By Serdar Arslan, editor · Last reviewed · How we research
On July 1, 2025, Massachusetts raised its minimum liability limits from 20/40/5 to 25/50/30. The property damage minimum alone jumped sixfold. Every policy also includes $8,000 in personal injury protection and uninsured motorist coverage, because Massachusetts runs a no-fault system for injury costs.
To step outside no-fault and sue for pain and suffering, you generally need more than $2,000 in reasonable medical expenses, or an injury such as a fracture, loss of a body part, permanent serious disfigurement, certain loss of sight or hearing, or death. Lawsuits for injury, vehicle damage and wrongful death all have 3 years. Claims against a public employer must be presented in writing within 2 years, and those claims carry a separate $100,000 limit. Fault is compared under a modified rule that bars recovery at 51%. Drivers must send a written crash report to the RMV and local police within 5 days when anyone is hurt or damage tops $1,000.
Key rules at a glance
| Personal injury filing deadline | 3 years from the date the cause of action accrues (usually the date of injury) Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A |
|---|---|
| Property damage deadline | 3 years for tort actions, including vehicle damage claims, from the date the cause of action accrues Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A |
| Wrongful death deadline | 3 years from the date of death, or from when the executor or administrator knew or should have known the facts behind the claim Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 229, § 2 |
| Claims against a government entity | Claims against a public employer generally must be presented in writing to its executive officer within 2 years, and a lawsuit filed within 3 years. Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 258, § 4 |
| Fault rule | Modified comparative fault (51% bar): You can recover if your share of fault is not greater than the combined fault of the people you sue (50% or less). Your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault. At 51% or more, you recover nothing. Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 85 |
| Insurance system | No-fault · $8,000 Personal Injury Protection (PIP) per person is required. |
| Minimum liability insurance | $25,000 per person / $50,000 per accident bodily injury; $30,000 property damage |
| Uninsured motorist coverage | Required |
| Damage caps | No general cap on damages in car accident cases. However, to sue an at-fault driver for pain and suffering you generally must have over $2,000 in reasonable medical expenses, or an injury such as a fracture, death, loss of a body part, permanent serious disfigurement, or certain loss of sight or hearing (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 6D). Claims against public employers have a separate $100,000 limit under ch. 258 (check the statute). |
| Reporting a crash | If anyone is hurt or killed, or damage to any one vehicle or other property is over $1,000, the driver must send a written crash report to the RMV and to the local police department within 5 days. Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 26 |
Getting your crash report in Massachusetts
Request a copy of a police crash report from the RMV through the myRMV Online Service Center ('Request Crash Report') or by mail. There is a $20 non-refundable search fee; wait at least 4 weeks after the crash. You can also ask the police department that responded. Official request page
Checking a Massachusetts lawyer
Before you sign anything, confirm the attorney is licensed and in good standing with the official state search, and ask for the fee agreement in writing. Our guide on choosing and verifying a lawyer lists what to ask.
- License search: Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers – Attorney Lookup
- Lawyer referral: Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service · (617) 654-0400 / toll-free (866) 627-7577
363 people died in motor vehicle crashes in Massachusetts in 2024, according to IIHS analysis of NHTSA FARS data.
Frequently asked questions
›What changed with Massachusetts car insurance in July 2025?
For policies written or renewed on or after July 1, 2025, minimum limits rose from 20/40/5 to $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident and $30,000 for property damage (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 34A). Policies must also include $8,000 in PIP and uninsured motorist coverage.
›What injuries let me sue for pain and suffering in Massachusetts?
You generally need more than $2,000 in reasonable medical expenses, or an injury such as a fracture, death, loss of a body part, permanent serious disfigurement, or certain loss of sight or hearing (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 6D). Otherwise, your own PIP covers your injury costs.
›How many days do I have to report a crash to the RMV?
Five days. If anyone is hurt or killed, or damage to any one vehicle or other property is over $1,000, the driver must send a written crash report to the RMV and to the local police department within 5 days (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 26).
›What is the time limit for suing after a Massachusetts accident?
Generally 3 years from the date the cause of action accrues for injury and vehicle damage (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A). Wrongful death claims generally have 3 years from the date of death, or from when the executor knew or should have known the facts (ch. 229, § 2).
›Can I make a claim against a town or the state?
Yes, but claims against a public employer generally must be presented in writing to its executive officer within 2 years, and a lawsuit filed within 3 years (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 258, § 4). These claims have a separate $100,000 limit under ch. 258.
Sources
- Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A (tort limitations)
- Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 229, § 2 (wrongful death)
- Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 258, § 4 (claims against public employers)
- Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 85 (comparative negligence)
- Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 6D (tort threshold)
- Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 175, § 113L (uninsured motorist coverage)
- Mass. Division of Insurance – 2025 mandatory coverage limits
- Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 26 (crash reports)
- Mass.gov – Request a copy of a police crash report
- Mass.gov – Finding legal help
- IIHS – Fatality statistics by state