MASSACHUSETTS PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT LAWYER
You had the right of way.
A pedestrian hit by a car has almost nothing to absorb the impact, so the injuries are often severe. When a driver failed to yield in Massachusetts, the law puts the responsibility on them.
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A Massachusetts pedestrian accident lawyer fights for you.
A person on foot has nothing to shield them from the impact of a car, so even a low-speed crash can cause broken bones, head injuries, and lasting harm. Massachusetts law recognizes this by placing strong duties on drivers, above all the duty to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. When a driver fails to slow down, look, or stop, and a pedestrian is hurt, the driver and their insurer can be held responsible for the full extent of the injuries.
Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto the pedestrian, claiming they stepped out suddenly or crossed in the wrong place. Those arguments rarely hold up once the facts are gathered, but they are why so many fair claims are underpaid. A Massachusetts pedestrian accident lawyer secures the crash evidence, deals with the insurer, and builds the claim while you recover. Larson Law represents injured pedestrians across Massachusetts, and the first conversation is always free.
What our clients say
People struck on foot deserve an advocate.
- We handle pedestrian accident claims across every part of Massachusetts
- We push back when an insurer tries to blame the person who was hit
- We secure crosswalk evidence, video, and witnesses before they disappear
- We pursue every insurance source, including the driver's and your own coverage
- Attorney Daniel J. Larson prepares every case as if it may be tried
- 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
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100+ Injured Victims Helped
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How Massachusetts law protects people on foot.
A driver’s duty to yield
Massachusetts law requires drivers to yield the right of way to pedestrians in a marked crosswalk. Under MGL Chapter 89 Section 11, when traffic signals are not controlling, a driver must slow or stop to let a person cross and may not pass another vehicle stopped for a pedestrian. A violation is strong evidence of negligence, and the law even requires police to investigate crashes that injure a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
Shared fault and how it works
Insurers often argue the pedestrian was partly at fault. Massachusetts uses modified comparative negligence under MGL Chapter 231 Section 85, which lets an injured pedestrian recover as long as they were not more than half at fault, with the award reduced by their share. Even a pedestrian outside a crosswalk may still recover when the driver was careless.
The deadline to bring a claim
Most pedestrian injury claims must be filed within three years under MGL Chapter 260 Section 2A, and for an injured child the deadline is paused under MGL Chapter 260 Section 7 until they turn eighteen. Acting early preserves video, vehicle data, and witness memories.
Massachusetts pedestrian accidents cluster at crossings.
Where pedestrian crashes happen in Massachusetts
Pedestrians are struck most often where people and traffic mix at speed: busy arterials and state routes, downtown intersections, school and transit zones, and parking lots. Boston, Worcester, Springfield, and the dense communities around them see the highest numbers, but serious crashes happen in suburbs and small towns too, especially at dusk and in winter when visibility drops. Failure to yield, speeding, distraction, and turning across a crosswalk are the most common causes.
Serious injuries and statewide help
Because a pedestrian is unprotected, these crashes often cause fractures, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal damage that take a long time to heal. Larson Law represents injured pedestrians throughout the Commonwealth, from the cities to the South Shore, North Shore, and Cape. For city-specific help, our Cambridge pedestrian accident lawyer page serves that community directly.
Your claim reaches past the first hospital bill.
Being hit by a vehicle can mean surgery, months of rehabilitation, and time out of work, and the costs rarely stop with the first hospital stay. A pedestrian injury claim is built to cover past and future medical care, lost wages and earning capacity, pain and suffering, and the lasting effects of a serious injury.
Medical Bills and Future Care
Lost Wages and Earning Capacity
Pain, Suffering, and Trauma
Wrongful Death of a Loved One
What to do after being hit by a car.
Get medical care and keep records
See a doctor the same day, even if you feel only shaken, because some injuries surface later and your medical records tie the harm to the incident. Keep every bill, note, and receipt that you receive.
Document the scene and the cause
Photograph what hurt you, the vehicles, the hazard, or the whole scene, and collect the names and numbers of anyone who saw it happen. Do not give a recorded statement to any insurer just yet, either.
Talk to a lawyer before the insurer
Before you accept any offer or sign any release, have a lawyer review the cause and the long term cost of your care. An early review protects the evidence and the deadline that controls your recovery.
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A Massachusetts pedestrian accident lawyer can help you.
Being struck by a car can change your life in an instant, and you should not have to fight the driver’s insurance company while you are still healing. A Massachusetts pedestrian accident lawyer can review how the crash happened, gather the evidence, and explain what your claim may be worth, all at no cost to you. If a crash proved fatal, the victim’s 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.
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Our Clients.
Our Practice Areas.
Larson Law represents injured people in claims of every kind across Massachusetts. Explore the related practice areas below, or reach out for a free review of what happened to you.
Pedestrian injury questions, answered.
Do I have a claim if a car hit me?
Very likely, if a driver’s carelessness caused your injuries. Drivers owe pedestrians a high duty of care, especially the duty to yield in crosswalks under MGL Chapter 89 Section 11. If a driver failed to yield, sped, was distracted, or turned without looking, you may have a strong claim. The clearest way to know is a free review, where a lawyer can look at the facts and the available insurance.
What if I was not in a crosswalk?
You may still have a claim. While drivers must yield in marked crosswalks, they also owe a general duty of care everywhere. A pedestrian hit outside a crosswalk can still recover if the driver was speeding, distracted, or otherwise careless. Massachusetts comparative negligence may reduce the recovery by your share of fault, but it does not automatically bar a claim unless you were more than half responsible.
The driver says I stepped out suddenly. Does that end my claim?
Not necessarily. Insurers routinely claim the pedestrian darted out, but the physical evidence, vehicle damage, video, and witness accounts often tell a different story. Even if you share some blame, Massachusetts lets you recover as long as you were not more than half at fault under MGL Chapter 231 Section 85. A lawyer can investigate and counter an unfair blame argument.
Who pays for my medical bills after I am hit?
Several sources may apply. If you own or live with someone who owns a car, that policy’s personal injury protection may cover initial medical bills, and the at-fault driver’s liability insurance covers your injuries beyond that. If the driver was uninsured, uninsured motorist coverage may help. Sorting out which coverage applies, and in what order, is one of the most useful things a lawyer does early.
What if the driver fled the scene?
You may still recover. In a hit-and-run, uninsured motorist coverage on your own or a household auto policy can often pay for your injuries even though the driver fled. Police investigation and any video may also identify the driver later. Do not assume you have no options just because the driver left; a lawyer can identify the coverage that applies to a hit-and-run pedestrian crash.
How long do I have to file a claim in Massachusetts?
In most cases you have three years from the date of the crash to file suit under MGL Chapter 260 Section 2A. The deadline can be shorter if a government vehicle or agency is involved, and it is paused for an injured child under MGL Chapter 260 Section 7. Because crash evidence fades fast, it is wise to act well before any deadline.
What if I was partly at fault?
You can still recover as long as you were not more than half to blame. Under MGL Chapter 231 Section 85, your compensation is reduced by your share of fault but is not eliminated unless that share passes fifty percent. Insurers tend to exaggerate a pedestrian’s role to cut what they pay, so it is worth having a lawyer assess how fault is really likely to be divided.
What is a pedestrian injury claim worth?
It depends on the severity of the injuries. Value reflects the medical care required, the length of recovery, any permanent impairment, lost wages and earning capacity, and the pain and disruption to your life. Pedestrian crashes often cause serious, lasting harm, so a careful claim accounts for future treatment as well as past bills. A lawyer can review your case and explain the categories of compensation that may apply.
What if my child was hit by a car?
A parent or guardian can bring a claim on the child’s behalf, and children struck by cars often suffer serious injuries that need long-term care. The filing deadline is paused under MGL Chapter 260 Section 7 until the child turns eighteen. Because a child’s injuries can affect them for years, these claims should plan carefully for future medical needs and recovery.
Do I have to deal with the driver's insurer myself?
It is best not to. Adjusters may sound helpful but are trained to limit what the company pays, and an early recorded statement or quick offer can hurt your claim. You are not required to give the driver’s insurer a statement. A lawyer can handle communications, make sure the claim reflects the true cost of your injuries, and keep you from being pressured into an unfair settlement.
What should I do right after being hit?
If you can, get to a safe spot and call the police so the crash is documented. Get medical care right away, even if you feel only shaken, since some injuries appear later. Photograph the scene, the vehicle, and your injuries, and collect names of any witnesses. Avoid giving a statement to the driver’s insurer, and speak with a lawyer before accepting any offer or signing anything.
How much does a pedestrian accident lawyer cost?
Nothing upfront. Larson Law handles pedestrian accident claims on a contingency fee, so there is no charge unless we recover money for you, and the first review is free. We advance the costs of investigating the crash and building the claim, and we only get paid from a successful result. This lets any injured pedestrian get strong representation while focusing on recovery.
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.