Boston Bicycle Accident Lawyer

No matter how safe a cyclist is, bicycle accidents can still occur. When they do, they can result in serious damage, particularly if they involve a motor vehicle.

If you were involved in a bicycle accident, the best way to ensure that your rights are protected and your interests are well represented is usually to contact a Boston bicycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. With the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, you may be able to achieve a civil settlement that adequately compensates you for your injury or property damage.

Assigning Responsibility for Bicycle Accidents

For any individual bicycle accident in Boston, there may be several possible at-fault parties. If the bicyclist is actually responsible for the accident, they will not be able to sue for damages.

However, such accidents often occur due to the actions of an irresponsible automobile driver, in which case the driver of that car could be held liable for damages suffered by the bicyclist. Other people who could be held responsible for a bicycle accident include the bike manufacturer or seller if a design flaw in the bike contributed to the accident, or even the municipal government if the bicycle accident resulted from unsafe road conditions.

Meeting the Tort Threshold

If a bicycle accident results from poor road maintenance, the injured bicyclist could sue the appropriate entity—usually the local government. However, if the bicycle accident is the result of a crash with a vehicle, the bicyclist must meet certain criteria to be able to sue the driver of that vehicle.

In Boston, a bicyclist must have had a bone broken, experienced eye or ear injuries, become permanently disfigured or scarred, or have more than $2,000 in medical costs as a result of a bicycle accident in order to bring a lawsuit. If the accident resulted in a death, the family of the deceased may be eligible to file a claim.

Before meeting those criteria, which collectively are called the tort threshold, the injured bicyclist must collect damage recovery from their own insurance. Since this is a complex concept, it may be best to enlist the help of a seasoned Boston bicycle accident attorney to ensure all appropriate steps are taken to receive the maximum amount of compensation.

Damages That Can Be Recovered

Boston civil courts allows for the collection of both economic and non-economic damages. These terms describe specific kinds of harm or debt that may result from an accident. For example, economic damages include all costs that have a clear, objective price tag attached to them, such as medical bills and lost wages due to injuries.

Conversely, non-economic damages are more subjective and rarely have a specific price tag that is obvious to all parties. These can include the injured person’s pain and suffering, loss of consortium with one’s spouse, the harm of permanent disfigurement, loss of enjoyment of life, and more.

Get in Touch with a Boston Bicycle Accident Attorney Today

If you are injured in a bicycle accident, a compassionate Boston bicycle accident lawyer may be able to negotiate with the defense, bring in expert witnesses to clarify non-economic damages, ensure that you meet all paperwork deadlines, and assist in a number of other ways.

The sooner an attorney is working on your behalf, the sooner you could be assured that they are doing everything possible to get you the maximum amount of compensation that you deserve. Call today to get started on your case.