Rideshare Accident Lawyer in Massachusetts

Massachusetts's three-year personal injury statute of limitations under G.L. c. 260, § 2A governs rideshare crash claims. But the verbal injury threshold analysis under G.L. c. 231, § 6D is the more pressing early task — if the threshold is not met, the pain and suffering claim is barred as a matter of law regardless of how long the SOL runs. Threshold eligibility must be assessed from the initial medical records, which requires attorney engagement before those records are complete. Simultaneously, the TNC's phase-status log — confirming Phase 1 or Phase 2 at the moment of the crash — must be secured before it is overwritten or the TNC driver deactivates their account. An attorney retained within the first 72 hours issues preservation demands to the TNC, its insurer, and the driver's personal insurer to lock the phase log and coverage determination.

Massachusetts's ABC Test under G.L. c. 149, § 148B creates ongoing employment misclassification risk for TNC platforms. If a Massachusetts court determines that an Uber or Lyft driver is an employee rather than an independent contractor — because the TNC controls the manner of work — vicarious liability would attach to the platform directly. While Massachusetts courts have generally enforced the TNC statutory classification for regulatory purposes, the ABC Test litigation is active and unresolved. An attorney who identifies potential TNC employment misclassification in a high-value injury case pursues the platform directly under both the contractor and potential employee liability theories.

Logan Airport (BOS) creates a distinctive rideshare accident jurisdiction. Massport (Massachusetts Port Authority) operates the TNC staging lots, designated pickup/dropoff lanes, and taxi holding areas under G.L. c. 91, § 1 and its own regulations. An accident in the Logan TNC staging area may simultaneously involve TNC Phase 2 coverage ($1,000,000 CSL) and Massport premises liability for inadequate traffic control, defective lane marking, or negligent staging configuration. Massport has its own claims process and insurance coverage separate from the general Massachusetts Tort Claims Act. An attorney conducts a full venue analysis — TNC insurer, Massport claims, driver's personal policy — within the first days after a Logan rideshare crash.

Massachusetts's 50% comparative fault bar under G.L. c. 231, § 85 applies to rideshare crash claims. A passenger who contributed to the crash — by directing the driver, by causing distraction, or by failing to wear a seatbelt — may face a fault reduction or, above 50%, a complete bar to non-economic recovery. Assumption of risk is abolished in Massachusetts. Defense counsel in rideshare cases will attempt to use the passenger's behavior (unlocking doors in moving traffic, distracted passenger movements) to build a comparative fault narrative. Medical causation of specific injuries — establishing that the injuries were caused by the crash rather than pre-existing conditions — must be documented before the defense has a chance to structure its independent medical examination.