Cape Cod car accident lawyers

Cape Cod Car Accident Lawyers

Name: Breakstone, White & Gluck
Brand: Breakstone, White & Gluck
SKU: PI
Rating: 4.9 (179 reviews)

While Cape Cod is best known for pristine beaches, it also has heavy traffic and dangerous driving conditions at times. When drivers are impatient, distracted or operate recklessly - such as under the influence of alcohol - they put others at risk and can cause serious, traumatic injuries. Victims should consult an experienced car accident lawyer to learn if they can file a claim against the driver's auto insurance policy to recover damages, including medical expenses, lost wages and other compensation.

Breakstone, White & Gluck of Boston represents drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians who have been injured across Cape Cod, from Falmouth and Hyannis to Provincetown. We handle all types of motor vehicle accident cases, including representation of Uber and Lyft passengers who have been injured. With more than 100 years combined experience, our car accident attorneys are committed to obtaining the best financial result for every client.

For this, we have been consistently recognized, including by Top 100 New England Super Lawyers; Top 100 Massachusetts Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America.

Free Legal Consultation

Contact our Cape Cod car accident lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck. We provide a free legal consultation: 800-379-1244 or 617-723-7676. You can also use our contact form.

Gathering Information After a Cape Cod Car Crash

After a car accident, when you are physically able, you should always exchange information with the other driver on the scene, including license numbers, auto insurance companies, license plate numbers, addresses and phone numbers. Photograph the other vehicle’s license plate and the driver’s license, as well as the position and damage to both vehicles and your own injuries. Gather this information when you contact our car accident lawyers or our attorneys can assist you.

Drunk Driving Accidents on Cape Cod

In Massachusetts, those injured by drunk drivers can seek damages from the driver’s auto insurance policy, and in some cases, the bar or restaurant which overserved the driver. Under Massachusetts social host liability law, the owners of a private residence may be held liable if a minor consumes alcohol at their home, then causes someone injury. Drunk driving and liquor liability cases require experience; consult a lawyer who has that experience and can thoroughly investigate and identify potential sources for compensation.

Distracted Driving Accidents on Cape Cod

Just like anywhere else, car accidents can happen on Cape Cod when drivers pick up their cell phones. Massachusetts has banned texting while driving since 2010 and approved a new hands-free driving law in November 2019. The goal is safer roads and a reduction in distracted driving accidents. Police now have a greater ability to stop and cite drivers who are using cell phones. Drivers can only touch phones once to quickly swipe and activate. Any other use is a violation of Massachusetts law, unless drivers are stationary safely outside traffic and bicycle lanes.

A traffic citation for cell phone use can be used to help our lawyers demonstrate negligence. If you were injured and saw the driver at fault using a cell phone, make police aware of the violation immediately.

Most Dangerous Intersections on Cape Cod

The Cape Cod Commission reported 445 traffic accidents at the Bourne rotary from 2012-2016, making this the most dangerous rotary on the Cape. This does not factor in EPDO accidents resulting in property damage or accidents not reported to police.

Along with beautiful beaches, the Mid-Cape region is known for heavy traffic and dangerous intersections. From 2012-2016, the Cape Cod Commission reported the Cape's five most dangerous intersections were in Dennis, Barnstable and Yarmouth. Cape Cod's most dangerous intersection is located in Dennis, at the intersection of Route 134 and Patriot Square/Market Place. Nearby, Route 134 at Upper County Road ranked 5th for crashes.

Massachusetts drivers and vacationers have a duty to use reasonable care at intersections and rotaries. When a driver is negligent at an intersection or rotary, they may be held liable to those they injure.

At Massachusetts rotaries, "the operator of a vehicle entering a rotary intersection shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle already in the intersection." M.G.L c. 89 § 8.

At intersections, when two drivers approach or enter an intersection at the same time, "the operator of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right."

Drivers also have a responsibility to yield the right-of-way before making left turns at intersections across the path or lane of vehicles traveling from the opposite direction.

Cape Cod Uber Accidents

Uber is a popular way to travel on Cape Cod, especially for those heading to Barnstable Municipal Airport or the ferry terminals in Hyannis and Woods Hole. In 2016, the state of Massachusetts passed a bill to regulate ride share companies (known as transportation network companies). As part of the legislation, drivers have to carry liability insurance on their vehicles to protect passengers and others if they operate negligently or recklessly.

Under this legislation, Uber and other ride share drivers must carry $1 million in liability insurance for each pre-arranged ride. This is a significant step. Many drivers - not just ride share drivers - fail to carry the minimum auto insurance required under Massachusetts law. In passing this law, the state of Massachusetts has acted to protect those who have been injured.

If you were seriously injured in a Cape Cod Uber accident, you may have the right to file a claim seeking compensation from an Uber driver. Contact a Cape Cod car accident lawyer to learn your rights.

Car Accidents Injuring Bicyclists

Cape Cod is heavily traveled by cyclists and has numerous bike paths. You can see the Cape Cod Canal bike paths from the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges. Falmouth offers the Shining Sea Bikeway. The Cape Cod Rail Trail passes through Brewster while the Province Lands Bike Trail runs along outer Cape Cod.

In other areas, cyclists ride on the street. Under M.G.L. c. 85, §11B, cyclists are permitted to ride on all public ways with the exception of limited access or express state highways where signs prohibit them. Cyclists are allowed to ride on the side of the lane in the same direction as traffic or up to two abreast in the center of the lane. Drivers, meanwhile, have a responsibility to provide cyclists with adequate space and look before they turn at intersections.

Bicycle crashes on Cape Cod roads are frequent in summer months, as more cars travel Route 28, Route 132 and other side roads. Massachusetts law requires motorists to submit a motor vehicle crash report if they cause a cyclist injury. Cyclists should also contact police and report bicycle accidents.

Dooring is another frequent accident, caused by drivers who park and open their doors without looking for cyclists. Under Massachusetts law, drivers can be cited $100 for each offense by the local police department. Because injuries can be severe and require extended medical care, cyclists may also seek compensation from the driver at fault.

Car vs. Truck Accidents

For every home or condo built on Cape Cod, home builders cart in dozens of vehicles. One of the greatest dangers is workers who do not properly secure truck loads, such as building materials, heavy furniture or construction equipment. Then, there are commercial and 18-wheel trucks. Because of their large size, these vehicles require specialized training to operate and more distance when braking. When not equipped with side guards or adequate mirrors, these trucks can be deadly for cyclists and pedestrians, dragging them down a street without a driver even noticing.

Cape Cod Motorcycle Accidents

At Breakstone, White & Gluck, our personal injury lawyers have represented injured motorcyclists across Cape Cod and Massachusetts. On Cape Cod, motorcycle accidents are a serious problem, because drivers just do not always watch. A driver can hit a motorcyclist along the side - a broadside collision - from behind or at intersections. Drivers can also injure motorcyclists without even hitting them, just speeding by or stopping short, causing the motorcyclist to fall as a result.

Our Cape Cod motorcycle accident lawyers are highly skilled in investigation and negotiation with auto insurance companies. We have helped injured motorcyclists obtain compensation from the driver at fault as well as their own auto insurance policies. Our firm has negotiated several multi-million dollar settlements for injured motorcyclists.

Cape Cod Pedestrian Accidents

From tourists to residents to the elderly, many people walk on Cape Cod and are put in danger by drivers who are speeding, using cell phones or being careless on the roads. Many car accidents occur right in crosswalks, where pedestrians are supposed to be protected.

In Massachusetts, the law states that drivers must stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk where the “Walk” signal indicates the right of way. When there are no traffic signals or signals are out of use, drivers shall yield the right of way and slow down or stop if need be to yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk. Drivers must also yield, slow down or stop if the pedestrian is approaching on other side of the crosswalk, within 10 feet of the lane where the vehicle is traveling.

It is against the law for other drivers to pass vehicles which have stopped for pedestrians in a crosswalk. Read more on our pedestrian accident law page.

Preserving evidence after a pedestrian accident is essential to determining what happened and preparing the best case. After decades of representing those injured in car accidents, our attorneys have an extensive network of accident reconstruction and medical experts prepared to help prove your case. If you or a loved one has been injured, contact an experienced Cape Cod car accident lawyer immediately to learn your rights.