Personal Injury Law Firm in Worcester, Massachusetts

Eden, Rafferty, Tetreau & Erlich

19 Norwich Street
Suite 500
Worcester, Massachusetts 01608
USA

(508) 471-3273

(508) 795-1811

www.edenrafferty.com

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Law Firm Overview Free Consultation

The Law Offices of Eden, Rafferty, Tetreau & Erlich is a trusted, versatile law firm in Worcester, Massachusetts. Our attorneys have over eight decades of collective experience and strong track records of achieving positive outcomes for individuals and families.

Working with a dedicated professional support staff, our attorneys leverage the resources of a large firm—but we are also committed to exceeding your expectations for personal attention and responsiveness. We believe in educating the public on legal issues and contributing our time and resources to important causes. From open-house events in our Worcester offices to speaking before church groups and working at local food banks, we are full-fledged members of our community.

In several of our key practice areas, you do not have to be concerned about fees or financial risk when you hire us because: We pursue personal injury and wrongful death claims, including auto accident cases, on a full contingency basis, assessing no attorney fees unless we obtain financial compensation for you by settlement or a verdict at trial; Our fees for pursuing your workers' compensation or Social Security disability claim are determined and limited by law, and again, payable only if we succeed in securing financial benefits for you. We also assist our clients in vital legal areas such as family law and criminal defense.

Our offices are centrally located in downtown Worcester, on the bus line and within a few blocks of both the courthouse and workers' compensation board facilities. Parking close by is readily available. If you cannot travel due to your serious injuries or disability, please let us know and we will strive to accommodate your specific needs in every way possible. We are proud to be able to provide comprehensive legal services in Spanish to members of our Hispanic community.

Practice Areas

Additional Practice Areas: Cell Phone Use/Texting Drivers; Drunk Driving Accidents; Dram Shop Law; Side-Impact Collisions; Uninsured & Underinsured Motorists; OUI; Health Care Power of Attorney; Modification of Court Orders; Post Nuptial Agreements; Valuation and Division of Assets and Debts; Guardianship; Conservatorship; Property Division; Business Valuation and Division; Division of Retirement Funds, 401Ks, and Pensions; Labor Unions; Truck Driver Injuries

Practice Areas Description

At Eden, Rafferty, Tetreau & Erlich, we have focused, dedicated lawyers prepared to take action when you are dealing with:

- Auto Accidents

Helping victims of auto accidents recover maximum compensation for their injuries is a key area of emphasis at our highly accessible, respected Worcester, Massachusetts, law firm. Our civil litigation attorneys, led by founding partner and 20-year veteran lawyer Richard Rafferty, are prepared to pursue your best interests by all legal means. We handle auto accident cases involving wrongful death and the most severe injuries as well as those that are less catastrophic but still take a serious personal and financial toll.

* Bicycle & Pedestrian Accidents

Our Worcester law firm, a trusted resource in our community and throughout the MetroWest area since 1990, has the skill and relevant experience to help you thoroughly consider all means of recovering financial compensation after a bicycle or pedestrian accident. We know you may be suffering or grieving, and encourage you to turn to us for caring, results-focused legal counsel beginning with a free case evaluation.

* Cell Phone Use/Texting Drivers

If you ask people whether it is safe to send text messages via cell phone while driving, most will adamantly say no, because the accident risk is clearly too great. Talking on a cell phone also substantially increases the risk of causing an accident. Yet this remains a temptation and convenience too great for many drivers in Massachusetts to pass up—as you were painfully or even tragically reminded if a cell phone-using driver caused your recent car, truck or motorcycle accident.

* Drunk Driving Accidents

As almost everyone should be aware in today's media-intensive world, drunk driving is a leading cause of auto accidents—and drunk driving accidents are more likely than others to be fatal or cause severe, life-changing injuries. Although harsher DWI/DUI penalties and education have had a positive impact, thousands across Massachusetts are still involved in drunk driving-related crashes each year, and 30-plus percent of all roadway fatalities involve alcohol. If you or your family has been victimized by a drunk driver, we know that these trends and statistics are no comfort at all.

* Motorcycle Accidents

Although motorcyclists have rights equal to those of all other drivers on the road, not every driver operates his or her car or truck accordingly. Many motorcycle accidents involve inattentive driving or other forms of negligence and, unfortunately, the consequences of the wrecks that result often include very severe injuries or even wrongful death. If a motorcycle accident has caused you or your loved one life-changing injuries, it can be especially critical to work with a lawyer who understands

* Side-Impact Collisions

A side-impact collision or “T-bone” crash can be devastating in terms of driver and passenger injuries and vehicle damage. At significant speed—or if a commercial truck or other large vehicle was involved— fatalities can occur and you may feel lucky to have survived. If your car was struck in a T-bone accident or other type of side-impact collision, your body absorbed a lot of force and, whether or not you or others were hospitalized, it is essential to be examined by a qualified medical professional.

* Truck Accidents

The personal injury, wrongful death, and workers' compensation attorneys at Eden, Rafferty, Tetreau & Erlich are well versed in the unique characteristics of truck accident cases. We have successfully pursued financial recoveries for private drivers victimized in collisions with commercial trucks and for truck drivers who incurred injuries through no fault of their own. We are committed to resolving your claim in the most cost-effective, timely manner possible. However, if a fair settlement cannot be negotiated, we are effective trial attorneys able to try your case effectively before a judge and jury.

* Uninsured & Underinsured Motorists

A substantial percentage of injury-causing car, motorcycle and truck accidents involve uninsured motorists, and those who do not carry nearly enough coverage to compensate victims when they cause a wreck. Unfortunately, this problem is compounded by the reality that people without car insurance tend not to have other significant financial assets, either, so legal options for obtaining badly needed compensation are often limited. Our lawyers have decades of experience dealing with Massachusetts insurance and liability law. We are prepared to work assertively with your own insurance company, explore all options, and do all we can to get the compensation you need.

- Criminal Defense

If you have been accused of a crime, the choice of a criminal defense attorney can make the difference between freedom and incarceration. When the stakes are this high, don't risk your future and your liberty on just any lawyer. Our criminal defense attorneys defend clients against all criminal charges, including: Operating Under the Influence (OUI/DWI/DUI); Assault; Sex crimes; Drug charges; Homicide; Theft; Robbery; Burglary; Weapons violations; Juvenile crime. We stand between you and the power of the government, making certain to protect your constitutional rights.

- Estate Planning

Everyone should have an up-to-date estate plan. A well-made estate plan allows you to make arrangements for your own future, take care of your loved ones, and remember special friends and favorite charities. At Eden, Rafferty, Tetreau & Erlich, our estate planning attorneys can help you tailor an estate plan to meet your specific needs while ensuring that the assets you have worked so hard to accumulate are preserved and distributed according to your wishes. Eden, Rafferty, Tetreau & Erlich also provides efficient legal services to transfer assets after someone has died. Our probate lawyer will reconcile debts and resolve any claims against the estate, and distribute assets to heirs and other beneficiaries.

- Family Law

Family law encompasses all the legalities concerning whom we live with and how we raise our children. At Eden, Rafferty, Tetreau & Erlich in Worcester, Massachusetts, our family law attorneys have the experience and skill to advocate aggressively on your behalf in all areas of family law. When it comes to matters that affect our families, issues can become very heated and emotional. That's why it's important to be represented by an experienced family lawyer who can provide reason, insight, and aggressive advocacy during difficult and emotionally charged disputes. The family law attorneys of Eden, Rafferty, Tetreau & Erlich have nearly twenty years of experience helping clients resolve legal issues that affect their families.

* Divorce

A divorce can be one of the most highly emotional periods in one's life, filled with anger and retribution. Yet, it is at this time that people are required to make important decisions about their property, their finances, and their children that will affect them for years to come. We are compassionate attorneys who know how to help you through this difficult period in your life so you can focus on a brighter future ahead. When you have an experienced divorce lawyer from Eden, Rafferty, Tetreau & Erlich at your side, you can be certain your spouse will not take advantage of you in the divorce process. We will advise and advocate in your best interest in all areas of divorce.

* Divorce Mediation

A divorce doesn't have to be a drawn-out courtroom battle that leaves you emotionally devastated and financially ruined. More and more often, couples are choosing to save time, money, and emotional strain by ending their marriages through the divorce mediation process. At Eden, Rafferty, Tetreau & Erlich in Worcester, Massachusetts, we believe divorce mediation is an effective option for many divorcing couples. In divorce mediation, one attorney or firm represents both parties, which cuts the number of attorneys to pay in half. The goal is to achieve a fair divorce settlement that both parties can agree to-not to annihilate the opposing side. While divorce mediation is not for everyone, it works well for many couples in cases of uncontested divorce.

- Personal Injury

When you have been injured because someone else was careless, reckless, or otherwise negligent, you may have a legal right to recover financial compensation for your injuries, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. If the person responsible for your injuries was criminally negligent, a drunk driver, for example, you may also be entitled to receive punitive damages. At Eden, Rafferty, Tetreau & Erlich, our experienced personal injury attorneys focus on recovering the full amount of compensation you deserve. We are excellent negotiators who will work to achieve a fair settlement to your case as quickly as possible. If a settlement cannot be negotiated, you can rely on our lawyers to aggressively represent your interests in civil court.

* Severe Injuries

The term “personal injury” seems inadequate to describe what many serious accident victims must endure. If you or a family member has survived a high-impact car wreck, motorcycle, bike or pedestrian accident, a major fall or catastrophic event on the job, you may be both grateful for their lives and overwhelmed by what lies ahead. At our respected Worcester, Massachusetts, law firm, you will find attorneys experienced in representing individuals and families after a wide range of disabling and life-changing injuries. Past efforts on both the victims' and defense side enables us to capably assess your case and pursue maximum compensation.

* Wrongful Death

Losing a loved one in an accident caused by someone else's careless or reckless act is one of the most traumatic events any of us can ever face. With decades of experience in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases, our attorneys not only have genuine empathy for the grief and anger you may feel—we know how to take legal action in pursuit of justice and the financial compensation your family deserves. After a fatal auto accident, on-the job tragedy or other catastrophic event has struck your family, having a trustworthy lawyer on your side can help ease the burden.

- Real Estate

The real estate attorneys of Eden, Rafferty, Tetreau & Erlich represent mortgage lenders in the purchase of real estate and in mortgage refinancing. We represent banks or other lenders at real estate closings. Our real estate attorneys will prepare all the paperwork and often hold the closings in our offices. Purchasing a home is one of the most expensive investments you will ever make. It's important that all aspects of the transaction be handled professionally. Our attorneys are experienced in real estate law and will ably represent you in all stages of the transaction, from drafting a purchase agreement, to preparing the closing documents.

- Representing Labor Unions

We have built our solid reputation in the Worcester, Massachusetts area through focused, determined representation of many individuals, families and organizations. Our attorneys take pride in making positive contributions to our neighbors' lives in many ways, and this is exemplified by our strong relationships with several prominent labor unions. If you a hardworking truck driver, correctional officer or other union member, we will welcome your interest in our firm and do our best to resolve a problem within any of our legal practice areas. If you are a union officer or representative interested in finding a law firm equipped to handle your union's legal issues as well as those of individuals who may ask you for an informed referral, we can help.

- Social Security Disability

Most of us have been paying part of our wages to the Social Security Administration for all of our working lives. If you have become disabled and can no longer work to earn a living, you should be able to receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. Yet, the application process is cumbersome and confusing, and many valid SSDI applications are rejected. Our attorneys have been helping people just like you receive the Social Security Disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits they deserve for nearly twenty years. You can rely on our skills and experience to help you get the benefits you are entitled to receive whether you were disabled by an injury or by an illness.

- Workers' Compensation

If you are injured at work and are disabled for six or more days, you are eligible to receive workers' compensation benefits, including payments for reasonable medical expenses and a portion of your weekly wage. However, obtaining the workers' compensation benefits you are entitled to receive is not always an easy task. Your claim may be rejected or your benefits may be discontinued. At Eden, Rafferty, Tetreau & Erlich, our workers' compensation attorneys represent disabled workers who need experienced advocates to help navigate the complex system of workers' compensation law. We will explain all of the protections that workers' compensation provides, and fight the insurance companies to get you those protections.

* Asbestos Diseases

One of the most tragic and far-reaching, largely untold stories of the American worker involves the widespread exposure of millions to asbestos. This mineral—long renowned and still used in many products today for its amazing heat resistance and other unique physical properties—has been acknowledged as the only known cause of mesothelioma and a primary factor in the development of certain lung, stomach, throat and other cancers. If you personally, or someone in your family, is a victim of mesothelioma or another asbestos-related cancer, we are prepared to consider and evaluate your case for obtaining compensation by all available legal means— free of charge and at no financial risk to you.

* Construction Site Injuries

If you have suffered any type of serious injury on a construction site in the Worcester or MetroWest region of Massachusetts, you can turn to us for a thorough evaluation of your legal options. We understand that your own future and your family's financial well-being may be foremost in your mind, and we adopt those same priorities. We are a resourceful, sophisticated law firm immersed in the issues faced by hardworking citizens. Our professional energies go toward pursuing justice and maximum compensation for people across the spectrum of life in our community, and we want to assert and defend your interests if you have suffered a construction site injury.

* On-the-Job Accidents

Taking productive legal action for people who are unable to work is a central mission for us at Eden, Rafferty, Tetreau & Erlich. Since our founding partners established our Worcester law firm in 1990, we have fought continuously for injured workers' rights and families' futures. Having someone you can turn to for sound legal representation can be critical after an accident on the job—and we take great pride in being just such a resource. Attorney Jane Eden's calling has long been advocacy and education in the important fields of workers' compensation and Social Security disability law.

* Truck Driver Injuries

Not everyone recognizes the hazards and risks faced on a daily basis by professional truck drivers. At Eden, Rafferty, Tetreau & Erlich, based in Worcester, Massachusetts, we get it. If a roadway accident caused by someone else has caused your injury, or you are unable to continue on the job for another reason, we encourage you to turn to our law firm. Our focused, established workers' compensation and personal injury lawyers not only have built a longstanding relationship with the Teamsters' local, we provide personal attention to individual truck drivers who have suffered an injury on the job or elsewhere.

Attorneys

	Ms. Jane Eden Attorney Social Security Disability, Workers Compensation		Mr. Michael H. Erlich Attorney Criminal Law, Drug Crime, DUI, DWI
	Mr. Richard J. Rafferty Jr. Attorney Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Real Estate		Ms. Roxann C. Tetreau Attorney Child Support and Custody, Divorce, Family Law