Boston Motorcycle Accident Attorney
Motorcycle riding is fun and exciting. It’s a quick and easy way to get around busy Boston traffic, it’s less expensive to buy, maintain and fuel a motorcycle than a car, and motorcycles produce fewer emissions and are better for the environment than other gas-burning vehicles. Around 140,000 people in Massachusetts enjoy riding motorcycles for their daily commute or weekend trips. There’s no question bikers get a lot of enjoyment out of their machines. The Boston motorcycle accident attorney Joseph R. Linnehan, Jr., has successfully represented thousands of accident injury victims over the years, including people hurt in motorcycle accidents.
There is also no doubt that riding a motorcycle is simply more dangerous than driving a car. Motorcycles make up about six and a half percent of all vehicle registrations in the state, but they account for about 16% of all traffic fatalities. Further, Boston is one of the most dangerous cities in Massachusetts when it comes to motorcycle accidents.
Motorcycle accidents can be the fault of the rider or another driver, who might be distracted, drunk, or otherwise driving negligently or recklessly. Sometimes both parties are partly to blame, and it’s up to the parties to work out a reasonable settlement, or a jury could decide after a trial which party is more at fault for causing the crash.
We understand the uphill battle many motorcycle accident victims face in obtaining justice and compensation for their injuries. We know how to build a case that proves the other driver’s negligence, fault and the extent of damage they caused, and we work tirelessly to obtain excellent results that help our clients deal with their injuries and the disruption in their lives a serious or devastating motorcycle accident has caused.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in a motorcycle accident in Boston, call the Law Office of Joseph R. Linnehan, Jr. for a free consultation and immediate assistance getting the care and compensation you need and deserve after getting into a crash caused by another driver’s negligence.
Leading Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Boston
There are lots of different ways motorcycle riders wind up in collisions with other drivers, but here are some of the most common reasons:
Left turns. Drivers making a left turn at an intersection or across traffic often fail to notice a motorcycle approaching from the opposite direction, or they misjudge the speed or distance of the oncoming bike. They make their turn when the motorcycle is dangerously close, and the rider is unable to avoid striking the turning vehicle. This type of accident is often catastrophic to the rider, and it is probably the number one type of serious traffic accident motorcycle riders get into.
Unsafe lane changes. Motorcycles are quick and agile and are able to navigate traffic much more easily than automobiles. They can quickly come up behind an automobile when the driver was previously unaware there was a motorcycle in the vicinity. Drivers who turn or change lanes without signaling and looking over their shoulder to check their blind spots can hit a motorcycle or cause the biker to crash into them.
Distracted driving. Motorcycles are smaller than automobiles, and there are far fewer of them on the road compared to other motor vehicles. Car drivers are less accustomed to seeing them and don’t look out for them when they should. Drivers who are additionally distracted by their cellphones, whether texting while driving, checking their social media, or focused on their GPS, are especially likely to miss a motorcycle’s nearby presence and cause a wreck.
Getting “doored.” It’s illegal in Massachusetts to open a vehicle door “unless it is reasonably safe to do so without interfering with the movement of other traffic.” Drivers and passengers who open their doors on the traffic side of the street without first looking out for an oncoming bike can cause the motorcyclist to hit the door, flip the bike and suffer catastrophic injuries, including brain injuries, fractures or spinal injuries.
No-Fault Insurance Claims for Injured Motorcyclists
Automobile drivers in Massachusetts are required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance, also known as “no-fault.” If a driver gets into a crash, PIP benefits will cover up to $8,000 of the driver’s medical bills. PIP is “no-fault” insurance because the driver does not have to prove that the accident was the fault of another driver. Injured drivers also don’t have to worry about whether they were the ones who caused the crash. Questions of fault are irrelevant to PIP coverage.
Motorcycle riders can’t get PIP coverage, though. It’s not required by law for motorcyclists, and insurance companies won’t offer it to them. If a motorcyclist gets into a crash, their only option is to file a negligence lawsuit against the driver who hit them or caused the crash. If that driver is uninsured, the rider could file an Uninsured Motorist (UM) claim under their own policy. Either way, they’ll need legal help to prove their claim.
Motorcycle Accident Negligence Claims
In a claim against a negligent driver, injured bikers can recover the full range of their legal damages, including present and future medical expenses, lost wages and diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and emotional distress. It’s up to the biker, though, to prove the other driver was at fault – that their negligence caused the accident and resulting injury. Motorcycle riders often have a difficult time overcoming the bias of insurance companies or jurors who are quick to blame the motorcyclist for speeding or riding recklessly. It is essential to have an experienced motorcycle accident attorney on your side who can prove the other driver’s negligence while defending you against claims you were all or partly to blame.
Get Help After a Motorcycle Accident in Boston
The Law Office of Joseph R. Linnehan, Jr. has recovered significant monetary compensation for motorcycle accident victims in Boston and has achieved substantial verdicts and settlements for thousands of injury victims. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a motorcycle accident in Boston, call the Law Office of Joseph R. Linnehan, Jr. at 617-275-4200 for a free consultation. There’s no fee until after we recover for you.
