Boston Intersection Accident Lawyer
Injured in an intersection accident in Boston, MA? Contact the top Boston intersection accident lawyer to seek justice and compensation.
Nearly one in four traffic deaths in the United States occur at intersections. In Boston, where rotaries, five-way junctions, and signal-dense corridors converge with heavy pedestrian and cyclist traffic, those numbers translate into some of the most serious crashes our firm handles each year. An intersection collision is rarely a simple claim. Fault turns on seconds, feet, and the direction a driver was looking the moment before impact. While you deal with injuries, medical bills, and time away from work, insurance companies build their defense around those details, challenging who had the green, who entered first, and who should have yielded.
For more than 30 years, the car accident attorneys at Breakstone, White & Gluck have represented injured people across Massachusetts, not insurance companies or corporations. Every client works directly with one of our three founding partners, and we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. We move quickly to preserve signal timing records, surveillance footage, and black box data before the evidence that proves fault disappears.
Get a free case evaluation and discover how our intersection accident attorneys in Boston can help you seek the compensation and justice you deserve.
What to Do After a Boston Intersection Crash
What you do in the hours after a crash determines how strong your case will be. Take these steps before anything else:
- Call 911: A police report creates the first official record of what happened and who may be at fault.
- Get medical care that same day: Insurers use delayed treatment as grounds to argue your injuries were minor or unrelated to the crash.
- Photograph the entire scene: Before vehicles move, capture both cars' positions, skid marks, debris, every traffic signal and stop sign facing each driver, and nearby street names.
- Collect witness contact information: Names and phone numbers only. Do not ask anyone for a formal statement at the scene.
- Decline a recorded statement: The other driver's insurer may call you soon after the crash. You are not required to speak with them.
Call us as soon as possible. Surveillance footage, traffic signal timing logs, and vehicle event recorder data (commonly called "black box" data) can be lost or overwritten if not promptly preserved. We send legal preservation demands as soon as we take your case.
Who Is at Fault at a Stop Sign or Four-Way Stop?
Massachusetts law under MGL c. 89 §8 sets clear right-of-way rules. When two drivers reach an intersection at approximately the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right, and a driver turning left must wait until the turn can be made with reasonable safety. At a four-way stop, disputes usually turn on which driver stopped first and who entered the intersection first. These rules are straightforward on paper. The disputes that follow are anything but.
We resolve those disputes through independent witness accounts, dashcam footage, and accident reconstructionists who can calculate speed and arrival timing from the physical evidence at the scene.
Who Is at Fault in a T-Bone or Left-Turn Crash?
A T-bone crash is a side-impact collision where one vehicle strikes another from the side. It most often occurs when a driver turns left into the path of oncoming traffic. Because the turning driver has a legal duty to yield, they are frequently found at fault under Massachusetts law.
But fault is not automatic. If the oncoming driver was speeding, ran a red light, or was distracted by their phone, they may carry significant responsibility for the crash. We investigate both drivers thoroughly before reaching any conclusions.
How Traffic Signals and Right-of-Way Affect Your Claim
Running a red light, making an illegal turn on yellow, or failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk are all traffic violations that can serve as strong evidence of fault. In Boston, many intersections are monitored by MBTA bus cameras, city traffic systems, and private business security cameras.
We act quickly after being hired to request that footage before it is overwritten. These are some of the city's most dangerous intersections:
- Kenmore Square and the Sullivan Square rotary
- Five-way intersections in the North End
- Storrow Drive and Memorial Drive on- and off-ramps
- High-traffic corridors along Massachusetts Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue
In one case we handled, an MBTA bus turning left on a green light struck a 58-year-old woman who was about halfway across Washington Street in the South End, walking in a crosswalk with a crossing signal. The MBTA disputed liability and claimed she failed to see or hear the bus. An independent witness saw the driver looking right and talking to a passenger while turning left, and MBTA Transit Police cited the driver for failing to yield. After a two-week trial, the jury found the MBTA 100% at fault, and the Appeals Court affirmed the $7.1 million result.
How Massachusetts Law Affects Your Intersection Claim
Three rules of Massachusetts law will directly shape your right to recover compensation.
- Modified comparative negligence (MGL c. 231 §85): You may recover damages as long as you are found 50% or less at fault. Your award is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are 25% responsible, you recover 75% of your total damages.
- Personal Injury Protection (PIP): Massachusetts is a no-fault state, meaning your own auto insurance pays the first $8,000 of your medical bills and lost wages, regardless of who caused the crash.
- Three-year statute of limitations: In Massachusetts, you have three years from the crash date to file a lawsuit, but crucial evidence begins disappearing within weeks.
To sue the at-fault driver for pain and suffering, medical expenses must exceed $2,000, or your injury must involve a fracture, permanent and serious disfigurement, loss of a body member, or loss of sight or hearing. We will tell you exactly where your case stands.
A tactic we see repeatedly from adjusters handling Boston intersection claims is assigning our client a share of the fault, even when the other driver ran the light. At wide, busy crossings like Massachusetts Avenue and Columbus Avenue in the South End or along Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester and Mattapan, they argue our client entered on a stale yellow or should have seen the other car sooner. Every percentage point they shift lowers the recovery, and a finding above 50% ends recovery entirely. We answer those arguments with witness accounts and reconstruction evidence long before a case reaches Suffolk Superior Court.
What Evidence Proves an Intersection Accident?
Insurance companies will not take your word against the other driver's. We build every case on documented, verifiable proof:
- Police crash reports and 911 call recordings
- Surveillance footage from MBTA cameras, nearby businesses, and gas stations
- Traffic signal timing records from the Boston Transportation Department
- Vehicle black box data showing speed, braking, and steering inputs before impact
- Cell phone carrier records proving a driver was distracted at the time of the crash
- Expert accident reconstruction testimony
Certain types of evidence can disappear quickly after a crash unless steps are taken to preserve them. We do that right away.
What we see across the intersection claims we handle in Boston is that the most valuable video rarely comes from the drivers themselves. Along corridors like Commonwealth Avenue near Kenmore Square or Route 1 through Charlestown, footage from storefront cameras, gas stations, and passing MBTA buses often captures the light cycle and the moment of impact. Businesses typically record over that video on a rolling basis, so a request sent weeks after the crash often comes back empty. Clients treated at Boston Medical Center or Mass General after a side-impact crash are often still recovering when that window closes, which is why we send preservation letters first.
Who Pays Your Medical Bills After an Intersection Crash?
Your own PIP coverage pays first. It covers up to $8,000 in medical bills and lost wages regardless of fault. After PIP is exhausted, your private health insurance or MassHealth covers additional costs, and at the conclusion of your case, we recover all of those expenses from the at-fault driver's insurer.
If the driver who hit you was uninsured or fled the scene, we file a claim under your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) or Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage. Massachusetts law requires every driver to carry uninsured motorist coverage, while underinsured coverage is optional. We identify every available policy and pursue each one.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
A serious intersection crash costs far more than your initial medical bills. We pursue full compensation for:
- Past and future medical treatment
- Lost wages and reduced future earning capacity
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Loss of consortium for spouses and family members
- Wrongful death damages when a crash has claimed a life
Massachusetts does not cap compensatory damages in car accident claims against private drivers. Our goal is a recovery that reflects the true and complete cost of what happened to you, not what an insurer finds convenient to pay.
“Marc is a skilled professional…When my case required attention Marc kept me focused and informed. When my case required tough negotiating, Marc delivered.” – Bob Powell
How We Build and Fight Intersection Cases
We prepare every case as if it will go in front of a jury. Insurance companies know which law firms actually try cases and which ones fold at the first lowball offer, and that distinction changes what they put on the table.
Our attorneys use advanced digital trial technology, interactive exhibits, and computer reenactments to help juries understand complex injuries and liability issues, including how a collision happened and what it permanently cost you. Testimony from experts such as accident reconstructionists and biomechanical engineers can support those presentations. That preparation strengthens our position in negotiation and at trial.
We do not advertise on billboards or television. Our verdicts, client reviews, and standing in the legal community speak for themselves.
Our Results in Vehicle and Pedestrian Accident Cases
| Result | Case Type | Injury |
| $7.1 Million | Bus-Pedestrian Crash | Above-knee leg amputation |
| $1.375 Million | MBTA Bus-Pedestrian Crash, Dudley Street | 77-year-old pedestrian struck while crossing |
| $1.1 Million | Left-Turning Pickup Truck Crash | Femur fracture, fat embolism, PTSD |
Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a specific outcome in yours. What we can tell you is that we will not accept a settlement that does not fully account for your losses.
“I knew that Ron had my best interests at heart, and that I could trust him to help me make the right decision.” – Katelyn Ludwig
Why Hire Breakstone, White & Gluck?
When you hire our firm, you are represented by a founding partner from your first consultation through the final resolution of your case. Your file is never handed off to a junior associate or a case manager.
- AV rated: Our partners hold an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a peer review rating that reflects legal ability and ethical standards.
- Top 100 Massachusetts and New England Super Lawyers: Our attorneys have received peer recognition for their legal work.
- Leadership in the legal community: David White served as President of the Massachusetts Bar Association. Marc Breakstone and Ronald Gluck serve as Governors of the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys.
- Trusted by clients: Highly rated by clients and respected within the legal community.
We handle personal injury cases exclusively. It is all we do, and we do it at the highest level. You should not face insurance companies alone. We will have your back.
“There is no question about this: If any family member or friend needs a great lawyer, I will refer them to David White.” – Walid Dehni
Contact Breakstone, White & Gluck
We offer a free consultation. You pay nothing unless we win, and we advance all costs.
Call (800) 379-1244 or contact us online for a free consultation and discover how our intersection accident attorneys can help with your case.
Serving clients across Boston and throughout Massachusetts.
Boston Intersection Accident FAQs
Does a Traffic Ticket at the Scene Eliminate My Right to Compensation?
No. A citation is evidence, not a legal finding of fault. We regularly represent clients who were ticketed at the scene and recover significant compensation through investigation and expert testimony.
Can I Still Recover Damages If I Was Partly at Fault for the Crash?
Yes, as long as you are determined to be 50% or less responsible. Massachusetts modified comparative negligence law reduces your recovery by your share of fault but does not eliminate it.
What Happens If the At-Fault Driver Had No Insurance?
We file a claim under your own Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage and pursue the same full compensation you would be entitled to from an insured driver.
Who Is Responsible If a Missing Stop Sign or Broken Signal Contributed to the Crash?
The City of Boston or the Massachusetts Department of Transportation may be liable, but claims against public entities have strict notice rules. Negligence claims against a public employer require formal written notice within two years. Claims based on a defect in a public way can require written notice within 30 days of the injury, so contact us as soon as possible.
Are Rideshare or Delivery Drivers Covered by Their Company's Insurance During a Crash?
When a rideshare or delivery driver is actively working, their company's commercial liability policy may apply instead of their personal auto insurance. For rideshare trips, Massachusetts law requires at least $1 million in coverage while the driver is engaged in a pre-arranged ride, and we know exactly how to access it.
What Does It Cost to Hire Breakstone, White & Gluck for an Intersection Accident Case?
Nothing upfront. You pay nothing unless we win, and we advance all costs of your case.