Bicycle Accident Lawyer in Massachusetts

Bicycle Accident Rights in Massachusetts

Massachusetts law gives cyclists the same rights and responsibilities as motor vehicle operators on public roads. Cyclists are entitled to use travel lanes, are protected by right-of-way rules at intersections, and must be given appropriate space by overtaking drivers. When a driver fails to share the road safely, by failing to yield, by opening a door into a cyclist’s path, by passing too closely, or by failing to see a cyclist before turning, the driver is liable for the resulting injuries. Attorney Jeffrey C. Lavey fights insurer bias against cyclists and pursues full compensation for every bicycle accident victim in Massachusetts.

The Insurer Bias Problem

Insurance companies handling bicycle accident claims frequently attempt to shift blame to the injured cyclist, arguing that the cyclist was in an improper lane position, was not wearing a helmet, or should have anticipated the driver’s action. These arguments are often made without supporting evidence and are designed to reduce the claim’s value through comparative fault. Attorney Lavey challenges these arguments with Massachusetts traffic law, expert analysis of the driver’s conduct, and the specific facts of the accident. Cyclists are fully entitled to the road, and insurer bias does not change that legal reality.

Common Bicycle Accident Scenarios

• Dooring accidents: a car door is opened into the cyclist’s path without checking for approaching cyclists
• Right-hook accidents: a driver makes a right turn across the cyclist’s path
• Left-cross accidents: an oncoming driver turns left in front of the cyclist
• Failure to yield at intersections where the cyclist had the right of way
• Unsafe passing: a driver passes too closely without adequate clearance
• Rear-end collisions where a driver strikes a cyclist from behind in a travel lane

Serious Injuries in Bicycle Accidents

Cyclists have no structural protection from vehicle impacts, making bicycle accident injuries among the most severe in any personal injury practice. Traumatic brain injury, even with helmet use in high-energy crashes, spinal cord injuries, road rash requiring skin grafting, multiple fractures, and facial and dental injuries are all common consequences. The disparity in size and speed between a bicycle and a motor vehicle means that impacts that a driver might not even notice can be devastating for the cyclist. Attorney Lavey documents the full severity of every bicycle accident injury.

Compensation for Bicycle Accident Victims

Bicycle accident compensation includes all medical expenses, all lost wages during recovery, pain and suffering, future medical costs for lasting injuries, and property damage to the bicycle and any equipment destroyed in the accident. The at-fault driver’s auto insurance is the primary source of compensation. If the driver is uninsured or underinsured, your own UM/UIM coverage may apply. Attorney Lavey pursues every available source of compensation for every bicycle accident victim.

Frequently Asked Questions