Boston Injury Attorney Blog

May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and last week, Grafton, Massachusetts Police Chief Normand Crepeau passed along safety tips from the Registry of Motor Vehicles to help keep motorcyclists safe on the roads. The highlights can be found below.

The Boston motorcycle accident lawyers at Bellotti Law Group encourage all motorcyclists this season to practice safe riding techniques to minimize the risk of personal injury and wrongful death. If you are a victim or family member of someone injured or wrongfully killed in a motorcycle accident, call us today at 617-225-2100 or 800-334-FIRM for help getting your medical bills covered, lost wages recouped, and pain and suffering compensated.

Ensure Drivers are Aware of Your Presence: The RMV stresses, first, that all motorcyclists make their presence known to other motorists on the road. Visibility should never be assumed. Instead, bikers should always wear an DOT-approved helmet and clothing, with adequate reflective materials. Motorcyclists should also use their headlights while biking on highways, opting for high-beams or a modulating headlight. Know that large trucks, SUVs, delivery vans, etc. can block you from another car's field of view and adjust your position accordingly on the road.

Always Ride in the Appropriate Lane Position: If you are not riding in the appropriate lane, drivers may not be able to see you. A valuable tip to remember is if you can see the driver in the side-view mirror, then the driver can also see you. Try to stay out of drivers' blind spots, always signal before switching lanes, and never ride between lanes or switch lanes erratically or without warning and plenty of space. Riding alongside another vehicle or "sharing the lane" is very dangerous, as there is little time to react to sudden moves and the drivers likely cannot see you. Always leave extra space for emergencies and sudden stops.

Prepare for Hazardous Road Conditions: Often times, you may have to adjust to potentially hazardous road conditions, such as wet roads, fallen leaves, potholes, railroad tracks, debris, and other obstructions. Again, always travel at safe speeds and distances behind other vehicles to account for sudden emergencies.

The Boston motorcycle accident attorneys at Bellotti Law Group encourage all drivers to safely share the road with motorcyclists to help reduce crashes. This May, Motorcycle Awareness Month, be extra vigilant to reduce personal injuries and wrongful deaths. If you are a victim or family member of a victim, call us today at 617-225-2100 or toll-free 800-334-FIRM for a free consultation today to discuss your options. We have offices in Boston, Cambridge, and Quincy and serve in courts throughout Massachusetts. Visit www.bellottilaw.com for more information

In the early morning of June 19th, a Massachusetts motorcyclist was killed after colliding with another motorcycle on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Natick, near the Weston, Massachusetts line. According to Massachusetts State Police, the fatally wounded victim was a 40-year-old man from Springfield, Massachusetts. The other motorcyclist the man collided with was a 43-year-old Northborough, Massachusetts resident. That man suffered serious injuries and was send to the MetroWest Hospital.

In a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), there were 54 fatal motorcycle accidents in Massachusetts in 2009. Only 25 percent of all motorcycle accidents were single-motorcycle crashes. Instead, most involved other motor vehicles. Motorcyclists have the same legal rights as other vehicles on the road. Motorcyclists also have a duty to abide by traffic laws and driving regulations.

Massachusetts bikers are protected under state law, which makes negligent drivers responsible and liable to injured motorcyclists. A motorcyclist involved in a motorcycle accident can be compensated for any injuries caused by another driver's negligence. Damages can include medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of employment, loss of daily enjoyment, etc.

Continue reading "Motorcyclist Killed on Massachusetts Turnpike in Natick, Massachusetts" »

Reports of motorcycle crashes causing personal injury and death in Massachusetts have been almost a daily occurrence since late last month. The first motorcycle accident fatality of the spring occurred on April 29, when a Haverhill, Massachusetts man was killed in a single-motorcycle crash on Kingsbury Ave. in Haverhill. On May 2, a Milford, Massachusetts man was fatally injured in a motorcycle crash on I-290 East in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. According to the Boston Herald, the 48-year-old died after a motor vehicle crash into with a sign on the highway median near exit 23A. On May 3, a woman died in Roxbury, Massachusetts, when her scooter crashed at the intersection of Blue Hill Ave. and Dudley St.

The most recent motorcycle accident, reported on May 5, involved a 42-year-old Middleboro, Massachusetts biker, who crashed into another vehicle in Middleboro, Massachusetts, and fled the scene of the traffic accident. The operator of the motorcycle, Richard Hasomeris, was involved in the accident on I-495, near exit 4 in Middleboro. He was treated for minor injuries at Morton Hospital in Taunton, Massachusetts hospital and being charged with driving while intoxicated (DWI), leaving the scene of an accident, and negligent operation of a motor vehicle. He has been summonsed to appear in Middleboro District Court.

According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), there were 54 fatal motorcycle accidents in Massachusetts in 2009. Only 25 percent of all motorcycle accidents were single-motorcycle crashes. Instead, most involved other motor vehicles. Motorcyclists have the same legal rights as other vehicles on the road. Motorcyclists also have a duty to abide by traffic laws and driving regulations.

According to the NHTSA, motorcycle helmets saved 1,829 motorcyclists' lives in 2008. Thus, if you ride a motorcycle, be sure to always wear a helmet and protective clothing to minimize your risk of personal injury or death. Other drivers are often negligent and not respectful of motorcyclists on the road. Drivers and bikers should always practice safe driving and share the road accordingly, because both are treated as vehicles bound by the same laws.

Continue reading "Series of Motorcycle Accidents in Massachusetts Continue to Cause Personal Injury and Death" »

As the mercury begins to rise in Massachusetts, so should the safety concerns of motorcyclists and drivers they share the roads with. May is "Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month," and as more bikers hit the busy streets of Boston and nearby cities and towns, it is important to remember safety rules and regulations to minimize risks of personal injury and/or death. Motorcycles are vehicles under the law and must abide by the same traffic rules and driving standards as their four-wheeled counterparts. Bikers also enjoy the same privileges as other motor vehicles and all drivers should be respectful and aware of their presence on the road.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 54 motorcycle accident fatalities in Massachusetts in 2009. Moreover, there has been an increasing number of injuries and deaths attributable to motorcycle accidents for more than a decade. According to the NHTSA, motorcycle crash-related fatalities have been increasing since 1997 and injuries have been increasing since 1999. While motorcycles themselves have historically been viewed as dangerous modes of travel, statistics reveal that motorcycle crashes often involve other motor vehicles. The NHTSA notes that nearly 50 percent of all motorcycles involved in fatal crashes collided with other types of motor vehicles in transport.

Many drivers fail to account for the unique conditions and challenges motorcyclists face on the road. In an effort to increase safety awareness, the NHTSA drafted model "Share the Road" language for local, state, and national motorist awareness programs. Some points are:

1. A motorcycle has the same rights and privileges as any other vehicle on the roadway.
2. Allow the motorcyclist a full lane width. Do not share the lane.
3. A motorcycle has a much smaller profile than a vehicle, which can make it more difficult to judge the speed and distance of an approaching motorcycle.
4. Always signal your intentions before changing lanes or merging with traffic to allow motorcyclists to anticipate traffic flow and find a safe lane position.
5. Remember that a motorcyclist can be hidden in a vehicle's blind spot or missed in a quick look due to its smaller size.
6. Remember that road conditions that are minor annoyances to motorists can pose major hazards to motorcyclists.
7. Allow more following distance -- three or four seconds -- following a motorcycle.

Continue reading ""Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month" Aims to Reduce Motorcycle Accident Injuries & Fatalities in Massachusetts" »