Boston Bicycle Accident Lawyer
A bike crash can change your life in seconds.
A driver’s careless moment can leave a cyclist with broken bones, road rash or a brain injury. When negligence caused it, state law lets an injured Boston cyclist hold them liable.
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A Boston bicycle accident lawyer fights for you.
Cyclists have the same right to the road as drivers, but almost no protection in a collision. A crash with a motor vehicle can cause fractures, road rash, spinal injuries, or a traumatic brain injury, and the rider almost always bears the worst of it. These crashes happen when drivers fail to yield, open a door into a bike lane, turn across a rider’s path, pass too closely, or simply do not look for cyclists. When a driver’s carelessness caused the crash, the injured cyclist can seek full compensation for the harm that follows.
Drivers and their insurers often try to blame the cyclist, claiming the rider came out of nowhere or was not visible. Overcoming that bias takes prompt evidence, a clear reconstruction of how the crash happened, and proof of how serious the injuries really are. A Boston bicycle accident lawyer gathers that proof, pushes back on the blame, and pursues the full value of the claim. Larson Law represents injured cyclists throughout Boston and Suffolk County at no upfront cost, and you pay nothing unless we win.
Boston is one of the most active cycling cities in the country, with protected lanes, bike share, and thousands of daily commuters, but it also has narrow, busy streets, heavy traffic, and intersections where drivers and riders meet at speed. A rider doing everything right can still be hit by a driver who turns without looking or pushes through a crosswalk. The law recognizes a cyclist’s right to be there, and the real question after a crash is who was at fault and how badly the rider was hurt.
A serious bike crash brings more than medical bills. There are lost wages, a damaged bike and gear, time in recovery, and the fear that can follow getting back on the road. A lawyer handles the insurer and the investigation so you do not have to fight that battle while you heal, and because we work on a contingency fee, getting answers costs you nothing up front.
Bike crashes in the city take many forms, and most are caused by something the driver did. We help riders hurt by drivers who turned right across a bike lane, opened a door without looking, failed to yield while pulling out of a side street or driveway, passed far too closely, ran a light or stop sign, or were distracted or speeding. We also help cyclists struck in crosswalks, on shared paths, and at the bridges and rotaries where traffic is heaviest. Some riders walk away with road rash and a broken bone; others face surgery, months of rehabilitation, or a brain or spinal injury that changes their lives. Whatever the severity, if a driver’s negligence caused the crash, you have the right to seek compensation, and the only way to know what your case may support is to have it reviewed by a lawyer who handles bike cases.
Larson Law represents injured cyclists across Boston, and riders from around the state also reach our Massachusetts bicycle accident lawyer practice. A bicycle case differs from a car case in a way that matters from day one: a cyclist does not carry Personal Injury Protection the way a driver does, so the claim generally proceeds against the at-fault driver’s coverage rather than a no-fault policy. That puts the driver’s fault, and the proof of it, at the center from the start. Daniel J. Larson personally reviews how the crash happened, who was at fault, and what the injury has cost before any claim moves forward. You can reach the firm through our Boston personal injury attorney team at no cost.
What our clients say
We fight for injured cyclists.
- We handle bicycle crash claims for riders hurt by careless drivers throughout Boston
- We reconstruct how the crash really happened so the driver and insurer cannot rewrite it later
- We push back when a driver claims the cyclist came out of nowhere or was the one at fault
- We pursue every source of coverage, including the driver's policy and uninsured-motorist coverage
- Attorney Daniel J. Larson prepares every bicycle crash case as if it may have to go to trial
- No fee unless we win
- Free, private case review
- Same-day response
- Honest advice from day one
$300K+ Won For Clients
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8+ Years of Legal Expertise
98% Legal Success Rate
100+ Injured Victims Helped
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How the law protects injured cyclists.
A driver’s duty to share the road
Massachusetts law requires drivers to share the road with cyclists and to use reasonable care to avoid them. State law also protects riders directly, including a safe-passing requirement, rules against turning across a cyclist’s path, and a prohibition on opening a car door into traffic when it is not safe, the cause of the dooring crashes that injure so many city riders. When a driver breaks one of these duties and causes a crash, the driver can be held responsible for the rider’s injuries.
Shared fault and the deadline to file
Drivers often argue the cyclist was partly to blame, but under comparative negligence, MGL Chapter 231 Section 85, an injured rider can still recover as long as they were not more than half at fault, with the award reduced by their share. Most claims must be filed within three years under MGL Chapter 260 Section 2A, and for an injured child the clock pauses under MGL Chapter 260 Section 7. If a crash proves fatal, the family may bring a wrongful death claim, which a Boston wrongful death lawyer can pursue, under MGL Chapter 229.
Where the compensation comes from
A cyclist injured by a car can often look to the driver’s auto insurance, and in many cases to the cyclist’s own auto policy as well, because uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can protect you as a rider even though you were not in a car. That coverage can be vital when the driver who hit you fled or had little or no insurance. Identifying every policy that may apply is an important early step that often makes a real difference in the recovery.
Building one of these cases is detailed work. We move quickly to reconstruct the crash from the physical evidence, the point of impact, the vehicle damage, road position, any traffic or doorbell camera footage, and witness accounts, so the driver’s version cannot go unchallenged. We then document the full injury, from the emergency care through surgery, rehabilitation, and any lasting effects, and present it to the insurer with a complete demand. If a fair offer does not come, we are prepared to try the case, and you owe nothing unless we recover.
We also know the tactics insurers use against riders, and we are ready for them. They may argue the cyclist was hard to see, was not in a marked lane, ran a light, or somehow caused their own injuries, and they may push a fast, low offer before the full extent of the harm is known. We answer those arguments with evidence, not assumptions, and we never let an insurer’s first number set the value of a serious injury. Because we prepare every case as if it may be tried before a Suffolk County jury, insurers know our demands are backed by a willingness to go the distance, which is often what it takes to reach a fair result. You pay nothing while we do that work, and owe a fee only if we recover for you.
It does not matter whether you were riding in a painted bike lane, a protected lane, or a regular travel lane where the law allows you to ride. A driver’s duty to look for cyclists and to pass, turn, and open doors safely applies everywhere on the road. Insurers sometimes suggest a rider was somehow out of place, but Massachusetts law gives cyclists the right to the road, and the focus stays on whether the driver met their duty of care. If they did not, and that failure caused your crash, they are responsible for the injuries that resulted, no matter which lane you were in when they hit you.
Your Boston bicycle accident lawyer knows these streets.
Where bike crashes happen in Boston
Boston’s busiest cycling corridors are also its most dangerous, with crashes concentrated along Commonwealth Avenue, Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge Street, and the bridges connecting the city to Cambridge, as well as around Allston, Back Bay, the Fenway, and downtown. Dooring crashes in bike lanes, right-hook turns at intersections, and drivers pulling out of side streets injure riders every week. Many of these crashes happen because a driver simply was not looking for a cyclist, then blames the rider afterward. Where the driver was at fault, the rider has the right to seek full compensation.
Care and where these claims are handled
Cyclists hurt in Boston are often treated at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Medical Center, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, which handle serious trauma from city crashes. Injury cases tied to Boston are generally handled in the Suffolk County courts, including the Boston Municipal Court and Suffolk Superior Court. A lawyer who knows the local roads, the worst intersections, and how these cases are handled here can move quickly to gather evidence and aim the case in the right direction from the start.
Why fast action protects your claim
The proof in a bike case disappears fast. Traffic and security cameras record over their footage within days, the vehicle gets repaired, and the scene changes. Acting early lets your lawyer send preservation letters, pull video, photograph the vehicle damage, and lock down witness accounts before the trail goes cold. Keeping your damaged bike, helmet, and gear matters too, because they are evidence of the force of the impact. Larson Law builds that proof while you focus on recovering, and we never charge anything up front to do it.
Reaching out after a crash should be easy, so we keep the first conversation simple and pressure-free. Call or send a message and a Boston bicycle accident lawyer will listen to what happened, answer your questions, and explain how a claim works and what the likely next steps are. If we take your case, we handle the investigation, the reconstruction, and every conversation with the driver’s insurer from there, and we keep you informed at each stage. If we do not, you will still come away understanding your rights and your options. Either way the review is free, there is no obligation, and you will never owe us anything unless we win money for you. The sooner you call, the more of the evidence we can protect before it is gone.
If you are not sure who was at fault, or the driver’s insurer has already called, it still costs nothing to find out where you stand. Many riders assume a case is too small or too uncertain to pursue, only to learn that the evidence clearly shows the driver was negligent and that real coverage is available. The sooner a lawyer reviews the crash, the more of the proof can be preserved and the stronger the claim becomes. Reach out, tell us what happened, and we will give you an honest assessment of your options, with no cost and no obligation, so you can make an informed decision about what to do next.
Boston has invested in protected lanes and lower speed limits, but the streets are still crowded, fast, and unforgiving for anyone on two wheels, and crashes continue to happen every day. When one does, an experienced local lawyer can make the difference between a claim that is taken seriously and one an insurer brushes aside. We are ready to help you take that first step.
If you were hit on your bike anywhere in Boston, a short, no-cost conversation is the simplest way to learn whether you have a claim and what it may be worth, with no pressure and no obligation to move forward.
Fault is measured by percentage under Chapter 231, Section 85, and insurers routinely try to shift blame onto the rider, arguing that a cyclist ran a light, wore dark clothing, or left a bike lane, so reconstructing what actually happened often decides the case. The common Boston crash types have their own signatures: a driver turning across a bike lane, a car door opened into a rider’s path, or a right hook at a busy intersection.
The window to act is limited. Under Chapter 260, Section 2A, most claims must be filed within three years, and the physical evidence and camera footage that prove how a crash happened rarely last that long. Securing the police report, the vehicle, and any nearby video early is often what separates a provable case from one that comes down to the driver’s word against the rider’s.
Boston is a dense, fast-moving city for cyclists, with narrow lanes, heavy door-zone parking along streets like Massachusetts Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue, and busy intersections shared with turning trucks and buses. Many crashes here follow familiar patterns, a driver turning across a bike lane, a car door opened into traffic, or a right hook at an intersection. Knowing how and where these collisions happen in the city helps an investigation reconstruct what occurred and show the rider was where they had every right to be.
A claim should cover every lasting cost.
A serious bike crash can carry costs that last well beyond the emergency room. A claim can cover past and future medical care, surgery and rehabilitation, a damaged bike and gear, lost wages and lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, and the lasting effects of a serious injury such as a fracture, spinal injury, or brain injury. A full claim reflects all of it, not just the first hospital bill. For a cyclist, the hardest losses to measure are often the pain and the lost freedom of the road that linger long after the visible injuries have healed, and a careful claim documents that toll alongside the medical records. Because a serious crash can keep a rider off the bike, and out of work, for months, or leave permanent limits, valuing the claim fully means weighing future treatment, reduced earning power, and the daily effect on a person’s life rather than the bills already paid. It also means preserving the evidence early, the vehicle damage, the roadway, and any camera footage, before it disappears, because in a dispute over who had the right of way that proof often decides the outcome.
A bike crash shares the road with other vulnerable-user cases. The same driver who doors a cyclist may next injure someone on foot, a matter for a Boston pedestrian accident lawyer. The same lane carries riders who need a Boston scooter accident lawyer. And a car turning across a bike lane can call for a Boston car accident lawyer.
Medical Bills and Future Care
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
Pain, Suffering, and Hardship
Wrongful Death of a Loved One
What to do after a bike crash.
Get medical care and a police report
See a doctor right away, even if you feel okay, and make sure police are called to the scene. A crash report plus prompt care tie your injuries to that crash, which a driver's insurer later questions.
Document the scene and your bike
Photograph the scene, your bike, the vehicle, and any injuries before anything is moved. Get names and numbers from drivers and witnesses, and keep your damaged bike and gear, since they are evidence.
Talk to a lawyer before the insurer
Before you give the driver's insurer a statement or accept a fast payment, talk with a lawyer who can protect the claim. Early advice guards the evidence and your deadline while you focus on recovery.
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If a driver’s carelessness left you injured on your bike in Boston, you should not be blamed or left paying for it. A Boston bicycle accident lawyer can reconstruct the crash, push back on the driver’s insurer, and pursue the full value of your claim, all at no cost to you. If a bike crash proved fatal, the family may bring a wrongful death claim under MGL Chapter 229. There is no fee unless we win, so reach out today for a free, private case review.
Cyclists ride well past the city line. We take the same cases in Cambridge. We handle them along the canals of Lowell. And we cover the streets of Brockton just the same.
Riders across the region also rely on us. We serve injured cyclists as a Worcester personal injury lawyer. We help them in Brockton too. And we represent injured riders in Dorchester as well.
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Larson Law helps injured people and families across Massachusetts after a serious accident. If you were hurt by someone else’s carelessness in Boston, we are ready to listen and explain your options at no cost.
After a Boston bike crash, cyclists ask these first.
Do I have a claim if a car hit my bike?
Yes. A cyclist has the same right to the road as a driver, and a motorist who hits you can be held responsible for your injuries and losses. Because bike crashes often cause serious harm, the claim usually reaches the driver’s auto insurance and looks at the full, lasting extent of the injury.
What if the driver says I came out of nowhere?
Drivers often say that, but it rarely settles the question. Physical evidence, the point of impact, skid marks, camera footage, and witness accounts frequently tell a different story. A thorough investigation can show you were riding lawfully and visibly, which is why gathering that proof early matters so much.
What if I was not wearing a helmet?
You can still recover. Massachusetts law does not bar an adult cyclist’s claim for riding without a helmet, and the driver remains responsible for causing the crash. The insurer may raise it, but a lawyer can keep the focus on the driver’s negligence and the harm it caused.
What if I was partly at fault?
You can still recover under G.L. c. 231, §85, the state’s comparative negligence rule, as long as your share of fault is not greater than the driver’s. Your award is reduced by your percentage, so how fault is investigated and divided directly affects what you receive.
What if the driver who hit me fled?
You may still have a path to recovery. A hit-and-run can sometimes be pursued through your own uninsured motorist coverage, and investigation, video, and witnesses occasionally identify the driver. It is worth having a lawyer look before assuming a fled driver means there is no claim.
What if the driver had no insurance?
You may still recover through uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage, either on your own auto policy or, in some cases, a household member’s. These layers are easy to overlook, so it helps to have a lawyer identify every policy that might respond to the crash.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Under G.L. c. 260, §2A, you generally have three years from the date of the crash to file a personal injury claim. Because physical evidence and camera footage disappear quickly and memories fade, it is wise to begin well before that deadline rather than waiting.
What is a bicycle accident claim worth?
It depends on the injuries and their lasting effect, the medical care required, the income lost, and how the crash changed your life, not on any formula. Because cyclists are so exposed, these crashes often cause severe injuries, and the claim has to account for a lifetime of impact.
Should I talk to the driver's insurer?
Be careful before giving a statement. The driver’s insurer works to limit the claim, and an early recorded statement can be used against you. It is best to speak with your own lawyer before answering questions or signing anything the insurer sends you.
What if a loved one died in a bike crash?
If a bike crash proved fatal, close family members may bring a wrongful death claim under Massachusetts law for the losses they suffer, including lost support and companionship. Such a claim has its own deadline, and pursuing it can bring both accountability and some measure of stability.
How much does a bicycle accident lawyer cost?
Nothing up front. These cases are handled on a contingency fee, so you pay no attorney’s fee unless there is a recovery, and the first case review is free. That lets an injured cyclist take on a driver’s insurer without worrying about hourly bills.
What should I do right after a bike crash?
Call 911 and get medical care promptly, even if you feel able, because serious injuries can surface later. Photograph the scene, the vehicle, and your bike, get the driver’s and any witnesses’ information, and report the crash. Then speak with a lawyer before giving a statement to any insurer.
Results Disclaimer: Past case results, settlements, and verdicts mentioned on this website do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case. Every case is unique and depends on its own facts and legal issues.