Public collision records may provide useful context about a roadway’s history. A lawyer can review available location information and insurance records when assessing an injury claim and next steps.
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New Bedford is Bristol County’s largest city and the ninth-largest city in Massachusetts, with a population of approximately 101,000 as of the 2020 census. Its road network – carrying commuters, fishing port freight, and commercial traffic through a dense urban grid – produces crash numbers that MassDOT data bears out. Between 2019 and 2021, MassDOT recorded 10,790 car crashes in New Bedford, including 17 fatal crashes and 177 crashes causing serious injury. Of those crashes, 247 involved pedestrians. On average, six people die in car accidents in New Bedford each year per MassDOT data. A report covering MassDOT crash data from 2017 to 2019 found that New Bedford had 31 of the 100 most dangerous intersections in southeastern Massachusetts – more than any other city in the region. The Ashley Boulevard and Coggeshall Street intersection alone recorded 91 crashes during that period, making it the most dangerous intersection in the city per MassDOT data. I-195, which runs through the center of New Bedford, recorded multi-car crashes, a wrong-way collision, and a tractor-trailer crash with severe and deadly injuries in 2022 alone, confirmed from WBSM.com citing MassDOT crash records.
When a car accident in New Bedford injures you because of another driver’s negligence, that documented crash history at specific intersections is part of the public record that may support your claim. A New Bedford car accident lawyer can review your situation at no cost and explain exactly where you stand under Massachusetts law.
New Bedford’s crash data is documented in MassDOT records covering specific intersections, highways, and corridors. Understanding where your accident happened helps identify what public evidence may already exist to support your claim.
MassDOT data from the 2017-2019 study period identified this four-way intersection as the most dangerous in New Bedford, with 91 crashes recorded during that period. Ashley Boulevard is one of New Bedford’s primary north-south commercial arterials, and the crash volume at this intersection places it among the most documented dangerous locations in southeastern Massachusetts.
This five-point intersection is the junction of Massachusetts Route 140 – which connects to Route 24 in Taunton – and U.S. Route 6, which runs east-west across New Bedford toward Cape Cod. Five-point intersections create inherently complex conflict patterns between turning vehicles, and this location appears among the MassDOT-identified most dangerous intersections in New Bedford based on the 2017-2019 data.
Interstate 195 runs through the center of New Bedford and connects the city to Providence, Rhode Island, to the west and Wareham to the east. WBSM.com, citing MassDOT crash records, confirmed that in 2022 alone, I-195 in New Bedford was the site of a multi-car crash, a wrong-way collision, and a tractor-trailer crash with severe and deadly injuries. I-195 is under State Police jurisdiction, and crashes there generate State Police crash reports that are critical evidence for any personal injury claim arising from the highway.
U.S. Route 6 runs east-west through New Bedford, crossing the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge and the Popes Island Bridge. It creates multiple complex intersections within the city, including a seven-point intersection at Route 6 and Pleasant Street identified in MassDOT data as one of New Bedford’s most crash-prone locations. Route 6 also carries commercial traffic to and from the Port of New Bedford, one of the nation’s leading fishing ports, adding commercial vehicle volume to the city’s already heavy commuter traffic.
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway intersects with Potomska Street in a six-way intersection identified among New Bedford’s most dangerous per MassDOT data. Downtown New Bedford’s street grid – a historic pattern dating to the city’s whaling era – creates multiple irregular intersections where vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists share limited space at odd angles.
Car accident cases from New Bedford are filed based on the amount in dispute. Smaller civil claims fall under the New Bedford District Court in New Bedford, confirmed from mass.gov, which serves Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, New Bedford, and Westport. Larger personal injury claims are filed at the Bristol County Superior Court in New Bedford, confirmed from mass.gov, which handles civil matters for all Bristol County communities.
Under MGL Ch. 90 Sec. 34M, your own Personal Injury Protection coverage pays for initial medical expenses and a portion of lost wages after any car accident in New Bedford, regardless of who caused the crash. PIP is mandatory for all Massachusetts drivers and applies automatically. New Bedford’s Southcoast Health hospital system includes St. Luke’s Hospital, which is the city’s primary emergency hospital. Getting treatment there promptly and ensuring your medical record links your injuries to the specific accident is essential for any subsequent claim.
PIP does not cover pain and suffering. Under MGL Ch. 231 Sec. 6D, if your reasonable and necessary medical expenses cross the statutory threshold, or if your injuries involve a fracture, permanent disfigurement, loss of a body part, or qualifying loss of sight or hearing, you may have grounds to pursue a pain and suffering claim directly against the at-fault driver’s insurance in addition to your PIP benefits. Crashes at New Bedford’s high-speed highway corridors – particularly I-195 and the Route 140/Route 6 junction – frequently produce injuries that meet this threshold.
Massachusetts follows a modified comparative fault rule under MGL Ch. 231 Sec. 85. You may still pursue compensation as long as your share of fault for the crash was less than 51 percent. At 51 percent or more fault, recovery is barred. Below that threshold, compensation is reduced in proportion to your share of fault. New Bedford’s multi-point intersections – the five-point junction at Route 140 and Route 6, the six-way at JFK Highway and Potomska, and the seven-point at Route 6 and Pleasant Street – create genuinely complex fault scenarios that insurers frequently exploit to dispute liability. The documented crash history of specific New Bedford intersections can be relevant evidence in pushing back against an unfair fault determination.
Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory in Massachusetts under MGL Ch. 175 Sec. 113L. If the at-fault driver in your New Bedford crash carried no insurance, your UM coverage may apply. Underinsured motorist coverage, which responds when the at-fault driver’s policy falls short of your full losses, is optional in Massachusetts. An attorney can review every applicable policy and identify all available sources of compensation.
The scope of what your claim may support depends on your injuries, the insurance coverage available, and the facts of the crash. We work through every applicable category so nothing is overlooked.
Receive medical attention promptly and describe the collision clearly to your provider. Capture photos of the vehicles, injuries, roadway, and nearby cameras. Keep the report details and avoid recorded insurer statements until the claim has been reviewed by an attorney.
Video footage and other records may not stay available for long. Submit the form or call Larson Law for a free review. An attorney can assess the circumstances closely, address no-fault rules and injury requirements, then identify evidence requiring prompt preservation.
Larson Law handles insurer contact, preserves crash evidence, organizes records, and monitors deadlines throughout the claim. You remain informed from beginning to end while keeping your attention on medical care, recovery, and the practical needs that follow an injury.
Car accident claims in New Bedford involve Massachusetts no-fault PIP, the region’s most documented dangerous intersections, and evidence that disappears fast. Tell us what happened and we will explain what Massachusetts law allows and what your next steps are.
We handle car accidents, wrongful death, truck accidents, rideshare accidents, and more across New Bedford, Bristol County, and all of Massachusetts. For statewide car accident representation, see our Massachusetts car accident lawyer page.
It can be directly relevant. MassDOT data from 2017 to 2019 identified New Bedford as having 31 of the 100 most dangerous intersections in southeastern Massachusetts – more than any other city. The Ashley Boulevard and Coggeshall Street intersection recorded 91 crashes during that period. The documented crash history of a specific intersection is part of the public record and can be used as evidence in establishing what a driver should have reasonably anticipated at that location. An attorney can identify what MassDOT crash records exist for the specific intersection where your accident happened.
Under MGL Ch. 90 Sec. 34M, your own Personal Injury Protection coverage pays for initial medical expenses and a portion of lost wages after any car accident in New Bedford, regardless of who caused it. PIP is the starting point for most New Bedford car accident claims. However, PIP does not cover pain and suffering. Under MGL Ch. 231 Sec. 6D, if your reasonable and necessary medical expenses cross the statutory threshold, or if your injuries involve a fracture, permanent disfigurement, loss of a body part, or qualifying loss of sight or hearing, you may have grounds to pursue a pain and suffering claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance in addition to your PIP benefits.
I-195 is a state highway under Massachusetts State Police jurisdiction. State Police typically respond to crashes on I-195 rather than New Bedford Police, and their crash report is a critical piece of evidence. WBSM.com, citing MassDOT crash records, confirmed that in 2022 alone, I-195 in New Bedford saw a multi-car crash, a wrong-way collision, and a tractor-trailer crash with severe and deadly injuries. The high-speed nature of highway crashes often produces more serious injuries, which frequently meet the statutory threshold under MGL Ch. 231 Sec. 6D that allows a pain and suffering claim against the at-fault driver. If the crash involved a commercial truck, federal FMCSA regulations also apply.
Massachusetts follows a modified comparative fault rule under MGL Ch. 231 Sec. 85. You may still pursue compensation as long as your share of fault was less than 51 percent. At 51 percent or more fault, recovery is barred. Below that threshold, compensation is reduced in proportion to your percentage of fault. New Bedford’s multi-point intersections – the five-point junction at Route 140 and Route 6, the six-way at JFK Highway and Potomska Street, and the seven-point at Route 6 and Pleasant Street – create genuinely complex fault questions. Insurers frequently push a higher share of fault onto the injured driver at these locations. Having legal representation ensures any fault determination reflects the actual crash evidence.
Call 911. On I-195, State Police typically respond. On New Bedford’s surface roads, New Bedford Police respond. Get medical attention at St. Luke’s Hospital or another nearby facility promptly – adrenaline masks pain and some injuries worsen without early treatment. Photograph both vehicles, the crash location, intersection signage, and your injuries at the scene. Collect the other driver’s license, registration, and insurance information. Get witness contact details if any were present. Note whether nearby business cameras, SRTA bus cameras, or traffic cameras may have captured the crash. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer before speaking with a lawyer.
Uninsured motorist coverage is mandatory in Massachusetts under MGL Ch. 175 Sec. 113L. If the at-fault driver carried no insurance, your own UM coverage may apply. Underinsured motorist coverage – which responds when the at-fault driver has insurance but not enough to cover your full losses – is optional in Massachusetts and not all drivers carry it. If you purchased UIM coverage and the at-fault driver’s limits are insufficient, it may be available to help cover the gap. An attorney can review all applicable policies and identify every available source of compensation.
Under MGL Ch. 260 Sec. 2A, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Massachusetts is three years from the date of the accident. Missing this deadline means losing the right to pursue compensation in court regardless of how strong the evidence is. However, the practical window for preserving critical evidence – surveillance footage from businesses along Ashley Boulevard and Route 6, witness accounts, State Police reports from I-195 – is far shorter. If a government entity such as a city vehicle or SRTA bus was involved, MGL Ch. 258 Sec. 4 requires a separate written presentment within two years after the date the cause of action arose. Contacting a lawyer promptly after the crash protects both the legal deadline and the evidence.
Yes. MassDOT recorded 247 pedestrian-involved crashes in New Bedford between 2019 and 2021. If a driver struck you while you were on foot in New Bedford, a personal injury claim may be available against that driver’s insurance. The same documented intersection crash history that applies to car-to-car crashes – particularly at Ashley Boulevard and Coggeshall Street, the Route 6 corridors, and the downtown grid – is relevant evidence in a pedestrian accident claim at those locations. Massachusetts no-fault PIP may also apply through your own auto policy if you have one.
Smaller civil claims from New Bedford fall under the New Bedford District Court in New Bedford, confirmed from mass.gov, which serves Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, New Bedford, and Westport. Larger personal injury claims are filed at the Bristol County Superior Court in New Bedford, confirmed from mass.gov, which handles civil matters for all Bristol County communities.
Yes. Larson Law handles car accident cases across New Bedford and all of Bristol County. Whether the crash happened in New Bedford, Fairhaven, Dartmouth, Acushnet, Westport, Fall River, Taunton, or any other Bristol County community, we can help. Reach out by phone, text, or through the form on this page at no cost.
No – truck accident claims involve federal FMCSA regulations, multiple potentially liable parties, and evidence with a much shorter preservation window than a standard car accident claim. Commercial trucks operating in interstate commerce on I-195 are subject to federal hours of service rules and electronic logging device requirements under 49 CFR Part 395. ELD data must be retained for a minimum of six months, but the truck’s black box data has no federal minimum retention period and can be overwritten when the truck returns to service. If your I-195 crash involved a commercial truck, contacting a lawyer immediately to send a legal hold letter to the carrier is essential.
