Bike News

  • A team of a dozen riders representing Bikeattorney.com at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers rode for the third consecutive year as part of the Bikes Not Bombs annual Bikathon on Sunday, June 10, 2018. Read More.


  • CPSC: Defective Mountain Bikes Pose Crash Hazard

    Federal regulators are warning of a bicycle defect in a series of mountain bikes that could result in cracked handlebars, putting riders at risk of falling. Boston bicycle crash attorneys can explain such incidents may be grounds for product liability claims.

    Manufacturer GT Bicycles issued a recall of more than 1,000 of these mountain bicycles sold in both the U.S. and Canada under the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s fast-track recall process. The models included are: Karakoram Sport, Karakoram Comp, Aggressor Sport, Aggressor Comp and Aggressor Expert. All were made in 2017. Sold in an array of colors, from neon yellow to gunmetal grey, the bicycles pose a serious risk of injury to riders, though no incidents have yet been reported, according to manufacturer.

    The bike maker reportedly discovered the problem after internal testing identified the handlebar defect. Company reports the handlebars could develop small cracks and fissures that over time might grow larger, ultimately leading to a fractured handlebar that could prompt a loss of rider control.

    The manufacturer urges owners of all affected bikes to halt use immediately and obtain a free repair. More information is available at GT Bicycles.

    It should be noted that recalls do not absolve manufacturers of liability if a rider suffers an injury, even if the recall is announced prior to the crash. Indeed, the recall may be an admission of liability. If you have questions, our bicycle defect lawyers can provide a free consultation regarding a defective bicycle products liability claim or other claims arising out of a bicycle crash or accident.


  • Boston Bike Attorney Andrew Fischer of bikeattorney.com has been awarded the prestigious Paul Dudley White Lifetime Achievement Award. Bestowed by MassBike, this award recognizes those who have displayed resolute and steadfast bicycle advocacy in Massachusetts over the course of their lives. Fischer, a founding member, former president and long-time director of MassBike, is a pioneer of bicycle law in the Bay State. Fischer is responsible for drafting legislation that protects bicyclists from "dooring" and prevents negligent motorists from claiming as a defense that the bicyclist was passing on the right of the motor vehicle traffic. Fischer's first foray into bicycle advocacy began in the 1970s. From the courtroom to the statehouse to the streets, Fischer has been committed to making Massachusetts a safer, friendlier place for all cyclists - not just hardcore riders. "We fought for a long time for a seat at the table," Fischer said of his legislative efforts. "It's nice to look back and see how long a road we've come." The lifetime achievement award with which Fischer has been presented is part of MassBike's 40th anniversary. Other nominees included:

    • John Allen, another founding member of MassBike and staunch cycling advocate;
    • Jessica Mink, a founding member of MassBike who was central in the development of the Minuteman Bikeway, Neponset River Geenway and extension of the Charles River Path;
    • Al Lima, a bicycle advocate, local historian and city planner for whom the Alfred J. Lima Quequechan River Trail is now named.

    Fisher says these combined efforts and others paved the way for the political muscle bicycle advocates now have in Boston.

    "I was in the bicycle community before I was a lawyer. When I started, there was one recreational bike path, no bike lanes and we thought being ignored by politicians was a better reaction than the open hostility we usually received," Fischer said. "Today, that's dramatically different. We have a whole new generation who has discovered an interest in cycling, and politicians are responding."


  • Bicycle advocates in Massachusetts are coming out strong behind a 2017-2018 state legislative measure that could a long way toward protecting bicyclists and lowering bicycle accidents throughout the Commonwealth.

    An Act to Reduce Traffic Fatalities, Senate Bill 1905 and House Bill 2877, is an omnibus bill that covers a range of concerns and issues. The collective goal is to improve safety for cyclists, vulnerable road users and others. Supporters include MassBike, the Vision Zero Coalition, Livable Streets, Boston Cyclists Union and WalkBoston.

    Andrew Fischer of BikeAttorney.com notes one of the most necessary changes will add missing protection for bicyclists where bikepaths crass roadways in marked crosswalks. Present law protects pedestrians in crosswalks but not bicyclists in bikepath crossings, so that the marked white crossing does not really afford any protection for a bicyclist. The new law will imbue cyclists with the same protections, requiring motorists to yield to cyclists in a bike path crossing and affording cyclists legal protection now lacking while crossing a roadway in a marked bike path crosswalk. The law would establish a presumption of liability for a motorist who hits a bicyclist in a marked bike path crossing.

    Other provisions of the proposed omnibus legislation include: Requiring state-owned and government-contracted trucks to be equipped with sideguards and convex and crossover mirrors, reducing default speed limits on state highways and parkways in heavily-populated/ business districts, , giving cyclists at least a three-foot clearance when passing (with an additional foot for every 10 mph above 30 mph), and requiring new bicycle signage guidelines, in addition to requiring drivers to yield to bicyclists at intersections of bicycle paths and roads marked with crosswalks.

    "As we have more riders, we have more bike crashes and there is more of a need for bicycle safety," Fischer said. "The law needs to catch up with how bicycle facilities interface with other road users. Thirty years ago, we did not have all these new bicycle facilities. That has changed for the better, and we need to continue to encourage safe spaces for all riders."


  • The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall of nearly 10,000 bicycle handlebar stems manufactured by Profile Design Cobra S. The company has received 10 reports of cases wherein the handlebar stems corroded and broke. In at least one case, a rider suffered injury after handlebar stem corrosion that caused the rider to lose control of the bicycle and crash. The defective bicycle component was reportedly sold the stem between 2007 and 2013. The individual stem went for $200, while the bikes as a whole sold for anywhere from $2,000 to $6,000. The Cobra S carbon-wrapped stem was sold on bicycles manufactured by: Fuji, Scott, Jamis, Kestrel. Stems had the words “Cobra S” and “Profile Design” printed in white lettering on black handlebar stems. Black stems are the only products included in this particular recall. Customers are advised to immediately stop using the devices, which were sold in seven different lengths, from 60 mm to 120 mm. If a defective bicycle or defective bicycle component contributed to your injuries, our dedicated Boston bicycle injury lawyer is available to help answer your questions and help you formulate a legal strategy.


  • The injury lawyers at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers and BikeAttorney.com are proud participants in this year’s Bikes Not Bombs bike-a-thon, held this year on Sunday, June 4th. Rain or shine, our team will be riding in support of the organization, which promotes the usage of bicycles as a vehicle for social change. The Boston charity ride seeks to promote both social justice and environmental sustainability, with all fundraising going directly to Bikes Not Bombs programs.

    Our attorneys have long been committed both to safe cycling advocacy, as well as environmental sustainability. Attorney Jeffrey S. Glassman founded Rainforest Maker, a group committed to growing back earth’s rainforests, which are disappearing at an alarming rate of 100,000 acres daily. Meanwhile, safe cycling has been a lifelong passion of Andrew Fischer, who was a founding member of MassBike and has fought tirelessly for the rights and well-being of bicyclists throughout Massachusetts.

    The event involves riders who register and raise $150 (or $75 for youths) to support bike shop programs, in which underprivileged youths are given the chance to rebuild a reclaimed bicycle, which they can then keep. This effort benefits those in Boston, as well as across the world in 14 countries in the southern hemisphere. Since 1984, the organization has shipped 55,000 bicycles across the world, which help support sustainable livelihoods, build local economies and lower carbon emissions.

    Our bicycle injury lawyers encourage those who may be interested in supporting our team or forming their own to visit the Bikes Not Bombs website.


  • The CPSC has announced a recall of Cannondale mountain bikes because of an issue with potentially defective stem/steer tube assemblies, causing the OPI stem/steering tube assemblies to fail and lead to a bicyclist crashing. The recall includes Flash, FSi, F-4, F-5, F-29, Lexi, RZ, Scalpel and Trigger Cannondale mountain bicycles, model years 2011 - 2015. The bikes at issue have OPI stem/steering tube assemblies with “OPI” printed diagonally across the stem/steering tube in black letters.

  • Now that bicycle advocates from the Boston Cyclists Union, Livable Streets and other groups got city officials to agree to a safer redesign for Commonwealth Ave., we need to win similar victories for the redesign of the BU Bridge, and a cycle track tolink the Jamaicaway Bikepath to the bike alternative to Route 9 in the redesign of the Gateway East entrance to Brookline Village.

  • Head injuries are declining as bikeshare programs increase, but media is debating the issue.

  • Hear Andrew Fischer discuss the Damon case and other bicycle law issues on talk radio WHMP's Bill Newman show

  • The Hampshire Gazette reports on Attorney Andrew Fischer arguing for bicyclists right to take the full lane on Route 9 in Hadley, Ma.

  • Here's what we need to make Boston a truly bike friendly city: a local law like in LA banning harassment of bicyclists.

  • A powerful article in the Atlantic, entitled "The Real Victims of Tort Reform".

  • A video that will open your eyes to auto insurance practices.

  • More people are biking to work.

  • How to map bike routes on Google.

  • Who files the most lawsuits?

  • Insurance companies fight paying billions in claims.