurance company will usually tell you PIP should cover it and that pursuing more is probably not worth the trouble. In Massachusetts, that is often incomplete.

What is actually true is that your child may have a separate injury claim beyond basic no-fault benefits, and families often do not realize how much they are entitled to protect.

Massachusetts Personal Injury Protection (PIP) pays up to $8,000 for medical bills and certain related losses after a crash, no matter who caused it. But PIP is not the whole case. If your child's crash-related medical treatment is more than $2,000, or the injuries involve a fracture, serious disfigurement, or loss of sight or hearing, you can usually pursue a claim for pain and suffering against the at-fault driver.

That matters in summer highway crashes around Boston, especially on I-93, the Mass Pike, and other tourist-heavy roads where tire blowouts, rental cars, and unfamiliar drivers cause hard-impact wrecks.

A few rights parents often do not know:

Your child's claim is not judged only by today's bills. It can include future treatment, scarring, and how the injury affects daily life.
In Massachusetts, a minor usually gets extra time to bring a claim because the limitations period is generally tolled until age 18.
A settlement for an injured child often requires court approval, which is meant to protect the child's money, not block recovery.

Do the practical things early. Get the crash report from Boston Police or Massachusetts State Police, depending on where it happened. If there was injury or $1,000+ in property damage, the driver must file a crash report within 5 days with the RMV, police, and insurer. Keep every pediatric record, discharge note, and photo. If a car seat was involved, do not throw it out right away. In a blowout or equipment-failure crash, the failed tire or vehicle parts can matter too.