Here at TorkLaw, our Boston motorcycle accident lawyers can help you in case you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Boston. Motorcycle crashes typically result in serious injuries. In more severe cases, they can cause a permanent disability or death. So it is crucial to hold the other driver accountable if their negligence caused the crash.
When filing a compensation claim, you must be able to demonstrate and prove various elements. This is why it is best to get professional legal help when you are preparing the claim. The information provided below will also aid you in understanding motorcycle accident claim work and how to file one.
Massachusetts Motorcycle Accident Statistics
A large number of motorcycle crashes occur across the roads of Massachusetts every year. In 2016 alone, a total of 2017 accidents involving motorcycles occurred. These resulted in 42 deaths and 1635 injuries. This number increased to 59 fatalities in motorcycle crashes in 2018.
An important point to consider here is the percentage of serious injury or death in motorcycle accidents. In 2018, 80% of the motorcycle accidents involved a serious injury or death. This is a lot higher than the rate of injury or death in crashes involving other automobiles.
If you are involved in a motorcycle accident, chances are that you have sustained serious injuries. This is why it is vital that you file a compensation claim with the right insurer at the right time to receive a fair settlement. If you are not sure how to file one or who to file it with, you should get the help of qualified Boston motorcycle accident lawyers.
Massachusetts Laws for Motorcyclists
Massachusetts has a number of laws which govern how motorcyclists may operate a motorcycle across the state. Some of the most notable ones are as follows:
- You must have insurance to cover bodily injury protection of at least $20,000 per person and $40,000 per accident. You must also carry insurance coverage of at least $5,000 per accident for property damage and $8,000 for medical expenses.
- You must wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle, whether you are the driver or the passenger.
- Lane splitting is prohibited. This means that you can’t move between slow or stopped traffic when riding a motorcycle.
- You must have a windscreen or eye protection when riding a motorcycle if you are operating it on a permit.
- The maximum height of the handlebar must not be higher than the shoulders of the motorcyclist.
- Massachusetts laws prohibit the use of helmet speakers.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents typically occur when the motorcyclist or another driver commits negligence. Here are some common causes of motorcycle crashes that reflect such negligence:
- Lane Change. Lane changes are dangerous in general and particularly so for motorcycles given their small size in comparison with other vehicles. A sudden lane change by a motorcycle may go unnoticed by a larger vehicle, resulting in an accident.
- Speeding, on the part of a motorcyclist or a driver, can lead to a collision.
- Alcohol or drugs. Driving under the influence of alcohol is one of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents. More than 40% motorcycle riders who lost their lives in single-vehicle accidents were impaired when the crash occurred.
- Right of way. Right of way mistakes and accidents can result in unexpected collisions for motorcyclists. This is particularly so because motorcyclists are often in the blind spot of a vehicle and the other vehicles fail to yield the right of way when they should.
- Car doors. In more urban settings such as Boston, you may suffer a motorcycle crash when a car door suddenly and unexpectedly opens.
- Abrupt stops. An abrupt stop by a motorcycle or another vehicle can result in a collision. Such collisions are particularly dangerous for motorcyclists as they usually occur at high speeds and cause fatal injuries.
The cause of a motorcycle crash, and the negligence involved, is not always clear. In fact, it is possible for multiple parties to share the fault in an accident. This is why you may still be able to recover damages if you were partly to blame for your motorcycle accident. Before you agree to a lower compensation or forfeit compensation altogether, make sure you consult Boston motorcycle accident lawyers
Damages Recoverable in Motorcycle Accidents
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident, you can recover compensation in lieu of the following:
- Medical costs. These cover the full costs of your immediate and long-term medical treatment.
- Property damage. This includes the costs of repairing or replacing a part or whole of your motorcycle.
- Pain and suffering. These are regarded as non-economic damages which are recoverable for your intangible losses from a crash. Unlike many other states, Massachusetts does not place a cap on the maximum amount of non-economic damages.
- If your motorcycle is significantly damaged and you must rent another vehicle for a period, you can also seek the rental costs.
- Lost wages. As with any personal injury case, you can seek lost wages and lost future earning capacity damages for a crash-related injury.
How Boston Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Help You?
A good attorney will help you gather evidence, meet legal requirements, identify the liable party and then file a compensation claim, all without losing any time. This is simply because an attorney is well aware of how the process works. Without a lawyer, you can still file a claim but you may fail to meet the requirements, miss the deadline or simply make another mistake. All of this creates unnecessary delays while also impacting your odds of success.
This is why here at TorkLaw, we work closely with you to help you file the compensation claim. We also advise you on the maximum amount of compensatory damages you can seek for your losses. With our help, you have a far better chance of negotiating successfully with an insurer and getting the settlement you deserve. Reach out to us today to discuss your motorcycle accident and get the ball rolling.