Boston Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Fighting for riders and other victims of motorcycle accidents in Massachusetts
Motorcycle accidents often cause life-altering or even fatal injuries. A motorcyclist with little to no protection is no match for a traditional passenger car or truck. If you or a loved one are injured while out on your motorcycle, make no mistake – the medical bills are going to be high. But in Massachusetts, you can seek compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage when you are injured in a motorcycle accident.
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, the Boston personal injury lawyers at Breakstone, White & Gluck are ready to fight for you. We have over 100 years of combined experience representing injured riders across Massachusetts. The only thing you need to do is focus on your recovery and healing; we take care of the insurance companies and everything else. Put our experience to work for you today.
OVER $300 MILLION
won for our clients
$3,750,000
Motorcycle Accident
Motorcyclist suffers facial fractures, concussion and loss of vision in one eye
$1,250,000
Motorcycle Accident
Car Cuts Off Motorcyclist Who Suffers Severe Orthopedic Injuries
He was amazing. He was responsive, supportive, thorough, and gave great advice throughout the whole stressful ordeal. They are the best!
~ Anna Olds
Common questions from injury clients
- What should I do after a motorcycle accident in Boston?
- How am I going to pay the bills after my wreck?
- What kind of compensation can I seek for my injuries?
- How a Boston motorcycle accident lawyer from Breakstone, White & Gluck can help me?
- Massachusetts laws for motorcycle riders and passengers
- Is lane-splitting legal in Massachusetts?
- Are motorcycle helmets mandatory in Massachusetts?
- How do motorcycle accidents happen?
- What are the most common types of motorcycle accidents?
- Do you have a motorcycle injury attorney near me?
What should I do after a Boston motorcycle accident?
Many times, motorcycle accidents result in a rider leaving the scene in an ambulance. If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident and have not visited the hospital emergency room, you should seek immediate medical attention, even if you do not believe you have been seriously injured. The emergency room staff will evaluate you for broken bones, concussions, and internal injuries, and will document any injuries you sustained.
How am I going to pay the bills after my wreck?
In Massachusetts, motorcyclists are not entitled to receive no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits under the law. This is one of the first and most basic types of benefits provided to car and bicycle accident victims in Massachusetts and they are provided regardless of fault. This absence of benefits and the severity of injuries motorcyclists often suffer make it critical to contact an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer immediately following a crash. NOTE: Although PIP benefits are not available to motorcycle riders, medical payments coverage is available if it was purchased with the rest of the motorcycle insurance. This is good coverage to have.
The negligent driver, motorcycle rider, pedestrian, cyclist, or other party who caused your injuries should be held accountable and to compensate you from their liability policy. Our Boston attorneys are here to ensure that they are. If the insurance company for the at-fault party tries to deny your claim – and the chances are good that they will – don’t despair. We’ve taken on national insurance companies and won, and we will fight to get your bills paid, too.
What kind of compensation can I seek for my injuries?
If you are injured while riding your motorcycle and another driver is at fault, you may be entitled to damages for:
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Scarring
- Disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages, when applicable (in wrongful death cases)
How a Boston motorcycle accident lawyer from Breakstone, White & Gluck can help you
Breakstone, White & Gluck relentlessly represents our clients. Our Boston motorcycle accident lawyers will thoroughly review all the available motor vehicle insurance coverages, including the at-fault driver’s policy, as well as your own. We will gather the evidence to secure the maximum award possible. Whatever led to your motorcycle crash, our attorneys will work closely with you and review your short- and long-term medical and financial needs.
We prepare every motorcycle accident case we take for trial, because sometimes a jury trial is what’s needed to ensure the best possible outcome. We are known for our willingness to try cases, and have secured several million dollars on behalf of clients. This means that insurance companies may be more willing to negotiate in good faith and from a better starting point. Some of our awards over the years include:
- $3.75 Million for motorcyclist unable to fully return to work after crash.
- $3.5 Million for family of motorcyclist run over by a waste disposal truck and killed.
- $1.25 Million for a seriously injured motorcyclist who received extensive medical care, and who was out of work for several months.
In Massachusetts, motorcycle accident victims have a three-year statute of limitations to file a negligence lawsuit against responsible parties, although in same cases there are shorter notice periods which may be very strict to allow time to prepare and negotiate the best case, however, contact our offices as soon as possible.
Katelyn Ludwig
"I knew that Ron had my best interests at heart, and that I could trust him to help me make the right decision."
Taking on the toughest cases on behalf of catastrophically injured clients
Our Massachusetts legal team is entirely focused on helping catastrophic injury victims. Injuries from motorcycle crashes tend to be severe or fatal, due to a biker’s lack of protection. Without a metal frame or safety features like airbags, motorcyclists are vulnerable to serious physical trauma, including:
- Severe road rash
- Burn injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Bone fractures
- Head injuries
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Broken ribs and injuries to the chest
As our own clients will tell you, we fight for people in need at the time they need it most. Check out some kind words from our clients on our Testimonials page.
- Lower-extremity injuries
- Severe road rash
- Burn injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Bone fractures and breaks
- Head injuries
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Broken ribs and injuries to the chest
Massachusetts’ laws for motorcycle riders and passengers
There are many laws the govern motorcycle riders. You can check out this free motorcycle manual, but we’ll address some common rules here.
- You need a motorcycle license.
- You need to take and pass a road test.
- Your motorcycle must be equipped with a horn, brakes, a headlight, a secure seat, and a rearview mirror, among other features.
- You’re required to use turn signals (or appropriate hand signals) to indicate you’re turning.
- You must obey all traffic laws, such as observing the speed limit and staying in the right-hand lane whenever possible.
Is lane-splitting legal in Massachusetts?
Lane splitting is riding between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction. Usually, this is done by a motorcycle, but it could also be done by a bicycle. Instead of riding in one lane, the motorcyclist rides on the white or yellow line dividing two lanes of traffic.
Why do motorcyclists do this? Mostly, they split lanes to pass slow-moving traffic. Rather than having to wait behind a long line of cars, especially if traffic is crawling along, they can move to the front. It’s also easier for motorcyclists to ride this way. Stopping and starting in traffic is much more work for a motorcyclist than for the driver of a car. It’s preferable for them to keep moving so they don’t have to throttle down, stop, put their feet down, and start moving all over again.
As easy as splitting lanes may be for motorcycle enthusiasts, it is definitely not legal on the roadways of Massachusetts. The state forbids lane splitting in M.G.L. c. 89, Sec. 4A which states that motorcyclists must ride entirely in a single lane on any road with two or more lanes. Drivers cannot deviate from their lanes until they check to make sure it is safe to do so.
In Massachusetts, motorcyclists may not use the same lane to pass other vehicles, nor may they split lanes. They must pass in a single file. The only time they can share a lane with another motor vehicle is when they ride next to another motorcycle.
Are motorcycle helmets mandatory in Massachusetts?
Yes, you must wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle in Boston and throughout the rest of the state. Your passenger must also wear a helmet. Read the full law here.
How do motorcycle accidents happen?
The majority of motorcycle accidents involve a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle. Drivers are accustomed to looking for other cars and trucks on the road, but they do not always watch out for motorcyclists in the same way. Accidents can result when drivers overcrowd motorcyclists, speed or cross the vehicle lane. Drivers can injure a motorcyclist by crashing into their bike or by operating in a negligent manner causing a fall or crash, even if there is no contact with the motorcycle. Distracted driving, cell phone use, and texting while driving by motorists also lead to many motorcycle accidents.
While motorcyclists travel the same roads as other drivers and follow most of the same regulations, they still suffer a disproportionate number of the accidents and injuries in Boston and throughout the country. In Massachusetts, 52 people died in motorcycle accidents in 2020. Motorcycle accidents can be traumatic, both physically and emotionally. Those who are injured may face long hospital stays and months of medical treatment.
What are the most common types of motorcycle accidents?
A collision between a car and a motorcycle running at high speeds usually results in a catastrophe. The most common causes of these crashes include:
- Encountering a Negligent Driver. The culprit of most road accidents involving motorcycles versus cars is the car driver’s negligence. When a car driver fails to exercise caution on the road, everyone is at risk, especially motorcycle riders. They are more likely to die or experience a debilitating injury than car drivers and their passengers.
- Failing to Yield the Right-of-Way. Accidents between cars and motorcycles frequently occur in road intersections. Hence, all drivers must proceed with caution at an intersection, especially if you are behind handlebars because you are more at risk of sustaining severe injuries. Often a collision happens because cars making a left turn at an intersection fail to yield the right-of-way.
- Forgetting to Factor in a Blind Spot. A car is a big machine. Despite the rearview and side mirrors, there are too many blind spots in a vehicle. For example, a car driver may fail to see a smaller motorcycle near the car’s periphery. The person on the bike is at risk when cars are changing lanes.
- Facing a Poor Speed or Distance Perception. It is common to incorrectly judge the distance or speed of a motorbike. As a result, many drivers pull out in front of the bike. They should wait for any motorcycle to pass before entering any street.
- Dealing with Distracted Drivers. Distracted driving is an endemic problem because drivers cannot resist looking at their smartphones while on the road. Using a smartphone while on the wheel is as dangerous as driving under the influence.
- Driving Under the Influence. Drinking and driving has been a problem since time immemorial. Unfortunately, despite the public safety advertisements and other campaigns, many irresponsible people keep drinking and driving.
- Driving When Drowsy or Exhausted. Driving when you are sleepy, drowsy, and exhausted is irresponsible. It is akin to driving under the influence. When you are sleepy, your judgment is impaired. As a result, your reaction time may be reduced or you can drift into another lane and hit a motorcycle.
Every time you ride your motorcycle, you must be extra vigilant and stay mindful of your surroundings at all times. Although you have no way of knowing if the driver next to you is tired or had a few shots, staying alert can help you react to situations and avoid accidents.
It only takes a split second for your life to change. Remember: reckless drivers are everywhere. Even if you are the most cautious motorcycle rider who practices defensive driving, you can still encounter a negligent car driver on the road.
Do you have a motorcycle accident injury attorney near me?
Breakstone, White & Gluck has an office in Boston at 2 Center Plaza #530 in Government Center. We’re within walking distance of the John Adams Courthouse and Suffolk County Superior Court. There’s a parking garage in the building. The MBTA Green Line and Blue Line are right across the street at the Government Center T station, and there’s a bus stop almost in front of our office. If you are unable to travel because of your injuries, we can arrange a phone or video conference, or a hospital visit.
Boston motorcycle accident lawyers representing clients throughout Massachusetts
Motorcycle accidents almost always result in serious injury and work disability, along with significant property damage. After a motorcycle accident, it is vital that you act immediately to protect your legal rights. The Massachusetts attorneys at Breakstone, White & Gluck won’t back down and will fight to secure the compensation you deserve. To set up a free consultation in our Boston office, call us or fill out our contact form.