Were You Injured In A Car Accident Or Did A Loved One Die In A Crash In Northampton?
If you have been injured in a car, truck or other type of vehicle crash or if you have been injured as a pedestrian in or near Northampton or Hampshire County you’re probably suffering physically, emotionally and monetarily. You know that a careless, rushing, drunk or distracted driver in the Northampton area has caused your harm but you don’t know what to do about it. Attorney Shute understands from many years of helping people in similar situations what you are going through.
Regaining your health, of course, is your number one priority so getting checked out medically and having your injuries thoroughly diagnosed and treated in a timely manner is crucial to increase the likelihood of your full recovery. Just as you need sound medical advice, you also need sound legal advice. If you’ve lost salary or wages and you’re in pain or you struggle with your daily activities, let Northampton Atty. Robert Shute take the stress of the insurance and legal battles that lie ahead off you. The laws of who is responsible to pay for your injuries can be complicated and unfortunately many careless drivers will not admit to their errors and poor decision-making. Attorney Shute will develop a legal strategy tailored to your specific circumstances to help you receive financial compensation for what the careless driver has cost you and put you through.
Why Do I Need an Injury Lawyer?
Call Any Time
(413) 592-0999
The So-Called Independent Medical Exam is a favorite insurance company tactic to avoid paying medical bills, deny you treatment, and devalue your injury claim. Your own car insurance company makes you attend a medical exam by a doctor they hire who usually says you don’t need the treatment your doctor recommends. Know what to expect. Atty. Shute can help you avoid their traps.
Stop, Trains Can’t is a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration program to raise awareness of driver safety issues at railroad crossings. Never go around the crossing gates to “beat” a train and never stop on the tracks. A train going 55 mph can take a mile or more to stop. The NHTSA has a stark warning: “If you think a train will stop because it sees you on the tracks, it will- about a mile after it hits you.”
Seat Belts Save Lives. The NHTSA reports that seat belts cut the risk of death in a crash by almost half. Seat belts also prevent crashes by keeping drivers within reach of the steering wheel and brake pedal when their vehicle is swerving.
Vehicle Collisions In And Near Northampton And Hampshire County
Vehicle crashes are the result of many kinds of bad decision-making: driving while talking on the phone, driving after partying and drinking with friends, trying and failing to make it through a yellow light before it turns red- the list goes on. These kinds of bad decisions are especially dangerous in areas where the road design and traffic patterns are naturally complicated and require well-honed driving skills under the best of conditions. The Northampton area is home to some of these trouble spots. Atty. Shute knows these areas and he knows his way around the legal problems that arise from collisions that occur there.
The Number 4 Most Dangerous Pioneer Valley Intersection
Drivers and pedestrians who frequent Northampton will not be surprised to learn that the intersection of King St. (Route 5) and Damon Road and Bridge Road is near the top of the local most dangerous intersection list. Atty. Shute has represented multiple clients who have been injured there. This intersection presents several driver awareness challenges. All four approaches to the intersection are three lanes wide and include left turning lanes. Traffic gets backed up, especially at the rush hours and it can take several cycles of the traffic lights to get through. This can lead impatient drivers to hurry in an (often unsuccessful) effort to make it through a yellow light before it turns red. Drivers trying to make it through a yellow light can create another type of hazard when there is traffic stopped ahead and the driver has to stop, blocking the intersection for traffic that now has a green light. There are vehicles entering and exiting gas station and restaurant driveway curb-cuts very close to the intersection that create additional congestion, very often surprising drivers who have just gone through a green light and are thinking they are free to accelerate.
What Others Are Saying
About Us
Customer
My heart is full of gratitude to have had Attorney Robert Shute represent my son when he was injured in a auto accident. Attorney Shute’s kind, reassuring voice was the calm in the storm. He stood by my son while he was recovering and answered every question we had, and I had many! If you or your family or friends every need a lawyer, with years of experience, who knows just what to do, call Attorney Robert Shute. He’s the Real thing, not a T.V. actor lawyer. I feel truly Blessed to have had him by our side.
Customer
Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
I highly recommend Attorney Robert W. Shute as a personal injury attorney. I was injured in an auto accident several years ago and Attorney Shute provided me with high-quality legal representation to ultimately reach a favorable settlement. I was so satisfied with Attorney Shute's professionalism and timely communication that I recommended him to my family members and friends when they needed a personal injury attorney; they too were very satisfied with his legal services.
Additionally, Attorney Shute has been an invaluable resource and mentor, sharing his vast law knowledge and experience with me in my practice of law as well.
Customer
If there was ever a person that you would want to represent you it is by far your best decision to use Attorney Bob Shute. My accident happened several years ago and Bob Shute never gave up and worked so hard for my best interest! He would explain everything in detail and would translate everything in layman’s terms so I would understood everything that was happening so that I was able to make the best decisions. He never gave up and fought hard for me! I would always recommend Attorney Shute for anything you needed!
Customer
I would highly recommend The Injury Office of Robert Shute to anyone in need of legal services. He is not only Honest, Reliable and caring, but his office is always professional, responsive, knowledgeable and resourceful. He explains the process entirely and does all he can to ensure a great outcome for all his clients. Attorney Robert Shute is will always be my first choice, if I need it again.
Customer
He was an amazing lawyer to work with and was always updating me whenever he got news with my settlement after getting hit by another car last year. He is excellent at explaining everything and gave great advice. Highly would recommend him to anyone.
Customer
I had a great experience with Attorney Shute. He spent time to understand my situation, worked hard to develop the case and was persistent in pushing it through the process and in the end he got me a very good settlement. He is very knowledgeable and easy to interact with too. Hiring him was a good investment and I definitely would use him again.
Customer
Attorney Shute is a great Lawyer! He represented me very well for the injury I got and he had my back the entire time. I highly recommend him!
Customer
Attorney Shute does an outstanding job. I can't say enough good things about him and his work. Through the entire process, he was very patient and professional and kept us informed of his progress. He always took the time to be sure we clearly understood our options and he secured a great and fair settlement in a very timely manner. He was really wonderful to work with during a very stressful time. I very highly recommend Attorney Shute!
Customer
Attorney Shute is an exceptional lawyer who practices law with honesty and genuine integrity to ensure the best possible outcome for his clients. He has a friendly staff and he is always available to answer questions about your case and explains every possible scenario so that as a client you are aware of all of your options and you remain well informed about the status of your case. My family and I have utilized his services on more than one occasion and his results have proven to be fair and reasonable. I would definitely recommend his services to others.
Customer
I was hit by a hit and run vehicle as pedestrian. I went through the motions as instructed by the proper people. Hiring an attorney was not something I had realized I needed to do. After being in the Dr's office overwhelmed by the paperwork and pain someone said, your Attorney will do that for you. So I went on a hunt. If you are looking for an Attorney who you can actually talk to on the phone, Attorney Shute is your guy. He was always very professional and he explained everything in a way I always understood. He is patient, a good listener and aware of my injuries making me comfortable. I don't hesitate to tell people he's a great choice. And oh yes, we won my case.
Customer
Attorney Shute helped me through a difficult legal process after I was injured in an auto accident. Although the case was complex, he carefully, methodically and patiently advised me over all the hurdles that were placed in our path. Even the smallest accidents can be traumatic and legal nightmares. Attorney Shute traveled to my home to meet with me while I was injured and so traumatized I was unable to drive. He is smart, capable, and accessible. I recommend him very highly to anyone in need of expert personal injury advice.
Customer
Robert did a fantastic job with my case.
I can’t express that enough!
Absolutely on point and very helpful!!!
I recommend him to everyone!
Customer
I was dealing with a tough situation and needed legal guidance. Attourney Shute not only helped me through the process, he helped give me a better understanding of how the legal process works when dealing with various aspects of legal formalities. He is always punctual and pleasant as well and did a wonderful job of keep me in the loop of happenings and explaining aspects that I was not clear about throughout my experience. He made me feel more comfortable and confident with his legal guidance. I would recommend Attourney Shute to anyone in need of legal guidance or assistance and will guarantee you will be very satisfied with all the services and legal expertise he provides. Definately will be my go to Attorney on any legal matters
Customer
Attorney Shute was thorough, professional, and knowledgeable with our case. We highly recommend him!
Customer
I would like to thank Mr shute for all his help he went above and beyond for me yoou are the best I have could not have done this without you thanks to you I have a future again and I have no worries and God bless and thank you for everything you are the best I appreciate everything you've done for me and for my family thank you thank you thank you
Northampton
90 Conz St,
Northampton, MA 01060
Phone: (413) 437-7788
Railroad Tracks & Car Accidents
Drivers on Damon Road Northampton approaching the intersection with King Street should be aware of a less obvious, but potentially fatal hazard: trains. Traffic often backs up on Damon Road for a quarter mile or more which creates stop-and-go traffic as the intersection traffic lights go through their cycle. Approximately 100 yards before the intersection there is a railroad crossing protected by an offset gate system which is designed to allow motorists who manage to pass the entrance gate just before it descends to leave the crossing area. In other words, a motorist who passes the entrance gate onto the tracks will not get trapped between gates because there is no exit gate. The remaining danger, though, is that if a driver is following another vehicle in “bumper-to-bumper” traffic, the following vehicle might pass the railway crossing entrance gate just before it comes down and then get boxed-in on the railroad tracks between the car in front and the gate behind. Don’t let this be you!
Downtown Northampton
Downtown Northampton- one of the great places to be in Western Massachusetts, is known for its dining, its multi-genre music scene and for being one of the most “walkable” downtowns in the area. It has a reputation for being pedestrian-friendly but neither drivers nor pedestrians can afford to let their guard down.
In 2020 the Massachusetts Department of Transportation conducted a Road Safety Audit of the Downtown Northampton corridor (Route 9/ Main St./Bridge St.) from Smith College on one end to Market St on the other end. The audit found that lack of lane lines within the wide roadway along with the overall road geometry contributes to vehicle weaving, last-minute position changes, vehicle turning movement issues, and pedestrian safety issues. As a result, many of the crashes along the corridor were side-swipe and angle crashes. The lack of flashing DON’T WALK countdown timers creates danger for pedestrians. The long wait times for the traffic signals to complete their cycles lead to lane-weaving and red light running by impatient drivers and diagonal intersection crossing by pedestrians.
The City of Northampton is developing plans and hopes to address these and other traffic-related issues with construction to begin in 2025. According to the city, the Main St. reconstruction project will be designed to improve safety at crosswalks and intersections, improve pedestrian facilities and bicycle accommodations, and rehabilitate the roadway and improve the functioning of the four signalized intersections.
Rotaries And Roundabouts
Massachusetts General Laws c.89 Sec.8: Any operator of a vehicle entering a rotary intersection shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle already in the intersection.
Rotaries and Roundabouts are intended to allow for smooth flow of traffic at intersections, without the need for traffic lights. They are similar to each other except Roundabouts are smaller than Rotaries and posted speed limits entering them usually are lower.
Northampton is home to some relatively new roundabouts, notably at the entrance to Look Memorial Park and at the intersection of Pleasant St. and Conz St. These roundabouts are only about 100 yards around so the sharp curve forces vehicles to slow down and traffic flows through them in a single lane, reducing the risk of side-swipe accidents from lane switching. A newer roundabout is underway at the Interstate-91 – Exit 19 / MA Route 9 interchange at Bridge Street, Damon Road and the Coolidge Bridge. This roundabout will have two side-by-side lanes which require extra driver alertness due to the increased danger from vehicles in the inner lane trying to cross the outer lane to exit the roundabout.
Large classic rotaries like the one in neighboring South Hadley at the intersection of Purple Heart Drive and the Muller Bridge create an additional challenge- speed. This rotary is oval shaped and is almost ½ mile around. The speed limit on the Muller Bridge is 50 mph. Even though the speed limit drops on the approach to the rotary, cars coming off the bridge barely have to turn to enter the “straightaway” part of the oval. The road geometry that has only a slight curve can deceive unfamiliar drivers into thinking they are not entering a rotary and into thinking they can maintain their speed from the Muller Bridge. Rotaries like this are the reason that a Massachusetts highway administrator called rotaries a “free-for-all” and are the reason that the Mass. DOT is planning to convert rotaries into roundabouts.
When you have been injured in a vehicle collision you need a lawyer who knows the intricacies of the rules of the road and knows how to maximize the financial compensation you receive. Atty. Robert Shute is your experienced vehicle collision lawyer. Call 413-437-7788 or 413-592-0999 now, day or evening for your free consultation with Atty. Shute.
My heart is full of gratitude to have had Attorney Robert Shute represent my son when he was injured in a auto accident. Attorney Shute’s kind, reassuring voice was the calm in the storm. He stood by my son while he was recovering and answered every question we had, and I had many! If you or your family or friends every need a lawyer, with years of experience, who knows just what to do, call Attorney Robert Shute. He’s the Real thing, not a T.V. actor lawyer. I feel truly Blessed to have had him by our side.
Positive: Professionalism, Quality, Responsiveness, Value
I highly recommend Attorney Robert W. Shute as a personal injury attorney. I was injured in an auto accident several years ago and Attorney Shute provided me with high-quality legal representation to ultimately reach a favorable settlement. I was so satisfied with Attorney Shute's professionalism and timely communication that I recommended him to my family members and friends when they needed a personal injury attorney; they too were very satisfied with his legal services.
Additionally, Attorney Shute has been an invaluable resource and mentor, sharing his vast law knowledge and experience with me in my practice of law as well.
If there was ever a person that you would want to represent you it is by far your best decision to use Attorney Bob Shute. My accident happened several years ago and Bob Shute never gave up and worked so hard for my best interest! He would explain everything in detail and would translate everything in layman’s terms so I would understood everything that was happening so that I was able to make the best decisions. He never gave up and fought hard for me! I would always recommend Attorney Shute for anything you needed!
I would highly recommend The Injury Office of Robert Shute to anyone in need of legal services. He is not only Honest, Reliable and caring, but his office is always professional, responsive, knowledgeable and resourceful. He explains the process entirely and does all he can to ensure a great outcome for all his clients. Attorney Robert Shute is will always be my first choice, if I need it again.
He was an amazing lawyer to work with and was always updating me whenever he got news with my settlement after getting hit by another car last year. He is excellent at explaining everything and gave great advice. Highly would recommend him to anyone.
I had a great experience with Attorney Shute. He spent time to understand my situation, worked hard to develop the case and was persistent in pushing it through the process and in the end he got me a very good settlement. He is very knowledgeable and easy to interact with too. Hiring him was a good investment and I definitely would use him again.
Attorney Shute is a great Lawyer! He represented me very well for the injury I got and he had my back the entire time. I highly recommend him!
Attorney Shute does an outstanding job. I can't say enough good things about him and his work. Through the entire process, he was very patient and professional and kept us informed of his progress. He always took the time to be sure we clearly understood our options and he secured a great and fair settlement in a very timely manner. He was really wonderful to work with during a very stressful time. I very highly recommend Attorney Shute!
Attorney Shute is an exceptional lawyer who practices law with honesty and genuine integrity to ensure the best possible outcome for his clients. He has a friendly staff and he is always available to answer questions about your case and explains every possible scenario so that as a client you are aware of all of your options and you remain well informed about the status of your case. My family and I have utilized his services on more than one occasion and his results have proven to be fair and reasonable. I would definitely recommend his services to others.
I was hit by a hit and run vehicle as pedestrian. I went through the motions as instructed by the proper people. Hiring an attorney was not something I had realized I needed to do. After being in the Dr's office overwhelmed by the paperwork and pain someone said, your Attorney will do that for you. So I went on a hunt. If you are looking for an Attorney who you can actually talk to on the phone, Attorney Shute is your guy. He was always very professional and he explained everything in a way I always understood. He is patient, a good listener and aware of my injuries making me comfortable. I don't hesitate to tell people he's a great choice. And oh yes, we won my case.
Attorney Shute helped me through a difficult legal process after I was injured in an auto accident. Although the case was complex, he carefully, methodically and patiently advised me over all the hurdles that were placed in our path. Even the smallest accidents can be traumatic and legal nightmares. Attorney Shute traveled to my home to meet with me while I was injured and so traumatized I was unable to drive. He is smart, capable, and accessible. I recommend him very highly to anyone in need of expert personal injury advice.
Robert did a fantastic job with my case.
I can’t express that enough!
Absolutely on point and very helpful!!!
I recommend him to everyone!
I was dealing with a tough situation and needed legal guidance. Attourney Shute not only helped me through the process, he helped give me a better understanding of how the legal process works when dealing with various aspects of legal formalities. He is always punctual and pleasant as well and did a wonderful job of keep me in the loop of happenings and explaining aspects that I was not clear about throughout my experience. He made me feel more comfortable and confident with his legal guidance. I would recommend Attourney Shute to anyone in need of legal guidance or assistance and will guarantee you will be very satisfied with all the services and legal expertise he provides. Definately will be my go to Attorney on any legal matters
Attorney Shute was thorough, professional, and knowledgeable with our case. We highly recommend him!
I would like to thank Mr shute for all his help he went above and beyond for me yoou are the best I have could not have done this without you thanks to you I have a future again and I have no worries and God bless and thank you for everything you are the best I appreciate everything you've done for me and for my family thank you thank you thank you
Free Case Evaluation
Attorney Shute
Knows the “rules of the road” and can sort out complicated and conflicting crash stories so that you get treated fairly and receive the compensation you need. Atty. Shute is available for your free consultation, day or evening, at your convenience.