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Taunton Bicycle Accident Lawyer

Massachusetts has become one of the most bicycle-friendly states, ranking second in the nation in 2024. Like many communities throughout the Commonwealth, Taunton has invested in cycling infrastructure, including projects like the Taunton River Trail, making bicycles an increasingly popular way to commute, exercise, and enjoy the outdoors. The growing popularity of e-bikes has also made it easier than ever for people of all ages to travel on two wheels.

What has not changed is the level of protection riders have from the impact of a crash. Unlike occupants of passenger vehicles, bicyclists have little shielding them from the roadway, surrounding traffic, or other hazards. When another person’s negligence causes an accident, the injuries can be severe, the recovery uncertain, and the insurance process overwhelming.

If you were injured while riding a bicycle or e-bike, the Taunton bicycle accident lawyers at Rob Levine Law are here to help you understand your rights, protect your interests, and pursue the compensation you deserve.

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What Rob Levine Law Can Do for You After a Bicycle Accident in Taunton, MA

Recovering from a bicycle accident typically means balancing medical appointments, missed work, calls with insurance adjusters, and questions about what happened. While you focus on healing, Rob Levine Law handles all of the legal details to protect your rights and build the strongest claim possible.

We begin by investigating the crash scene before important evidence disappears. We’ll gather photographs, video footage, witness statements, medical records, treatment documentation, and the police report when available. Our Taunton bicycle accident attorneys also identify every potentially responsible party, evaluate how the collision occurred, negotiate with insurance companies, and prepare the case for litigation if a fair resolution cannot be reached.

For more than 25 years, Rob Levine Law has helped over 50,000 people and has recovered more than $2 billion in disability benefits and injury compensation. You can focus on your recovery with confidence, knowing an experienced legal team is protecting your rights every step of the way.

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How Is Liability Assigned in a Taunton Bicycle Accident?

Although Massachusetts ranks among the nation’s most bicycle-friendly states, serious bicycle collisions still occur when drivers, property owners, or others fail to uphold their responsibilities. Determining liability means identifying what caused the crash, how it happened, and who can be held legally responsible for the resulting injuries.

Depending on the circumstances, the following parties may be liable for a bicycle accident:

  • Motor vehicle drivers: Drivers who fail to yield, drive distracted, make unsafe turns, or otherwise violate the rules of the road for cyclists may be responsible for a collision. For example, a driver who turns left in front of a cyclist on Broadway or sideswipes a rider on Washington Street may be liable.
  • Government agencies: Unsafe road conditions, missing traffic signs, poor roadway maintenance, or loose gravel on public paths may contribute to a bicycle accident. In some situations, the public entity responsible for maintaining those areas may be liable.
  • Property owners: If a crash occurs on private property due to dangerous property conditions, such as an unsafe parking lot or a poorly maintained entrance, the property owner may share responsibility.

Even when another party caused the crash, insurance companies may argue that you also contributed to the accident. Because personal injury laws vary by state, understanding how Massachusetts addresses shared responsibility is key to properly evaluating your claim.

What If You Are Being Blamed for Your Own Injuries?

Sharing some of the responsibility for a crash does not automatically prevent you from recovering compensation. Massachusetts follows a modified comparative negligence system, meaning you can still recover some compensation if you are not 51% or more responsible for the crash. However, if you share some responsibility for the accident, your recovery will be reduced by your share of the blame.

Because the amount of compensation recoverable depends on how fault is apportioned, insurance companies often try to shift blame onto injured cyclists. An experienced personal injury lawyer can evaluate the evidence, challenge unfair allegations, and explain how comparative negligence may affect your claim.

What Other Massachusetts Laws Can Affect Your Claim?

Determining who caused a bicycle accident is only one part of building a successful claim. Massachusetts law also includes filing deadlines and bicycle-specific rules for the road that may affect how your claim is evaluated.

Statute of Limitations

The Massachusetts statute of limitations generally gives injured bicyclists three years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Waiting too long may prevent you from recovering compensation, regardless of how strong your claim may be.

Waiting can also make a case more difficult to prove. Speaking with a Taunton bike accident lawyer soon after seeking medical treatment helps preserve important evidence while protecting your health and legal rights.

Helmet Laws

In Massachusetts, adults are not generally required to wear helmets, but a state law requires all bicyclists 16 years of age and younger to wear a helmet while riding themselves or as a passenger. However, the failure to wear a helmet cannot be used as proof that the victim shared fault for an accident. Despite this, insurers may still try to dispute which injuries the accident caused.

E-Bike Regulations

E-bikes are becoming an increasingly popular way to get around Taunton. They are subject to their own set of rules. Under Massachusetts law, Class 1 and Class 2 e-bikes with motors of 750 watts or less are generally treated like traditional bicycles and may be operated on public roads, bike lanes, and most paved shared-use paths. Riders aged 16 or younger must wear a helmet. Meanwhile, more powerful motorized bicycles are subject to different requirements, including licensing and minimum age restrictions.

What Does Maximum Compensation Look Like in a Taunton Bicycle Accident Claim?

Maximum compensation means accounting for both the immediate and long-term effects of a bicycle accident. A successful claim considers not only the financial losses you have already experienced, but also the costs and challenges you may continue to face throughout your recovery.

Depending on the circumstances, you may seek compensation for the following damages:

  • Medical treatment: Emergency care, surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and future medical needs related to your injuries
  • Lost income: Wages lost during recovery, reduced earning capacity, or long-term effects on your ability to work
  • Long-term care: Ongoing treatment, assistive devices, or other support if your injuries result in permanent limitations
  • Pain and suffering: The physical pain and discomfort caused by the accident and your recovery
  • Emotional distress: Anxiety, depression, trauma, or other emotional effects resulting from the collision
  • Loss of enjoyment of life: Compensation for the ways your injuries have limited your ability to participate in hobbies, recreation, and other activities you previously enjoyed

Calculate the Value of Your Case

Use our free personal injury settlement calculator to determine how much your case may be worth. This calculator is designed to give you a value with a range based on thousands of case we have settled.

Get Trusted Legal Representation From Our Taunton Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Choosing a law firm means choosing a team you trust to advocate for your interests from beginning to end. Rob Levine Law combines local knowledge with more than two decades of experience representing injured clients throughout Massachusetts while maintaining a strong commitment to clients and fee transparency.

The firm handles personal injury cases on a 33% contingency fee and offers a reduced 25% fee to qualifying first responders, including police, fire, rescue, and military personnel. In addition, win or no fee™ with our Fee Free Guarantee®. You’ll pay no upfront attorney’s fees and won’t owe us anything unless you recover compensation.

Whether you prefer an in-office meeting, a remote consultation, or need an attorney to travel for your personal injury matter, experienced legal guidance is available 24/7 whenever you are ready. Call (888) 791-9135 or contact us online today for a free consultation.

Bicycle Accident FAQs

My High-End Road Bike Is Completely Ruined. Should I Get a Repair or Replacement Estimate From a Local Bike Shop Before Talking to a Lawyer?

Yes. Repair estimates, replacement quotes, receipts, and photographs can help document your bicycle’s value and support your property damage claim.

Yes. Massachusetts requires drivers to provide at least four feet of clearance when passing bicyclists whenever reasonably possible.

Depending on the circumstances, the public entity or contractor responsible for maintaining the roadway or construction area may be liable if negligent maintenance or inadequate warnings contributed to your crash.

Potentially. A bicycle accident does not require physical contact with a dog for the owner to be liable. If a loose or uncontrolled dog caused the crash, the owner may be responsible for the injuries and other damages that followed, depending on the circumstances.

Depending on the available insurance coverage and the circumstances of the crash, property damage compensation may include your bicycle, helmet, cycling equipment, electronics, and other personal items damaged in the collision.

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Office Location

Taunton, MA

447 Broadway,
Taunton, MA 02780

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