We have helped thousands of personal injury cases reach a resolution. Let us deal with all of the paperwork and hassles, while you rest and get back on your feet.
Faneuf Law Group is known for our work representing cyclists, pedestrians and others who have been injured by negligence. Bike riding is a popular mode of transportation in the Boston and Cambridge area. As more residents take to the roads in Boston on bikes, the danger of accidents also increases and Boston bike data shows just that. While we’ll be discussing our Boston/Cambridge bicycle accident lawyers, we want to share some hard data and facts about bike accidents.
There’s no question about it, bicycling is growing in popularity throughout New England. While it’s impossible to know how many people are riding a bike on any given day, we do know it’s become exponentially more popular in the last few years.
The City of Boston reports:
There are an estimated 762,000 adults in Massachusetts who ride bikes at least once in the summertime.
Between 1984 and 2004, bicycling in Boston doubled, according to counts by the Central Transportation Planning Staff.
Ridership more than doubled again from 2007 to 2015, after the city launched the Boston Bikes initiative.
The Boston Bikes initiative resulted in more than 60 miles of bike lanes in the city, hundreds of bike racks, 1,700 donated bikes to youth and the unveiling of the Balance Hubway bike share system – one of the first counties in the nation to do so.
There are 38,000 bicycle trips every day just in Boston, with 20 percent of those being work commutes.
Below, these stats outlines pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities across Massachusetts from 2016 through early 2021.
2016 - Pedestrian Fatalities (78) - Bicycle Fatalities (10)
2017 - Pedestrian Fatalities (82) - Bicycle Fatalities (10)
2018 - Pedestrian Fatalities (71) - Bicycle Fatalities (6)
2019 - Pedestrian Fatalities (78) - Bicycle Fatalities (6)
2020 - Pedestrian Fatalities (56) - Bicycle Fatalities (9)
2021 - Pedestrian Fatalities (2) - Bicycle Fatalities (0) - As of January 7th, 2021
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 500,000 people or cyclists in the United States of America are treated at emergency rooms for bike-related injuries each year. More than 700 people die each year as a result of injuries sustained in bike accidents. Children are especially at risk for bicycle-related injuries and account for a significant portion of the bike-related injuries treated at United States emergency rooms.
Top Cambridge Bicycle Accident Locations
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) reports on top crash locations for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Cambridge has 8 of the top 10 crash cluster locations for cyclists in all of Massachusetts, according to the 2014 Top Crash Locations report.
Central Square Cambridge - The first cluster includes Massachusetts Avenue from Memorial Drive to Bow Street, including the Vassar Street intersection, Cambridge City Hall and the Central Square MBTA station. There were 306 bike crashes reported, including one fatal bike crash and 185 bike crashes resulting in injury.
Inman Square Cambridge And Somerville - This cluster includes the intersection of Hampshire and Cambridge streets, where a cyclist was killed in a truck crash in 2016. There were 263 bike crashes, including 162 crashes with injury.
Porter Square Cambridge And Somerville - From Everett Street to Rindge Avenue.
Union Square in Somerville - This includes the intersection of Washington Street, Somerville Avenue and Bow Street. This is one of two clusters entirely outside Cambridge.
Harvard Square - Harvard Square and Brattle Square in Cambridge, just outside Harvard Yard at Harvard University.
Now, some of the most common questions our bicycle attorneys are asked include:
Does my bicycle insurance cover my injury?
Can my automobile insurance cover my bicycle injury claim?
Who will pay for my bicycle to get fixed?
Who will pay my medical bills?
Can I start a personal injury claim?
Because every bicycle accident is unique, the best advice we can give you for answering your questions is by giving our bike lawyer team a call. Here’s why. In order to know if you have a claim, we’re going to need to ask you questions about your specific bike accident. The good news, you can get a free consultation right now. Just call our office at 617-939-9894 to get started.
Bicycle accidents happen every day, and the injuries suffered may be very serious, especially if the victim is not wearing a helmet. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that bicycle helmets are 85-88 percent effective at mitigating head and brain injuries, but fewer than 25 percent of all bicyclists actually wear a helmet. In addition to head and brain injuries, bike accidents can also cause serious injuries such as concussions, spinal cord injuries, fractured bones, and paralysis. In some cases, bicycle accidents can be fatal.
The aftermath of a bike accident can be very serious, because bicyclists have very little protection against outside elements like cars, trees, guardrails, fences, and large vehicles like trucks or buses. Unlike riding in a car, where the driver and passengers might have seat belts, airbags, and other protection, bicyclists are completely exposed and at the mercy of those around them. Due to this and other incidents, Massachusetts bike laws were created.
Let’s take a closer look at these laws:
Mass. Gen. Law Ch. 90, Section 14 (Precaution for Safety of Other Travelers) that requires motorists and passengers to check for bicyclists before opening their doors (fines of up to $100 for violation);
Allowing bicyclists to pass vehicles on the right (motorists can’t use the fact that bicyclists were riding to the right of traffic as a legal defense for causing a crash with a bicyclist);
Mass. Gen. Law Ch. 85, Section 11B, Requiring bicyclists to obey all traffic laws and use headlights and tail lights when riding at night;
Prohibiting motorists from making abrupt right turns at intersections and driveways after passing a cyclist;
Motorists have to allow a safe distance to pass a bicyclist, and if there isn’t enough room to safely do so, the motorist has to wait until it is safe;
Allowing a maximum of two cyclists riding together, except on roads with more than one lane in the direction of travel, in which case they must ride in a single lane.
Mass. Gen. Law Ch. 85, Section 11B(2)(ii)-(iii), Disallowing babies under the age of 1 to be transported by bicycle and requiring any person under the age of 16 to wear a helmet.
Motorists must yield to oncoming bicyclists when making left turns.
Medical bills for a bike accident victim can be overwhelming, especially if the victim needs ongoing care for injuries sustained in a cycling accident. The victim might also suffer lost wages as a result of their injuries, further complicating the recovery process as the victim and the family worries about medical costs and lost income. If you have been involved in a bicycle accident in Massachusetts, it is often in your best interest to contact a Boston bicycle accident lawyer.
Can Faneuf Law Group Handle My Bike Accident Case?
At Faneuf Law, our experienced Massachusetts bicycle accident attorneys are well equipped to protect a bicycle accident victim's rights. Our bicycle collision attorneys have years of experience negotiating with insurance companies and building strong bike accident cases. Also, we have years of experience helping our clients recover damages that include medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and the cost to replace or repair your bicycle. We also represent families of cyclists who have been killed in accidents.
We understand that a cycling accident has the power to affect your life and family. Our attorneys have the tools, resources, and experience to help you put your life back together after a serious bike injury. While our attorneys are attentive to your needs, we’re ready to aggressively advocate for you and your rights.
We’re extremely proud of our bike case results and settlements, but we’re more proud of the fact that we’re always here for our clients. It doesn’t matter if you reach out via the phone or email, we’re going to respond to those inquiries as soon as possible.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a cycling accident, or a motor scooter accident, reach out to a Boston bike accident lawyer at Faneuf Law Group for a free confidential consultation.
The moped accident lawyers here at Faneuf Law Group have years of experience handling accidents that involve mopeds, Vespas, and scooters. Our firm handles personal injury cases involving severe scooter and moped injuries. If you have suffered a personal injury as a result of a motor scooter accident and need help, reach out to us now at 617-939-9894.
It doesn’t matter if you’re located in Quincy, Cambridge or New Bedford, or any other city in Massachusetts, our experienced legal team of Bike Accident Lawyers are available to speak, and reaching out to us couldn’t be easier. Even if you are not sure who is at fault or you already have insurance coverage available to you, please take 5 minutes to give our Bike Accident Law Firm a call or send us an email.