Have you been injured in a bike accident in Boston? You could be facing significant medical bills, lost income, and other financial problems — all due to an accident that wasn’t your fault. You deserve compensation for what you’ve suffered, but getting it could be tough, especially while you’re still recovering from your injuries.

At Earley Law Group, we help cyclists like you through this ordeal by providing compassionate, dedicated legal representation. We understand the challenges you face after a crash, from physical injuries and emotional trauma to lost wages and medical bills. Our team will protect your rights and demand justice from negligent drivers, careless property owners, or manufacturers of defective bicycle parts.

With our experience handling bicycle accident claims and over 600 positive Google reviews, you can rest easy knowing you have a capable legal professional handling your case. Let us take on the legal burden so you can focus on healing. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a Boston bicycle accident attorney.

How Can a Boston Bicycle Accident Attorney Help Me and My Family?

If you or someone in your family sustained injuries in a bicycle crash, you probably have many questions about your rights and potential compensation. As an experienced bicycle accident law firm, Earley Law can guide you through this difficult process. We will fight tirelessly on your behalf by:

  • Conducting a thorough investigation to determine liability and gather evidence proving negligence caused your bicycle accident injuries. We’ll examine police reports, interview witnesses, review video footage, and consult accident reconstruction experts if needed.
  • Calculating all the losses you’ve incurred from the accident. This includes current and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, property damage costs, and your pain and suffering.
  • Handling all communication and negotiations with insurance companies to pursue the maximum financial recovery available. We are skilled negotiators who aren’t afraid of taking your case to trial if the insurer won’t agree to a fair settlement.
  • Providing the compassionate legal support you need as we protect your rights and best interests throughout your bicycle accident case.

What makes our law firm stand out is something we call the Earley Experience. This is our promise to make this process as easy as possible for you. We believe exceptional customer service is crucial for any law firm, and we know this is a difficult moment in your life. If you are ever less than fully satisfied with how we treat you, we will do whatever we can to make it right. That’s the Earley Experience in action.

What Should I Do After a Bike Accident?

Following a bicycle accident, there are vital steps you should take to protect your rights and your ability to file a bicycle accident lawsuit. Once you’ve received medical treatment, here’s what to do next:

  • Report the bicycle accident to the authorities if you have not already done so. Request a copy of the official accident report when it’s available.
  • Take photographs and videos of your visible injuries and any damage to your bicycle or property.
  • If possible, document the accident scene, or ask your attorney to do so once you hire one.
  • Keep all medical bills, receipts, and records related to your injuries and treatment. This documentation is crucial for calculating your losses resulting from the accident.
  • Follow your doctor’s treatment plan exactly. Not doing so could allow the insurance company to argue your injuries resulted from a lack of proper care.
  • Avoid posting about your accident or injuries on social media. Anything you say could be used against you later to discredit your claim.
  • Contact a Boston bicycle accident lawyer from Earley Law as soon as possible. A lawyer familiar with Massachusetts personal injury law can protect your rights while pursuing maximum compensation for your injuries.

What Compensation Can I Recover After a Bicycle Accident?

Massachusetts requires all drivers to carry a minimum of $8,000 in PIP (personal injury protection) coverage, which also covers non-vehicle occupants they hit. This insurance will help pay for your injuries no matter who caused the collision.

In serious injury cases, PIP may not be sufficient to cover your bills. In these situations, if you can show that a driver or someone else caused the collision and your resulting bicycle accident injury, you can seek additional compensation from them. However, you must provide evidence showing how the other person caused the crash.

If you and your lawyer have a strong claim, your bicycle accident compensation may include money for:

  • Past and future medical bills
  • Lost wages and other income
  • Reduced future income due to a disability
  • Diminished quality of life due to a disability
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress
  • Damaged personal property

If the driver or other party does not have insurance, you can tap into your uninsured motorist coverage. Massachusetts law requires all auto insurance policies to include this coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage can also help after a hit-and-run accident. If you pay for underinsured motorist coverage, you may also be able to access compensation through that policy.

Finally, it’s worth discussing what happens when a cyclist shares fault for a collision. If you played a role in a crash, don’t panic — state law says you can still recover compensation for your injuries. However, your level of fault for the accident cannot exceed that of the other parties involved if you want to recover compensation. Furthermore, your compensation in these cases is reduced by your percentage of fault.

It’s in your best interest to seek the advice of a reputable bicycle injury attorney from Earley Law. We can accurately assess your degree of fault, minimize the effects of any evidence the insurance company puts against you, and work to maximize the compensation you deserve.

State law says you must file a personal injury lawsuit within three years of a bicycle accident. However, you should speak to a lawyer immediately after a crash. That way, your attorney can preserve essential evidence, and you don’t have to worry about missing the deadline to file a lawsuit. The sooner you speak to a bicycle accident attorney from Earley Law, the more they can do to help you.

A bike accident attorney has many critical tasks when they take your case. One of them is to investigate a crash to see who, if anyone, broke any traffic regulations. While cyclists in Massachusetts must follow a wide range of regulations, some of the most important ones include:

  • Bicyclists must obey the same traffic laws and regulations as motor vehicle operators, including stopping at red lights and stop signs.
  • Bicyclists can use the full travel lane on any street, even if a bike lane is present. They do not have to ride as far to the right as possible.
  • Bicyclists must ride in the same direction as traffic flows unless road signs or markings indicate otherwise.
  • When passing a vehicle, bicyclists can keep to the right and are allowed to move to the front of the travel lane at intersections.
  • Bicyclists must use hand signals to indicate stopping or turning unless they need both hands to control the bicycle safely.
  • Any bike rider under age 16 must wear a helmet that meets U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission standards.
  • All cyclists need a front white light visible up to 500 feet, a rear red light/reflector visible up to 600 feet, and pedal/ankle reflectors for nighttime riding.
  • Bicyclists must report any crash involving personal injury or over $100 in property damage to the local police department.

Bicycle accidents can happen in an instant due to another person’s negligence or reckless behavior. Unfortunately, cyclists frequently suffer catastrophic injuries in crashes because they have less protection than people in cars. Some of the most common causes of Boston bicycle accidents include:

  • Driver Negligence – Motorists who fail to yield the right-of-way to cyclists, drive while distracted, drive while impaired, or fail to watch for bicyclists on the road are a leading cause of bicycle crashes.
  • Dangerous Road Conditions – Cyclists are at risk from road hazards like potholes, debris, limited visibility, improper signage or lighting, or insufficient bike lanes and safety measures.
  • Inclement Weather – Rain, snow, ice, fog, and other adverse weather conditions can significantly reduce traction and visibility for drivers and bicyclists, increasing accident risks.
  • Defective Bicycle Components – Mechanical failures related to defective brakes, tires, pedals, frames, or other faulty bicycle parts can easily cause cyclists to lose control and crash.

Cyclists involved in collisions have virtually no protection from the force of impact, leaving them vulnerable to devastating injuries. Some of the most common injuries we have helped clients recover compensation for include:

  • Traumatic Brain Injuries – From concussions to life-altering cognitive impairments, head and brain trauma are extremely serious injuries. These injuries often occur when a crash throws a cyclist off their bike or they strike their heads on surfaces.
  • Spinal Cord Injuries – Damage to the spinal cord or vertebrae can result in paralysis, loss of sensation and movement, and other permanent disabilities for bicyclists.
  • Broken Bones and Fractures – Cyclists commonly suffer breaks in their arms, legs, hips, pelvis, ribs, and other bones when thrown from their bikes onto unforgiving surfaces. Compound fractures can be particularly severe.
  • Soft Tissue Injuries – Strains, sprains, cuts, and bruising may not seem severe. However, soft tissue damage can still be excruciatingly painful and temporarily disabling for injured cyclists.
  • Road Rash – The violent impact of being thrown from a bike can cause severe friction burns, called road rash, as skin makes forceful contact with rough surfaces like asphalt or concrete.
  • Psychological Distress – Bicycle accident victims frequently suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions. These disorders can greatly impact a cyclist’s daily life and complicate the recovery process.