Boston Injury Lawyer Blog
After a long, cold winter, spring invites Massachusetts cyclists outside again. Unfortunately, as the warm weather increases, so do bike-related accidents. The number of incidents involving bicycles in Boston tends to jump up in May and remain high into the fall.
In addition to increasing in summer, bicycle ridership appears to be increasing year to year. According to the City of Boston, participation in the Bluebikes bike share program rose 17% from 2019 to 2021. September 2021 was the busiest month ever, with nearly 435,000 bike trips that month alone.
With more cyclists on the road, it seems more bike accidents are inevitable. And the dangers multiply in cities: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that nearly 80% of bicyclist deaths occur in urban areas.
Bicycle Accidents in Boston
Boston has congested traffic, expensive parking, and extensive universities–all factors which make it popular for commuting by bike. Despite investing heavily in bike-friendly initiatives in recent years, the city is still home to plenty of biking hazards.
A limited number of Boston bike lanes are physically separated from traffic. Many of those that are protected are not connected to each other. This means that on any given ride, cyclists are likely to be in close proximity to vehicle traffic for all or part of their journey.
According to a 2020 Boston EMS report, over 200 bike accidents required transport to the hospital. The neighborhoods with the most cyclist incidents were Boston, Dorchester, and Roxbury. Brighton and Jamaica Plain weren’t far behind.
Causes of Boston Bike Accidents
Collisions with motor vehicles are the leading cause of bicycle accidents nationwide. It’s no different in Boston, where over half of all bicyclist incidents involved a motor vehicle.
Bicyclists face the same hazards we all do on the roads: distracted or impaired drivers, speeding cars, and failure to follow traffic rules. Unlike vehicle passengers, however, cyclists don’t have a car to protect them. As a result, bike accidents can result in severe injuries.
In addition to contact with motor vehicles, Boston bicycle accidents are caused by uneven or damaged road surfaces, impact with fixed objects, collisions with pedestrians, and crashes with other bicycles.
Boston Bicycle Accident Attorney
If you’ve been seriously injured in a biking accident in Massachusetts, Altman & Altman LLP can help you ask the right questions. Did an impaired motorist cause your injuries? Was a commercial truck driver negligent? Or was improperly maintained property (streets, parking lots, etc.) to blame?
Bike accident injuries can be expensive–resulting in large hospital bills, lost days at work, rehab costs, and more. Our Boston bicycle accident lawyers will help you get the compensation you need to pay your bills. You may even qualify for financial awards for pain and suffering or the wrongful death of a loved one.
Altman & Altman LLP has over 50 years of experience protecting the rights of Massachusetts accident victims. So contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced Boston bicycle injury lawyer. Call us 24/7 at 617.492.3000 or 800.481.6199 (toll-free) or contact us online.
