MASSACHUSETTS BICYCLE ACCIDENT LAWYER
A driver’s carelessness put you down.
Massachusetts gives cyclists the same rights as drivers, but a bicycle crash claim is built very differently, and a cyclist hurt by a careless driver has no PIP and must prove fault.
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A Massachusetts bicycle accident lawyer proves driver fault.
A bicycle crash claim is not a car crash claim, and the difference catches injured cyclists off guard. Massachusetts gives a cyclist the same rights on the road as any driver, and holds drivers to the same duty of care, but when a driver fails to leave room, runs a light, opens a door into the lane, or turns across a rider’s path, the injuries are often far worse than a car-to-car crash at the same speed, because a cyclist has no structural protection. MassDOT recorded 1,105 bicycle crashes statewide in a single recent year, confirmed from the MassDOT IMPACT dashboard, and the legal difference that matters most is insurance. A bicycle is not a motor vehicle, so a cyclist gets no personal injury protection from the driver’s policy and must instead prove the driver’s fault and pursue the driver’s liability coverage directly. Insurers know cyclists often do not understand that distinction, and they move early to settle before the injuries are fully documented. Getting the fault evidence, the right insurance, and the full injury picture documented from the start is what turns a serious crash into a real recovery rather than a discounted offer. Larson Law handles these claims across Massachusetts. If a driver hit you while cycling, a Massachusetts bicycle accident lawyer can review your situation at no cost.
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We build the bike claim the right way.
- We handle bicycle crash claims statewide, from car collisions and doorings to intersection crashes and road defects
- We establish the driver’s fault and find every insurance source, including your own underinsured motorist coverage
- We build the claim as a direct fault case, because cyclists have no PIP in Massachusetts
- We use the four-foot passing law to strengthen the case when a driver passed too close
- We deal with the driver’s insurer directly so the claim is not settled before your injuries are known
- No fee unless we win your case
- No upfront costs
- Direct attorney access throughout
- Same-day and hospital visits anywhere in Massachusetts if you cannot travel
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100+ Injured Victims Helped
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Massachusetts gives cyclists a driver’s full rights.
Cyclists have a vehicle operator’s rights
Under MGL Ch. 85 Sec. 11B, a person riding a bicycle on a Massachusetts road has all the rights and duties of the driver of a motor vehicle. A cyclist riding lawfully in a travel lane has the full right to use it, and a driver who strikes a cyclist while failing to yield, turning into their path, or passing too close has violated that right. Massachusetts also requires drivers to leave at least four feet of clearance when passing a cyclist, and a driver who passed closer than four feet broke that law, which is direct evidence of fault.
No PIP for cyclists, and why it matters
Massachusetts requires drivers to carry personal injury protection under MGL Ch. 90 Sec. 34M, and PIP pays the occupants of a motor vehicle regardless of fault. A bicycle is not a motor vehicle, so a cyclist injured by a driver gets no PIP from that driver’s policy and must establish the driver’s fault and pursue the driver’s bodily injury liability coverage directly. If that coverage is too low, underinsured motorist coverage on the cyclist’s own auto policy under MGL Ch. 175 Sec. 113L can add to it. This is the central reason a bicycle claim is handled differently from a car claim.
Dooring, comparative fault, and helmets
A dooring crash, when a driver or passenger opens a door into a cyclist’s path, is governed by MGL Ch. 90 Sec. 14, which makes the person who opened the door liable. Massachusetts follows modified comparative fault under MGL Ch. 231 Sec. 85, so a cyclist can recover as long as their share of fault is not greater than the other side’s, and insurers often argue the cyclist was outside a bike lane or rode against traffic. Helmets are required only for riders under sixteen, and for an adult, going without one does not establish fault for the crash itself.
Bicycle accidents happen on roads across Massachusetts.
Where bicycle crashes happen in Massachusetts
Bicycle crashes happen on every kind of Massachusetts road, but they concentrate on high-volume urban corridors and at intersections, where the speed gap between cyclists and cars is greatest and turning movements create the conflicts behind a large share of serious injuries. MassDOT has also found that a significant portion of bicycle crashes statewide happen within a few hundred feet of a bus stop, where buses pull across the bike’s path and passengers step into it. Wherever the crash happened, the claim turns on the same proof: that the driver’s conduct, not the cyclist’s, caused it.
Proving the driver’s fault after a crash
The evidence that proves a driver’s fault is specific and time-sensitive. Scene photographs, the position of the vehicles, the police report and any citation, nearby surveillance or dash-camera footage, and witness accounts all help establish what happened, and a citation for failing to yield, dooring, or violating the four-foot passing law is strong evidence. Much of this is not preserved automatically and can be lost within weeks, so securing it quickly is one of the most important things a bicycle accident lawyer does.
Where these cases are filed
A Massachusetts bicycle accident claim is filed in the county where the crash occurred, in the District Court for smaller claims or the county Superior Court for larger ones, confirmed from mass.gov. Because bicycle injuries are frequently severe, Superior Court filings are common. Larson Law handles bicycle crash claims across all of Massachusetts, and the first review of your claim is always free.
Your losses go well past a damaged bike.
What a claim may support depends on the severity of your injuries, the at-fault driver’s insurance limits, and whether underinsured motorist coverage applies. Bicycle crash injuries are frequently more severe than car crash injuries at the same speed, because a cyclist has no structural protection at all.
Medical Bills and Future Treatment Costs
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
Pain, Suffering, and Permanent Injury
Bicycle Damage and Property Losses
Act fast after a bicycle crash to protect the claim.
Get care and document the crash
Get medical care right away, even if you feel only shaken, and keep every record. Photograph the scene and your bike, and get the driver’s details, because early proof is what carries the whole claim.
Talk to a bicycle accident lawyer
Call us or send the form. A Massachusetts bicycle accident lawyer will review how the crash happened, explain your rights, and map your next steps, completely free of any cost to you, right now today.
We build the fault case from here
We establish the driver’s fault, find every insurance source, deal with the insurer directly, and pursue every part of your claim through to a full and fair resolution, every step of the way, for you.
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Talk to a Massachusetts bicycle accident lawyer free.
A bicycle accident claim depends on establishing what the driver did wrong, on evidence like scene photos and camera footage that disappears quickly, and on a filing deadline of three years under MGL Ch. 260 Sec. 2A that does not move. Tell us how the crash happened and where you are in your recovery, and we will establish fault, identify every insurance source, and explain what your claim may support. When a bicycle crash takes a life, the surviving family may bring a wrongful death claim under MGL Ch. 229. The first review is free, and there is no fee unless we win.
By submitting this form, you acknowledge that doing so does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not include confidential information. Contacting us does not obligate you to retain our services.
Our Clients.
Our Practice Areas.
We handle bicycle and cyclist injury claims across all of Massachusetts, from the first call to the final resolution. Whatever happened, we will tell you where you stand at no cost.
Bicycle crash questions riders ask most.
I do not have car insurance. Can I still file a bicycle claim?
Yes. A bicycle accident claim is a fault-based claim against the driver who caused the crash, so you do not need your own auto insurance to pursue the at-fault driver’s liability coverage. Your own policy would only matter if you carry underinsured motorist coverage under MGL Ch. 175 Sec. 113L and the driver’s limits fall short. Cyclists without any auto policy can still pursue a claim directly against the responsible driver.
The driver who hit me had no insurance. What are my options?
Your main option is an uninsured motorist claim on your own auto policy, if you have one. Massachusetts requires insurers to offer uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage under MGL Ch. 175 Sec. 113L, and it can cover your injuries when the at-fault driver has none. If you do not have your own auto policy, a claim against the driver personally is still available, though collecting depends on the driver’s assets. We assess every recovery source.
Does it matter that I was not wearing a helmet?
Massachusetts requires helmets only for cyclists under sixteen, so an adult is not legally required to wear one, and going without does not establish fault for the crash itself. An insurer may argue the absence of a helmet increased a head injury, but that is a damages argument about comparative fault under MGL Ch. 231 Sec. 85, not liability, and we challenge it with the medical evidence and the law.
A driver opened a car door into me. Is that a valid claim?
Yes. Under MGL Ch. 90 Sec. 14, no one may open a vehicle door into traffic without first checking that it is safe, and a driver or passenger who opens a door into a cyclist’s path is liable for the resulting crash. Dooring claims proceed as fault-based liability claims against the person who opened the door, and the vehicle owner’s auto liability insurance is the coverage source.
What is the four-foot passing rule and how does it help?
Massachusetts requires drivers to leave at least four feet of clearance when passing a cyclist, and to cross the center line to do so when it is safe. A driver who passed you with less than four feet of space violated that law, and the violation is direct evidence of fault. It can support an argument that the driver was negligent, and it strengthens the liability case in your claim.
Can I still recover if I was partly at fault?
Potentially yes. Massachusetts follows modified comparative fault under MGL Ch. 231 Sec. 85, so you can recover as long as your share of the fault is not greater than the other side’s, with the award reduced by your percentage. Insurers often argue the cyclist was outside a bike lane, rode against traffic, or failed to signal. We make sure any fault argument is tested against the actual facts of the crash.
How long do I have to file a bicycle accident claim?
Under MGL Ch. 260 Sec. 2A, the deadline for most Massachusetts personal injury claims is three years from the date of the crash, and for a child it does not begin until age eighteen. The practical window to preserve crash-scene photos, surveillance footage, and the driver’s account before memories change is far shorter, so acting quickly protects the evidence the claim depends on.
What is a bicycle accident claim worth?
There is no fixed figure. What a claim may support depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical costs and future treatment, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, the pain and disruption the crash caused, and the insurance available. We do not promise a number; we build the claim so its full value, including future losses, is documented and pursued.
What should I do right after a bicycle crash?
Get medical care promptly, even if you feel only shaken, because some injuries surface later. Call the police so there is an official report, photograph the scene, your bike, and your injuries, and get the driver’s information and any witness details. Avoid giving the driver’s insurer a recorded statement before getting advice. Then contact a lawyer quickly so the evidence can be preserved.
Does Larson Law handle bicycle crashes statewide?
Yes. Larson Law handles bicycle and cyclist injury claims across all of Massachusetts, in every county. Wherever the crash happened, reach out by phone, text, or the form on this page at no cost, and we will explain how Massachusetts law applies, establish the driver’s fault, and identify every insurance source for your claim.
Where is a Massachusetts bicycle accident case filed?
A bicycle accident claim is filed in the county where the crash occurred, in the District Court for smaller claims or the county Superior Court for larger ones, confirmed from mass.gov. Because bicycle injuries are often severe, Superior Court filings are common. When a crash is fatal, the wrongful death claim under MGL Ch. 229 proceeds through that county’s courts as well.
What if a bicycle crash left me with permanent injuries?
Bicycle crashes frequently cause serious, lasting harm, because a cyclist has no protection in a collision. When a crash leaves permanent injuries, broken bones that do not fully heal, nerve damage, a brain injury, or lasting scarring, the claim should account for future medical care, diminished earning capacity, and the long-term effect on daily life, not just the immediate bills. Documenting the permanence of the injury through your treating doctors is central to the full value of the claim.
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.