Runs Stop Signs Bicycle Accidents Attorney in Boston

All motorists know that they are legally obligated to stop at red lights and stop signs, but still, many drivers blow through them without regard for other cars or bicycles on the road.

Drivers who ignore stop lights and stop signs can crash into bicyclists or other vehicles, causing severe and even fatal injuries. The Federal Highway Administration reports that more than half of all crashes resulting in injuries or fatalities occur at or near intersections.

If you have suffered a serious injury in a bicycle accident caused by a reckless driver who ran a stop light or stop sign, Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers can help. Our Boston bicycle attorneys have recovered millions of dollars for injured bicyclists.

We offer free legal consultations, and there are no fees unless we win your case and recover money for you.

Stop light and stop sign accidents are entirely preventable. Before drivers can obtain their licenses, they know basic traffic laws including stopping at red lights and stop signs.

Unfortunately, drivers in a hurry or distracted by their cell phones may ignore these laws and bolt through a red light or stop sign without stopping, regardless of the consequences. While intersection lights and signage are meant to protect all road users, they do not work when drivers disregard them.

On a positive note, fault in these accidents is almost always clear. The person who runs the red light or stop sign is almost always liable for the ensuing crash.

Below are some examples of negligent driving that occurs at Boston intersections every day:

• Failure to stop at red lights or stop signs
• Failure to yield at yellow lights
• Making a turn without coming to a complete stop at a red light or stop sign
• Using cell phones or other technology while driving
• Failure to stop for bicyclists or pedestrians in crosswalks or bicycle lanes
• Speeding

Aggressive drivers and drivers who are drunk or otherwise impaired are also likely to run stop lights and stop signs and cause serious injury to bicyclists.

Yellow lights are often problematic for drivers. Impatient drivers may try to speed through a yellow light, even if it is about to turn red. When this happens, there may be multiple road users who believe they have the right of way. Massachusetts law requires motorists to stop at yellow lights unless they are so close to the intersection at the time the light switches from green to yellow that it would be dangerous for them to stop.

While many car-versus-bicycle accidents happen at intersections regulated by traffic signals, others occur at intersections with two-way stops. Drivers often assume that everyone at the intersection has a stop sign and pull into vehicles with the right of way. This mistake can be deadly to an innocent cyclist who had the right of way.

At four-way stops, the first to arrive is the first to go. As a result, a driver proceeding through a four-way intersection out of turn can crash into a bicyclist with the right of way.

A bicycle accident attorney will review the specifics of your case and offer legal advice about recouping damages for your injuries. The bottom line is that motorists can and should be held liable for ignoring traffic laws and causing harm to innocent bicycle riders.

Stop light and stop sign accidents are often catastrophic as they usually involve high speed side swipe collisions. A driver trying to beat a red light is never traveling slowly.

While drivers and passengers have car frames, air bags, and seat belts for protection, bicyclists do are vulnerable roadway users. A cyclist's body is likely to bear the brunt of the impact with a vehicle. In addition, the force may cause the bicyclist to be thrown into the street and traffic.

Many of these car-bicycle intersection crashes are "T-bone" collisions. In this type of crash, the car strikes a cyclist crossing the vehicle's path perpendicularly. Bicyclists involved in T-bone accidents often sustain fractured ribs, organ damage, or other internal injuries from the initial impact.

Other injuries that cyclists are likely to sustain when a driver runs a stop light or stop sign and crashes into them are:

• Head trauma and traumatic brain injuries
• Back and neck injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Broken bones
• Road rash
• Scarring
• Wrongful death

These injuries are not only painful, but some have the potential to continue to impact a crash victim for the remainder of their lives.

Cities like Boston are designing intersections and installing bicycle infrastructure to keep roads safe for everyone who travels on them.

Motorists can help keep intersections safe by leaving early for work or appointments. Drivers running on time are less likely to zoom through yellow or red lights and cause accidents. In addition, drivers should put away cell phones, watch for pedestrians and cyclists, and maintain a safe distance. It is always a good idea to practice patience anytime you get behind the wheel.

As for bicyclists, there is not much they can do if a vehicle comes speeding through a stop light or stop sign and into their path. However, they can do their part to minimize the risk of intersection accidents by:

• Maximizing visibility using lights and bright clothing.
• Following the rules of the road. Yes, cyclists must stop at red lights and stop signs, too. After all, it is the law.
• Being aware of dangerous intersections in and around Boston and taking an alternate route if possible, even if it takes longer to get to the destination.
• Using bike boxes when available.
• Riding defensively.

If a motorist ran a stop light or stop sign and hurt you, contact the bicycle accident attorneys at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers today at (617) 777-7777 for a free consultation or fill out our online form.