Saugus, MA Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

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Motorcycles are quite popular in the United States. They are fuel-efficient, compact, and more thrilling than driving a car for many people. Unfortunately, the unique qualities of motorcycles do not make motorcyclists exempt from getting hit by a negligent driver and badly hurt. When motorcycle accidents happen, the associated medical bills can be extremely high, creating unwanted financial stress for victims in addition to the hardships of recovering from injuries.

If you need help after a motorcycle crash, we are here to assist. Our lawyers have handled personal injury claims of all kinds, so we know our way around these cases and how to effectively fight for you in court, giving you the best chance at a favorable verdict and the financial compensation you need.

For a free case review, call the Law Office of John J. Sheehan’s motorcycle accident attorneys at (617) 925-6407.

Causes of Motorcycle Crashes in Saugus, MA

Many motorcycle accidents may initially appear as if they are “single-vehicle” accidents where nothing is to blame but the rider’s carelessness and inexperience. That assertion could not be further from the truth. The reality is that most motorcycle accidents are caused by another party’s negligence, even if it may initially appear as if the accident only involved the motorcyclist. Our motorcycle accident lawyers can examine the type of accident that took place in your case to figure out who may be liable and construct a strong claim for you to take to court.

Failure to Observe

Motorcycles are smaller than cars. For that reason, it can sometimes be difficult for drivers to spot motorcyclists, especially if the driver in question is speeding, not paying attention, or doing something else dangerous. If a driver strikes a motorcyclist because they had a lapse in concentration or were driving dangerously, they can be held liable.

Accidents where the driver fails to see a motorcyclist can happen even if the car is not moving, especially if a parked car is near a busy shopping center or another crowded area. For example, if a driver is not paying attention and opens their door before a motorcyclist has time to react, they still negligently injured the motorcycle rider even though they were not driving their car at the time of the accident.

Lane Switching

When drivers switch lanes, they are supposed to look in their side and rear mirrors for vehicles around them. If they fail to do that or do not check carefully enough, they can easily miss a nearby motorcycle rider and sideswipe them, causing serious injury.

Drunk Driving

Driving under the influence is illegal in every state because it is extremely dangerous. Drunk drivers make risky decisions and are not as good at reacting to the world around them. Worse still, a drunk driver may not stop when they see a motorcyclist and just try and plow through them, greatly increasing the severity of injuries.

Defective Vehicles

When a car, or indeed your motorcycle, has a problem that makes it not work like it is supposed to, there can be very bad consequences for people on the road around that vehicle. For example, suppose a car had brakes installed the wrong way. Later, the driver tries to stop the car to no avail, hitting you on your motorcycle. In that case, part of the cause of your accident would be a defective vehicle, and you can file a claim against the mechanic shop that installed the brakes, the designer of the brakes, or whoever else is responsible for that faulty product.

Bad Road Conditions

Things like potholes, defective guardrails, uncleared debris, and other road hazards can result in a motorcyclist losing control of their vehicle and crashing. When accidents happen due to poor road conditions, you can sue the entity responsible for maintaining the roads. A lot of times, this ends up being a government entity. There are some rules that need to be followed when you sue state and local governments, so you should check with our motorcycle accident lawyers before proceeding.

Motorcycle Helmet Laws in Saugus, MA

You are required by law to wear a motorcycle helmet in Massachusetts. Under Mass. Gen. Laws Ch 90 § 7, anyone, both passengers and motorcycle riders, need to wear “protective head gear” that meets regulatory standards. The vast majority of motorcycle riders are concerned about their safety, so chances are that riders who get hurt in motorcycle accidents are still wearing their helmet. However, every once in a while, there is a motorcyclist who is not wearing a helmet. If they get hurt and want to sue, they may be wondering whether not wearing a helmet will impact their claim.

As with many things in law, whether failure to wear a helmet will impact your claim depends on your unique circumstances. Massachusetts uses a “comparative fault” system for assigning liability in personal injury cases. Under this system, a plaintiff’s damages can be reduced if they are partially at fault for their injuries. For example, if a plaintiff is awarded $100,000 in damages and they are found by the jury to be 20% at fault, they will get $80,000 in damages.

Depending on the circumstances, a jury could find that failure to wear a helmet makes you partially at fault for your injuries, especially if you suffered injuries to your head or neck that may have been prevented or mitigated by wearing head protection. On the other hand, a jury is unlikely to find that failure to wear a helmet contributed to injuries like broken limbs or bruises on your chest.