Massachusetts Bicycle Helmet Laws and Bicycle Accident Liability

Massachusetts' bicycle helmet laws are intendedshe is the only possible defendant.
to provide bike riders with safety guidelines aboutSince insurance companies do not always cover
how they can protect themselves from traumaticthe full extent of your injuries, it is critical that all
brain injuries and other head trauma should annegligent parties are identified and held liable for
accident occur. Sadly, a bike helmet isn't alwaysyour injuries. An experienced Massachusetts
enough to protect a biker from injury.personal injury lawyer can increase the odds of
Being involved in a bicycle accident with a motorrecovering the compensation you and your family
vehicle will most likely result in severe injuries. Ifneed to get your life back on track after
you, or a loved one, were fortunate enough tosuffering a TBI or head injury.
survive the accident, your life may be completelyWhether you, or your loved one, were wearing a
changed as a result of the trauma and injuriesproperly fitted and secured helmet at the time of
you sustained. You may be suffering from athe accident really has no bearing on the possible
severe head or spinal cord injury and brokenfinancial compensation you can receive through
bones which might require life-long care.your lawsuit. Massachusetts bike helmet laws can,
Massachusetts Bicycle Helmet Laws & Minorshowever, help you to determine liable parties in
Massachusetts bicycle helmet laws require helmetcertain situations.
use for people 16 years and younger who areBusiness Liability in Massachusetts Bike Accidents
engaged in the following activities while on a publicMassachusetts bicycle helmet laws provide that
way, public right-of-way, or bicycle path:oany person selling or renting bicycles must post a
Operating in-line skateso Operating skateboardsosign stating, in specific language, that minors must
Operating scooterso Operating, or riding as awear helmets as described above. Posting the sign
passenger on, any manually-propelled wheeledbrings the business in full compliance with
vehicleMassachusetts bicycle helmet laws. It does not,
Massachusetts bicycle helmet laws also mandatehowever, impose any liability upon the business
the way in which the helmets are to be worn andshould a bicycle accident occur and the bicyclist is
to what standards the helmet must conform. It isnot wearing a helmet.
critical to note that not conforming to theMassachusetts bicycle helmet laws speak
Massachusetts bicycle helmet laws cannot bespecifically to any person, firm, or corporation
used as evidence of contributory negligence in arenting bicycles. These entities must provide
Massachusetts personal injury lawsuit for injuredhelmets in full compliance with safety standards
minors, or adults.under Massachusetts bicycle helmet laws to each
Starting a Personal Injury Claimperson renting a bicycle. Here, the law does not
Chances are you have considered filing a personalmention limiting liability.
injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the driverIt is possible then, in a situation where a person
of the motor vehicle involved in your bikerents a bicycle from a business and is involved in
accident. And though the driver is typically thea bicycle accident, that the business renting the
most obvious defendant, that doesn't mean he orbicycle could be held liable to the victim.