Articles Posted in Motorcycle Accident

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Most motorists think that means it’s time for motorcycle riders to brush up on their safety skills as the snow melts and motorcycles return to the roads. But in reality, it’s the motorists who need the safety reminder.

Nationwide, about 1 in 5 fatal traffic collisions involves a motorcycle rider, despite there being far fewer motorcycles than passenger vehicles on the road. When calculated based on miles traveled, motorcycle riders are 28 times more likely than vehicle occupants to be fatally injured in a collision, according to data collected by the Governor’s Highway Safety Association.motorcycle-1449847-300x225

There is no such thing as a minor accident when a motorcycle is involved. These collisions often result in very serious or fatal injuries. Even when fault is indisputable (and riders are far too often wrongly blamed), an experienced motorcycle accident attorney must identify all available insurance coverage and present an aggressive and comprehensive claim for damages.

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In the Commonwealth, pursuant to Title XIV, Chapter 90 of the Massachusetts General Laws (MGL), which is part of the Public Ways and Works regulations, everyone who operates a motorcycle, rides on a motorcycle as a passenger, or is riding in a sidecar mounted on the side of a motorcycle must wear protective head gear.

Boston Motorcycle Accident LawyerThere is no description of what the protective head gear must be other than it must conform with the requirements as set forth in the regulations of the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV).  This currently includes a helmet approved for use on a motorcycle and some form of eye protection. This can include a windshield on the bike unless you have an instructional (learner’s) permit.  If you have an instructional permit, then eye protection is required.  This can include goggles or a visor on the helmet.  However, it should be noted that if you have a flip-up visor on your helmet, it must be down when you are riding, or the police can, and often will, pull you over and issue you a fine for not complying with safety laws. Continue reading

The doctrine of respondeat superior (Latin for “let the master answer”) holds that an employer can be vicariously liable for the actions of an employee who is acting in the course and scope of employment.motorcycle

That sounds fairly simple, but there is actually a lot to unpack in that statement. For example, vicarious liability means the company can be liable even if it didn’t directly do anything wrong. There is also the distinction between, say, an independent contractor, and an actual employee. Questions might also be raised about whether a worker was acting in the course and scope of employment, even if he or she wasn’t technically on-the-clock.

This brings us to a recent case out of California, considered by the California Court of Appeals for the Second Appellate District, Division Five. The car accident injury lawsuit involved a motorcyclist who was struck by a man driving a taxi. The taxi driver turned left into the path of the man on the motorcycle, who was ejected from his bike. The motorcyclist suffered serious injuries as a result and filed a lawsuit against not just the driver, but the the company whose insignia and branding was emblazoned on the vehicle.  Continue reading

Edens v. Netherlands Insurance, a car accident lawsuit case from the U.S. of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, involved a fatal crash. Plaintiff was driving a motorcycle when a car approaching from the opposite direction made a sharp turn directly in his path. The motorcycle hit the oncoming car.

mvvOLmcThis fatal motorcycle accident occurred in May 2013.  The plaintiff was 22-years-old at the time of his tragic death.  When he hit the alleged at-fault driver’s car, he suffered severe injuries.  First responders were called to the scene, but they found him non-responsive and knew there was nothing they could do save him. They called the medical examiner, and he was soon pronounced dead at the scene.  Continue reading

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports there are 8.4 million registered motorcycles in the U.S., with an increase of about 13,000 in a recent single year. motorcycle

In Massachusetts, according to MotorcycleRoads.com, there are approximately 159,000 registered motorcycles in the state, which ranks it 21st for motorcycles – even though it ranks only 14th in population.

Simply put: Massachusetts loves motorcycles. May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, and our Boston motorcycle accident attorneys want to drive home a few points – whether you have been riding for years or just starting.  Continue reading

Rapper Fetty Wap was recently involved in a serious motorcycle accident. The accident occurred on October 3, 2015 in his hometown of Paterson, New Jersey. Authorities say Fetty Wap was riding his motorcycle when a car was blocking his lane of travel. He allegedly went into the lane of oncoming traffic to get around the car obstructing him and was involved in collision with a car coming toward him. It was also reported that Fetty Wap claimed he never saw the other car coming before he collided with it.

895247_red_dream_cutoutAfter the crash, he was treated by first responders and taken to a local hospital. At the hospital, he was listed as being in serious but stable condition. His family thanked everyone for their support but asked that they respect his privacy during his recovery from this serious motorcycle accident. Continue reading

According to a recent news feature from Rolling Stone, rapper Fetty Wap is in the hospital after being injured in what is being described as a serious motorcycle accident.

232165_bikes_from_ace_cafe_london_4Witnesses say the famous rapper was riding his motorcycle in Patterson, New Jersey, the city where he is from, when he collided head-on with another vehicle. Paramedics were called to the scene, where they provided immediate medical attention to Fetty Wap before transporting him to a local level-one trauma center. Continue reading

According to a recent news report from the Peabody Patch, Massachusetts State Police and its accident reconstruction unit continue to investigate a serious traffic accident involving a moped and a truck. Authorities say the 41-year-old moped driver was riding in the breakdown lane of Route 1 North in Peabody. A Volvo truck driving in the right lane went to turn into a parking lot, when it crossed into the breakdown lane and hit the moped.

1253140_bicycleFirst responders were called to the scene, provided immediate medical attention to victim, and transported him to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in downtown Boston. The 48-year-old operator of the truck was not hurt in the crash, but the moped driver is listed in serious condition at MGH. Volvo trucks are typically larger commercial trucks, ranging from box trucks to semi-tractor trailers. Authorities did not describe the size of truck involved in this accident, but it is likely far bigger than a pickup truck. State police will continue to investigate the cause of the accident. They have not filed any charges or issued any citations in connection with this serious traffic accident. Continue reading

Riding a motorcycle can be a lot of fun. Those who ride talk about the feeling of freedom when riding. Drivers like the feeling of the sun and the wind and being exposed to the elements (assuming it’s not raining). However, that feeling of freedom also exposes riders to a risk of being seriously injured or killed in accident. Crashes that would otherwise be considered fairly minor if riders were safely inside a car, truck or SUV can be devastating to someone on a motorcycle.

This is not to say it is the motorcycle riders’ fault if they are injured in an accident, but the physics of the situation does increase the chances of injury in a crash.

54505_motorcycle_01According to recent news article from Fox, two motorcycles were involved in a serious crash in the New England area. Authorities say the accident occurred in Route 190 in Connecticut on a Saturday afternoon. Witnesses say the two motorcycles were traveling eastbound when they collided with one another.

One of the motorcycle riders was a 55-year-old man who was seriously injured in the accident. First responders were able to provide immediate medical attention before transporting him to a local level-one trauma center. The other rider was 54-years-old, and was also seriously injured in the two-motorcycle accident. First responders treated him to the best of their capabilities and transported him to a level-one trauma center in Massachusetts by medevac helicopter, as his injures are believed to be far more severe than the other rider.
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There is no question riding a motorcycle is more dangerous than riding in a car or SUV. Many car accidents result in no injuries or minor injuries in a car accident, when a motorcycle rider likely would have died in that same accident.

94871_triumph_motorcycle_4.jpgAccording to a recent news report from The Boston Globe, a motorcyclist died from his injuries after his motorcycle collided with a car in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. Police say they responded to a crash, which occurred around 10 p.m. on a Saturday night. When first responders arrived at the scene, the motorcycle rider was already dead, and the two occupants of the car involved in the accident were seriously injured.

EMS workers assessed the condition of the two injured accident victims and transported them to Tufts Medical Center with serious, but non-life threatening, injuries. Police say they are not yet sure as to the cause of this fatal motorcycle accident and will continue to investigate. Authorities have not released the names of any of the three victims as of the time of this report.
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