Hyannis Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

Pedestrians make Hyannis what it is. Whether locals are walking to a shift at Cape Cod Hospital, visitors are strolling down Main Street toward the harbor, or students are crossing Iyannough Road on their way to Cape Cod Community College, the town’s sidewalks and crosswalks are always in motion. Unfortunately, when a driver fails to yield or is distracted behind the wheel, that foot traffic can turn into tragedy in seconds.

Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers has spent more than two decades standing up for injured pedestrians across Massachusetts. Our legal team combines courtroom experience with a deep understanding of state and municipal safety regulations to deliver results for the people who need them most. Below is a comprehensive guide to pedestrian-accident claims in Hyannis, from common causes and applicable laws to the strategies that put you in the strongest position for full recovery.

A pedestrian has no crumple zone, no airbags, and no protective gear. Even a low-speed impact can result in catastrophic injuries, traumatic brain injury, spinal-cord damage, multiple fractures, or life-threatening internal bleeding. Because medical bills and future-care costs balloon so quickly, insurers defend these claims aggressively. They know the stakes. So do we.

Our Hyannis pedestrian-accident lawyers pursue every case with three core objectives:

• Pinpoint fault with admissible, persuasive evidence. Crash-scene reconstruction, event-data recorder downloads, and phone-usage records often prove decisive.
• Quantify every past and future loss. Medical expenses, rehabilitation, long-term care, lost earning capacity, and non-economic damages all demand meticulous documentation.
• Push toward settlement, without sacrificing trial readiness. A case prepared for a Barnstable County jury keeps insurers honest at the negotiating table.

Data from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation shows Cape towns experience a spike in pedestrian collisions between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when vehicle traffic nearly doubles. Frequent contributing factors include:

Massachusetts’ hands-free law (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90 § 13B) forbids drivers from holding or touching a device except for a tap or swipe. Violations create powerful evidence of negligence per se.

Speed limits on Route 132 and Route 28 shift from 25 mph in downtown segments to 45 mph on the outskirts. Studies confirm that the risk of fatality for a pedestrian struck at 40 mph is roughly five times higher than at 25 mph.

Under Mass. Gen.. Laws ch. 89 § 11, drivers must yield to pedestrians already in a marked crosswalk. Mid-block crossings near the Steamship Authority terminal rely on flashing beacons; ignoring them breaches the duty of care.

Fog rolling off Nantucket Sound or late-afternoon sun glare can hide someone walking along Old Colony Road. Drivers, who fail to slow down in limited sight distances, are responsible for the resulting harm.

Operating under the influence (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90 § 24) remains a leading cause of severe injury crashes, often justifying punitive damages for gross negligence.

A pedestrian-injury lawsuit must generally be filed within three years of the crash (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260 § 2A). Surveillance footage and onboard vehicle data can disappear within days, making early investigation vital.

Massachusetts’ modified comparative-fault rule (ch. 231 § 85) allows recovery so long as you are not more than 50 percent responsible. Adjusters often blame the victim: “You were outside the crosswalk.” Skilled counsel counters with expert analysis and eyewitness testimony.

Pedestrians qualify for Personal Injury Protection (PIP) up to $8,000 for medical bills and lost wages through the vehicle’s insurer (ch. 90 § 34M). Serious injuries, fractures, significant disfigurement, or $2,000+ in medical costs cross the “tort threshold,” permitting a full bodily-injury claim that includes pain and suffering.

Dangerous signal timing or broken streetlights can share the blame. Claims against the Town of Barnstable must follow the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act: presentment within two years and a $100,000 damages cap (ch. 258). Precision and timing are non-negotiable.

1. Seek Immediate Medical Care
   Hidden injuries, such as subdural hematomas, require prompt diagnostics and create an unbroken treatment record.
2. Document the Scene
   Photographs of skid marks, traffic signals, and vehicle damage preserve fleeting evidence. Note the weather, lighting, and the driver’s license plate.
3. Identify Witnesses and Video
   Main Street businesses often have sidewalk-facing cameras. Prompt requests secure footage before it is overwritten.
4. Obtain the Police Report
   Barnstable Police crash reports supply narrative, measurements, and citations that anchor liability.
5. Politely Decline Recorded Insurer Statements
   Adjusters call quickly to collect sound bites they can later distort. Consult counsel first.

Drone photogrammetry and Bosch CDR downloads yield time-distance analyses showing precisely when the driver should have reacted.

We partner with Cape Cod and Boston neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, and vocational experts whose sworn opinions translate complex prognoses into jury-friendly language.

Massachusetts imposes no cap on compensatory damages. Forensic economists model lifetime care, lost household services, and diminished earnings, factoring in inflation and present-value discounting.

Because we routinely take verdicts when offers fall short, insurers know a lowball strategy backfires. In 2024 alone, Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers secured more than $30 million for pedestrian and cyclist clients statewide.

You may still recover damages as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. Drivers must exercise reasonable care everywhere on the roadway.

Yes. Uninsured-motorist (UM) coverage under your own auto policy, or that of a household member, steps in. These claims proceed to arbitration unless both sides agree to litigate.

Straightforward claims may resolve in six to nine months. Contested liability or catastrophic injuries can extend timelines to two or three years, especially if trial and appeals are required.

No. Massachusetts courts generally exclude immigration status evidence as more prejudicial than probative. Everyone has the right to seek civil redress for personal injuries.

• Local Insight with Statewide Resources – We appear regularly in Barnstable Superior Court yet command the investigative and financial muscle associated with larger Boston firms.
• Contingency-Fee Promise – You owe nothing unless we win. Our interests are aligned with yours from start to finish.
• Pedestrian-Safety Initiative – We sponsor reflective-gear giveaways at the Hyannis Youth & Community Center and push for safer crosswalk designs before the Barnstable County Commission.
• Proven Results – Recent victories include $5.2 million for a tourist struck outside the Cape Cod Mall and $1.1 million for a nurse hit by a delivery van on South Street. Every case is unique, but our track record shows what relentless preparation achieves.

Insurance companies are already strategizing to devalue your claim. A prompt consultation can level the playing field and lock down critical evidence before it disappears. Contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers 24/7 for a free case review. Our Hyannis pedestrian-accident lawyers are ready to protect your rights, your health, and your future.

One International Place, 18th Floor
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 777-7777
Serving clients in Hyannis, Cape Cod, and across Massachusetts.