Injury Lawyer - Marcotte Law Firm

MARCOTTE LAW FIRM’s MICHAEL MOLLOY TEMPORARILY SWAPS THE COURTROOM FOR THE STAGE

Marcotte Law Firm LLC — Wed, 13 May 2026 19:26:14 GMT

Joins Improv Asylum Boston to “Whoop It Up for Women!”

Annual Women’s Bar Foundation (WBF) Fundraiser Raises Money to Support Domestic Violence Survivors and Elders Across Massachusetts

Lowell, Mass. (May 15, 2026) — Michael D. Molloy, the managing member of Marcotte Law Firm, LLC, was selected by the Women’s Bar Foundation (WBF) to appear as a guest performer at the organization’s annual fundraiser, Whoop It Up for Women! 2026. Proceeds from the signature event fund legal assistance to low-income individuals across the Commonwealth. Boston notables, including Governor Maura Healey and Mayor Michelle Wu, as well as celebrities Fran Drescher and Kim Miles, have previously attended.

Heralded as “the funniest show you’ll ever be a part of,” entertainment for the evening will be helmed by Improv Asylum, Boston’s premier live comedy improv troupe. Organizers further flipped the script this year, adding a short list of local attorneys to serve as improv comedians. Michael Molloy (Marcotte Law Firm) and three members from Wolf Greenfield – Cara Dawson, Francesca Householder, and Caitlin Schneider – will join Improv Asylum for one night only, to augment the troupe’s quick-witted, interactive, laugh-out-loud performance, with their own brand of comedic prowess.

“Being asked to perform at an event like this may be daunting to some, but I couldn’t be more excited to join the improv cast,” shared Molloy. “I’m honored to participate in an event that raises funds and awareness for the critical work done by my law colleagues and members of both the Women’s Bar Association and the Women’s Bar Foundation. I plan to bring my comedic A-game.”

Whoop It Up for Women! features a cocktail reception, a 50/50 raffle, and a live auction, the proceeds of which will provide free legal assistance to domestic abuse survivors, low-income elders, and incarcerated women. Main support programs include the Family Law Project for Domestic Abuse Survivors, Elder Law Project, and the Women’s Prison & Re-Entry Project/Clemency Project.

Whoop It Up for Women! will be held at the Boston Harbor Hotel (70 Rowes Wharf, Boston) on Thursday, May 28, 2026, from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. To become an event sponsor or to purchase tickets, visit www.wbfcomedy.org.

Marcotte Law Firm, LLC was established in 1964 by the late Albert J. Marcotte (1930-2020). For more than six decades, the firm has provided trusted, client-centered legal advocacy to individuals and families across Northern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. Now led by Marcotte’s grandson, Michael Molloy, Esq., the multi-generational firm offers more than 150 years of combined legal experience in personal injury and workers’ compensation matters. Marcotte Law Firm has earned distinction for its highly personalized and detail-oriented approach, and member attorneys have been consistently recognized by SuperLawyers® and Martindale-Hubbell for legal excellence. More information about the firm, practice areas, and member attorneys can be found at: marcottelawfirm.com.

Media contact: Wendy Agudelo; Image Professors, Inc. ; wendy@imageprofessors.com

May 15, 2026

What Happens in a No-Fault Car Accident?

Marcotte Law Firm LLC — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 19:18:18 GMT

It is an unfortunate truth that car accidents are a common occurrence in this country. When more than one vehicle is involved, establishing fault is crucial to an insurance claim, as well as any potential lawsuit. This makes sense; if it is your fault, you or your insurance company should bear the brunt of any incurred expenses by the other party. However, a minority number of states are what is known as “no-fault states,” and Massachusetts is one of them. So what does this mean? Let’s begin with what it does not mean. Being in a “no-fault” state does not mean you can run a red light, crash into someone’s car, and not be responsible. When a car accident occurs, someone is still “at fault.” Rather, the primary difference between fault and no-fault states involves car insurance requirements. No-Fault states provide certain types of insurance to people in almost ayn type of accident, no matter whose fault it was. As you are likely aware, Massachusetts requires every registered car to purchase insurance in four (4) parts.

Bodily Injury to Others: Provides limited coverage for you when other people are injured in an accident. This is very limited coverage and does not cover many types of accidents and injuries. Coverage is also limited to $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident. You cannot purchase higher limits.
Bodily Injury Caused by an Uninsured Car: Provides coverage if you’re injured by a car that does not have insurance. This can also cover hit & run accidents.
Property Damage: Pays up to $5,000.00 of coverage for any damage you cause to someone else’s car or property. You are allowed to purchase higher limits.
Personal Injury Protection: Pays up to $8,000 for the medical expenses or lost wages of anyone injured while in your car. It will also pay for any pedestiran or bicyclist struck by your car, as well as for injuries you receive when involved in a car that does not have PIP Coverage.

There are additional supplemental coverages that are not required, but are recommended. Please refer to our prior post for a more in depth discussion. However, one optional coverage that is pertinent is for Med Pay coverage. This is similar to Personal Injury Protection coverage in that it will pay for certain medical expenses, regardless of whose fault a car accident is. Where the “no-fault” differs from the “fault” is in Personal Injury Protection insurance (item #4 above and hereinafter, “PIP”), and Med Pay coverage. No-fault states require you to purchase PIP in addition to basic liability insurance. PIP typically pays for your medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who caused the accident. This is where the “no-fault” term comes in. Even if you are at fault for the accident, PIP will cover the expenses. The goal of no-fault insurance is twofold: 1) save time and money and 2) to reduce the likelihood of a lawsuit. Insurance companies will drag their feet and paying claims and lawsuits can take time to resolve. In no-fault states, PIP pays out right away, regardless of fault. As you may have guessed, if people get paid for their expenses right away, the need for a lawsuit may be reduced. However, this does not preclude you from filing a lawsuit if the circumstances warrant it. In order to succeed in a lawsuit, you need to establish the other driver was negligent. You will also need to have at least $2,000.00 in medical bills to pursue a claim for pain and suffering. Further, as our ardent readers are aware, Massachusetts is a comparative negligence state, which means your fault in the collision will be weighed and may offset any potential payout. As always, it is a good idea to speak with an experienced attorney who can help you develop your claim and advice you on the best coursing moving forward.

If you or a loved one has been injued in a car accident and has questions about the various types of No Fault Insurance that are available, call the experienced car accident lawyers at Marcotte Law Firm for a free, no obligation consultation.

Sovereign Immunity and the Mass Tort Claims Act

Marcotte Law Firm LLC — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 18:47:04 GMT

In a previous post discussing Premises Liability, we briefly noted two (2) relevant legal doctrines – Attractive Nuisance and Sovereign Immunity. We recently discussed the Attractive Nuisance doctrine, so today will be focusing on the doctrine of Sovereign Immunity and its codification under the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act. As discussed in previous posts, if you were injured in a car accident or on the property of another, you likely have a cause of action against those persons. However, what happens when the driver of that other car is a government employee or the property you were injured on is a government building? In Massachusetts, it is much harder to file a lawsuit and win when the other party is the government. As you may have guessed, this is due to the aforementioned principle known as Sovereign Immunity. Sovereign Immunity is a very old legal premise that basically states that the sovereign, i.e., the government in this country, cannot be sued even if an individual is harmed by the acts, decisions, or inactions of the government. It dates back to English law, where people were unable to sue the king. Even in this brief explanation, you can see that this is an exceptionally broad principle that absolves the government of virtually all tortious acts. However, there are limits to Sovereign Immunity. In an effort to reduce the scope of Sovereign Immunity and provide certain plaintiffs with some recourse for their injuries, Massachusetts has passed the Tort Claims Act (hereinafter, “MTCA”). While the government is still afforded a great deal of protection – protections that exceed those afforded to a normal property or business owner – the MTCA does provide an avenue for a harmed individual to sue the government through negligence claims. Section 2 of the MTCA states that “public employees shall be liable for injury or loss of property or personal death” caused by negligence, wrongful acts, or omissions. The MTCA also lays out specific situations where a negligence lawsuit is allowed. Examples of these situations include negligently operating a government vehicle (e.g., a USPS truck or public bus); defects or hazards in public buildings; medical malpractice by healthcare providers at a state-run facility; and police brutality or negligence. The MTCA caps damages at $100,000; however, all claims for serious bodily injury against the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority are not subject to this limitation. There are also specific requirements in filing a lawsuit. The plaintiff must first present the claim to the employer in charge of the defendant employee. The claim must be presented within two (2) years of the date of the injury. The plaintiff cannot file the claim with the Court of Claims until the employer has accepted or rejected it. The employer must do this within six (6) months of receiving it. If the claim is rejected, the plaintiff may then file the claim with the Court of Claims. The statute of limitations for filing an MTCA claim with the Court of Claims is six (6) months. As you can see, filing a claim under the MTCA can be a complicated matter, one that could take over a year to unfold. Even if you feel you have a clear cut case, it is in your interest to consult with an experienced attorney on how to locate the employer in charge of the defendant employee and how to file with the Court of Claims if that claim is rejected by the employer.

If you’ve been injured by a government employee, it’s important to act fast. There are many limitations on these cases, and they need to be given attention right away. Call the Personal Injury lawyers at Marcotte Law Firm for a free, no obligation consultation.

How Do I Document an Injury?

Marcotte Law Firm LLC — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 13:22:34 GMT

How Do I Document My Car Accident Injuries? When you’ve been injured in a car accident, your life can be turned upside down. In addition to dealing with the normal hurdles that life brings, you also have to deal with an injury. Now you’re also having to go to doctor’s appointments and therapy visits while also having to deal with the fact that your normal activities now aren’t as easy to do. How an injury affects your life on a day to day basis is what is generally known as pain and suffering. While many rightly assume that it’s their Personal Injury Lawyer’s job to prove your pain and suffering, it’s actually a joint venture. Like a basketball player without shoes, a personal injury attorney can only do so much to prove injuries if he or she doesn’t have a client who properly documents those injuries. Making Medical Appointments The first step in documenting an injury is scheduling or seeing a doctor. An insurance company (or jury if you go to trial) works under the assumption that if a person doesn’t go to the doctor, that person’s injuries cannot be that bad. While this isn’t always fair, it’s how the world works. Some people are hypochondriacs who see doctors for a small cut on their finger. Others only go to the doctor if their leg is falling off. While no one should go to the doctor if they don’t need to, being a superhero and assuming your injury will get better on its own might hurt your case. Following Up Whenever we see doctors, we’re likely to get a recommendation for some sort of treatment. Whether it’s a referral for Physical Therapy or an order for an MRI, it’s important that you follow doctor’s orders. This is true even if you don’t necessarily agree with your doctor. For example, many people immediately want an MRI of their injury. Unfortunately, many doctors like to try physical therapy before ordering any pricey scans. Even if the therapy doesn’t work, having gone through the process helps show that your injury is bad enough to warrant treatment and it’s serious enough to require additional workups. Second Opinions However, that’s not to say that a second opinion might not be the way to go. Many of our clients get second opinions for a variety of reasons. For example, if a client gets a recommendation for surgery, getting a second opinion about whether that surgery is really necessary can be a good idea. On the other hand, some doctors tell our clients that they’ve reached a medical end result and nothing more can be done. A second opinion can bring a fresh set of eyes and other options that could save you from lifelong problems. Medical Journal Some personal injury attorneys will instruct their clients to keep a journal to document these injuries. We don’t necessarily suggest that to our clients, but we do get them from time to time. What clients should remember is that journals should be used as a way to refresh your memory about your events. It’s not necessary to write down every single thing that happened to you, but rather jot down a few bullet points. For example, if you’ve having back problems that prevent you from bending over, you might jot down a couple things that you can’t do because of your injury, such as tying your shoes or taking out the trash. Experienced Lowell Personal Injury Lawyers At Marcotte Law Firm, our Lowell Personal Injury lawyers have decades of experience representing injured individuals. If you’ve been hurt, call us for a free, no obligation consultation.