Bicyclist Airlifted After Collision With Dump Truck in Cape Cod by Rock Harbor Road and Doane Road
CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS (August 19, 2025) – A bicyclist was injured in an Orleans dump truck accident near the intersection of Rock Harbor Road and Doane Road.
Barnstable County officials are saying that the accident took place around 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. A bicyclist was heading down the road when they were struck by a 100 Isuzu dump truck.
Orleans Fire Department officials and paramedics were called to the scene to help the injured man. He was transported to a field at Nauset Middle School before being airlifted to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
The operator of the dump truck remained at the scene following the collision. Authorities are asking anyone that may have witnessed what happened to reach out to the Orleans Police Department.
A full investigation into the Cape Cod dump truck accident remains ongoing at this time.
Determining Liability for Orleans Dump Truck Accidents
Dump truck drivers are required to get a commercial license and must operate with an abundance of caution to avoid collisions. They must be cautious around any pedestrian nearby. Pursuant to Mass. General Laws c.90 § 14, drivers must exercise due care to avoid colliding with any bicyclist or vulnerable road user. They must maintain a safe distance and cannot make abrupt turns into the path of a bicyclist. There are many ways that a dump truck driver’s negligence may have contributed to a bicycle accident.
- Blind Spots: A dump truck driver may have failed to check their blind spots before changing lanes or turning at an intersection.
- Follow Distance: A dump truck driver may have followed a bicyclist too closely so that they didn’t have enough space to brake and avoid a collision.
- Driver Distraction: Dump truck drivers may have been distracted by their phones or other devices and failed to notice a bicyclist in the roadway.
- Speed: Speeding remains one of the leading causes of pedestrian and bicycle accidents.
The vast majority of bicycle accidents are totally preventable. Most of these collisions can be avoided when drivers simply slow down. If a dump truck driver fails to slow down to avoid a collision, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Liability for any dump truck collision could extend beyond an at-fault driver.
Employer Liability for Dump Truck Accidents
Liability for any dump truck collision could extend to the company that employed the driver involved in the crash. Companies that employ dump truck drivers are legally responsible for the negligent actions of those drivers. This is typically true as long as the driver in question was operating within the course and scope of their job duties. There are several things to keep in mind when considering employer liability for dump truck collisions.
- Trip Purpose: The purpose of a dump truck driver’s trip must be for the benefit of their employer or a reasonable part of their job duties. As commercial vehicles, it is incredibly rare that a dump truck would be used for personal, non-business purposes.
- Independent Contractors: Generally speaking, employers are not responsible for the negligent actions of their independent contractors–unless those contractors were performing some type of non-delegable duty.
- Negligent Hiring: It is important to consider the qualifications of any dump truck driver prior to a crash. A company could be liable for a collision if they negligently hired a truck driver that lacked proper certifications for their position.
- Employer Policies: It is worth considering whether or not a company that employed dump truck drivers encouraged unsafe driving practices, such as speeding.
Dump truck drivers are often pushed to adopt unsafe driving practices. According to the Engineering News Record, “Serious accidents involving dump trucks and ready-mix concrete delivery trucks continue to edge up, part of a persistent, multi-industry problem with poor driving habits that has not yet responded to increased fleet and vehicle insurance premiums.” Any person injured in a dump truck collision may be able to seek some measure of justice through a personal injury claim.
Investigating Cape Cod Dump Truck Accidents
DiBella Law extends our best wishes to the bicyclist injured in this Orleans dump truck accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Cape Cod dump truck accident? You may be entitled to financial compensation. Our team of experienced Boston truck accident attorneys is here for you. We are committed to helping accident victims get the most compensation possible so that they can focus on their recovery. In fact, our law firm operates on a contingency fee basis. Our payment comes entirely from the opposing party if we are able to successfully resolve your claim.
Whether you just have legal questions or are wondering how an attorney might be able to help, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime for a free case evaluation.