Plymouth Bicycle Accident Lawyers

Plymouth’s shoreline routes, cranberry bog byways, and historic downtown have turned the town into a weekend destination for avid riders and commuters alike. Yet as cycling traffic rises, crashes have followed a statewide trend: bicycle collisions in Massachusetts climbed nearly 15 percent over the most recent three-year reporting window, and seven in ten of those crashes left a rider injured. MassDOT’s crash-mapping portal shows several high-density clusters in and around Plymouth Center, along Route 3A, Court Street, and Samoset Street corridors that mix local traffic with tourists unfamiliar with the area.

Safe-Passing Buffer.Since 2023, drivers must leave at least four feet when overtaking a “vulnerable road user” such as a bicyclist and may cross a double yellow line if needed to give that space. The rule amends Mass. Gen.. Laws Ch. 90 §14, which already banned the notorious “right-hook” turn after passing a bike.

Equal Right to the Road. Under §1B, bicyclists have the same general rights and duties as motorists on public ways (with a few speed-related exceptions for motorized bikes).

Three-Year Statute of Limitations. Most personal-injury and wrongful-death claims, bicycle crashes included, must be filed within three years of the incident under Ch. 260 §2A. Suing a city or town (for example, over a defective roadway) triggers the special presentment deadline under the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act, often within two years, so early legal review is critical.

“An Act to Reduce Traffic Fatalities.” Enacted January 2, 2023, the act broadened truck side-guard rules, mandated the safe-passing distance, and compelled the RMV to embed vulnerable-user content in driver education. Together, these measures aim to reverse an alarming rise in statewide road deaths that spiked to an 11-year high in 2021.

• Right-hook turns near the Downtown waterfront when drivers underestimate a cyclist’s speed.
• Dooring along densely parked Court Street.
• High-speed overtakes on the Route 3A coastal stretch, where narrow shoulders tempt impatient passing.
• Potholes and railroad flangeways on industrial spurs that throw riders off balance.
• Tour-bus or delivery-truck blind-spot collisions at the rotary by the waterfront memorial.

Even a low-speed spill can hide a concussion or internal injury. Plymouth Police categorize reportable crashes and release official records through CRASHDOCS within 7–10 days, documentation that often decides liability.

Helmet-cam video, GPS ride logs, dash-cam clips from nearby vehicles, and local business CCTV frequently fill gaps that crash reports leave out. Seasonal weather quickly erodes skid marks; road work near the Harbor can repave critical surfaces within days. Early legal counsel preserves this evidence via spoliation letters and scene photographs.

Massachusetts’ no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) can cover up to $8,000 in medical bills regardless of fault. Satements made to an adjuster may later be leveraged to shift blame under comparative negligence. While you are generally required to cooperate with your insurance company and will likely need to provide a recorded statement, having a lawyer by your side before providing a statement ensures your rights are protected.

Massachusetts follows a modified 51-percent comparative-fault rule. A cyclist can recover damages if found no more than 50 percent at fault, with the award reduced by the cyclist’s percentage of fault. An example:

Driver’s unsafe pass (70 % fault) + Cyclist’s failure to light rear lamp at dusk (30 % fault) ➜ full damages minus 30 %.

The new safe-passing buffer sets a clear statutory duty on motorists; breaching that duty often creates a strong presumption of negligence. Municipal or state entities may share liability for unreasonably dangerous road design, though notice requirements and caps on recovery apply.

• Medical expenses, past and future, and the cost of adaptive equipment.
• Lost wages and reduced earning capacity, documented through tax returns and vocational experts.
• Pain, suffering, and loss of enjoyment, especially acute for athletes sidelined from riding.
• Scarring and disfigurement, compensable under Massachusetts jury instructions, are separate from pain and suffering.
• Property loss, high-end carbon frames, GPS units, and custom wheels routinely exceed $5,000.
• Wrongful-death damages for surviving family members, including loss of consortium and reasonable funeral costs.

As noted, the general three-year clock under §2A begins on the crash date. But if a road defect involves a public way, Mass. Gen.. Laws Ch. 84 §15 requires the injured party to provide written notice to the appropriate entity within 30 days in some circumstances. Missing that window can extinguish the claim outright. Coordinating medical treatment records, DOT maintenance histories, and forensic engineering reports early protects both the claim and the injured rider.

For more than two decades, our firm has represented cyclists throughout Plymouth County and Greater Boston. Our approach:

• On-Site Investigations. We deploy experts to map roadway geometry and vehicle paths.
• Expert Network. Orthopedic surgeons, biomechanical engineers, and human-factors experts quantify the crash forces that helmets and frames absorbed.
• Insurance Layering. Many Plymouth drivers carry only the state minimum insurance coverage. We examine the cyclist’s own underinsured-motorist policies, often in homeowners or umbrella coverage, unlocking additional recovery.
• Local Jury Insights. Trials in Brockton Superior or Plymouth District Court require tailoring the voir dire to South Shore commuting patterns and attitudes toward cyclists.
• Real-time updates on medical liens, adjuster offers, and litigation milestones let injured riders focus on rehabilitation, not paperwork.

Out-of-state call-center firms overlook critical Plymouth specifics: traffic surges after school at Plymouth North High, blind-curve hazards near Ellisville Harbor, and construction detours around the Cordage Park redevelopment. Knowing when the MBTA fells branches along the Kingston/Plymouth Line or how fog blankets Route 3A at dawn can sway crash-reconstruction timelines and fault allocation.

Yes. Helmet use may reduce head-injury damages, but the lack of a helmet rarely negates fault for a driver who violated the safe-passing law.

Uninsured-motorist (UM) coverage on your auto policy (or household vehicles) can step in, provided the crash is promptly reported to police and the insurance company.

MassDOT or the Town of Plymouth can be liable for negligent maintenance or design, though damage caps and notice deadlines apply. An engineer’s site inspection is crucial.

Yes, but Massachusetts’ stringent anti-lien rules cap certain ERISA liens, and our team negotiates reductions so more of the recovery goes to you.

Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers advances costs and charges. There’s no legal fee unless we secure compensation. Initial consultations are free.

Cyclists injured on the South Shore deserve counsel who ride the same roads and understand the nuances of Massachusetts bicycle law. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a Plymouth crash, whether on Water Street overlooking the harbor or on a rural lane in Manomet, reach out to Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers for a no-obligation case review. Dial 617-777-7777 or use our secure online form, and let our experience turn the wheels of justice in your favor.