Massachusetts Motorcycle Attorney
Attorney Tracy Paulsen is a Massachusetts Motorcycle Accident Lawyer that can help you protect your rights after being injured in an accident on a motorcycle. Motorcycle Accidents in Massachusetts involve the following two things in many cases:
- Serious Injuries, life altering injuries in some cases, scarring and in many cases significant lost wages;
- Often Motorcycle Accidents can involve disputes as to who is at fault for the accident.
Why Hire Attorney Tracy Paulsen and Rightful Legal to Represent you in a Motorcycle Accident?
- Dedication and passion to helping you get your life back together;
- The ability to fight with the insurance company and take the case to trial if necessary;
- Commitment to making sure you understand the process and have peace of mind that your claim is being handled the best way possible.
Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents in Massachusetts
Attorney Paulsen at Rightful Legal can help you with the following types of Motorcycle Accidents:
- Head-On Collisions: These are some of the most dangerous accidents involving two vehicles where both the front ends collide with each other. The impact often leaves motorcyclists with severe, sometimes life-threatening injuries due to the speed and direct force involved.
- Rear-End Collisions: When a vehicle crashes into the back of a motorcycle, it is classified as a rear-end collision. This type of accident often results in whiplash, back injuries, and spinal cord damage to the motorcyclist.
- Broadside Collisions: Also known as T-Bone collisions, they occur when a vehicle hits the side of the motorcycle. This usually happens in intersections and can cause severe injuries to the motorcyclist due to the lack of protection on the sides.
- Sideswipe Accidents: This typically happens in heavy traffic when a vehicle changes lanes without noticing the motorcyclist, brushing or hitting them sideways. While the severity of these accidents may seem less depending on the speeds involved, the sudden surprise can cause motorcyclists to lose balance, leading to catastrophic accidents.
- Left-Turn Accidents: Motorcycles are less visible on the road, and drivers often misjudge their speed or don’t see them at all. This leads to situations where a car turns left into the path of an oncoming motorcycle, causing an accident.
Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents can occur due to a variety of reasons, and can happen in high trafficked areas such as Route 95, 128, the Mass Pike, Route 24 and 93.
Some common causes of motorcycle accidents in Massachusetts include:
- Distracted Driving: This is one of the most common and dangerous causes of motorcycle accidents. Distracted driving not only refers to the use of electronic devices but also to anything that takes the driver’s hands, eyes, or mind off the road.
- Drunk Driving: Alcohol impairs the motor skills and judgement necessary for safe driving. Drunken driving significantly increases the potential for an accident to occur due to erratic and unpredictable behavior on the road.
- Fatigued Driving: Tired drivers have slower reaction times and compromised decision-making abilities. Fatigue can easily result in momentary lapses in concentration, leading to serious motorcycle accidents.
- Tailgating By Cars: Cars following motorcycles too closely can cause severe accidents. Because motorcycles stop much quicker than cars, a driver who is tailgating may not have sufficient time to brake.
- Road Rage: Angry or aggressive behavior exhibited by drivers in difficult road situations can escalate into dangerous, potentially life-threatening encounters.
- Unsafe Lane Changes by Cars: Abrupt or unexpected lane changes by cars without proper indication can lead to serious motorcycle collisions.
- Lane Splitting: This practice, while legal in some states, can lead to accidents if car drivers aren’t aware of the motorcyclist’s presence.
- Motorcycle Defects: Faulty parts, design flaws, or improper assembly can lead to accidents when the motorcycle doesn’t function as expected.
- Poorly Maintained Roads: Potholes, road debris, or a lack of road signs can easily cause a motorcyclist to lose control and crash.
What to Do After a Motorcycle Accident
Attorney Tracy Paulsen is a Massachusetts motorcycle accident lawyer who understands just how stressful a motorcycle accident can be. In the event of a motorcycle collision it is essential that you take the following key steps immediately:
- Getting medical attention: Your health and safety are paramount. Even if injuries aren’t immediately evident, it’s integral to seek medical attention as soon as possible. Some post-accident injuries do not manifest symptoms immediately and may only be detectable with professional medical assessment.
- Reporting the accident to the police: Promptly filing a police report serves multiple purposes. It not only ensures that you comply with legal obligations but also provides an unbiased, third-party account of the accident’s details—critical in potential legal proceedings.
- Gathering contact information of witnesses: Other people who witnessed the incident can significantly support your case. Collect their contact information when possible, including names, phone numbers, and addresses, as their accounts may corroborate your version of events in court.
- Documenting the accident scene: When safe to do so, take pictures or videos of the accident site. This may include damaged vehicles, road conditions, traffic signs, and injuries. These visuals can provide compelling and objective evidence.
- Consulting with an attorney: The last and likely most crucial step is reaching out to a competent attorney. By doing so, you start the process of protecting your rights and securing a fair resolution. Understanding that every motorcycle accident is unique, our seasoned Norfolk County motorcycle personal injury attorneys are skilled at navigating this type of case and can provide crucial legal guidance.
Who do you Sue When Involved in a Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents can be life-altering and often lead to serious injuries or even fatalities. If you or a loved one has been involved in such an accident, there are several potential defendants who can be sued for damages.
- Driver of the car that hit the motorcycle: When the driver of another vehicle is responsible for the accident, they may be held liable. This could be due to reckless driving, negligence, or violation of traffic laws. Irrespective of the nature of the violation, the driver could be legally responsible for your injuries and damage to your bike.
- Employer of the car driver: If the driver who caused the accident was on duty, working for their employer at the time of the accident, the employer could also be held liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior, which holds employers accountable for their employees’ actions conducted within the course of their employment.
- Motorcycle or parts manufacturer: In cases where a faulty part or design defect in the motorcycle contributes to the crash, the manufacturer might be accountable for injuries and damages.
- Repair Shop: If the repair shop that serviced the motorcycle failed to properly upkeep or repair the bike, leading to mechanical failure and subsequently an accident, the repair shop could be made liable for negligence.
- Government entities: On certain occasions, accidents can be caused due to poor road conditions, inadequate signage, or faulty traffic lights. In such cases, government entities responsible for maintaining roads can be held accountable.
It’s vital to understand who is potentially liable after a motorcycle accident. Our Rightful Legal personal injury attorneys are highly experienced in representing victims of motorcycle accidents in Massachusetts and obtain the compensation you deserve.
Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycle accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, including life altering consequences. Some common motorcycle accident injuries include:
- Brain Injuries: These are among the most serious injuries stemming from motorcycle accidents. Lack of adequate helmet support often exacerbates the severity of these potentially catastrophic injuries. They can lead to drastic lifestyle changes, mental health issues, and long-term medical care.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Motorcycle riders stand a significant risk of suffering spinal injuries due to the lack of protective barriers in case of a crash. These injuries can result in partial or complete paralysis, requiring exhaustive treatment and care.
- Amputations: In severe crash scenarios, riders can undergo forcible amputations or may require surgical amputations post-accident due to crushed or mangled limbs.
- Burn Injuries: Accidents involving the motorcycle catching fire can lead to severe burns, needing extensive medical attention and possibly leading to lasting physical and psychological trauma.
- Broken Bones: The absence of a protective cage around motorcyclists can lead to broken bones in the event of an accident.
- Road Rash: This refers to skin and muscle damage caused by sliding across the pavement, a common occurrence in motorcycle accidents.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: These include injuries to muscles, ligaments, and tendons which can lead to chronic pain and long-lasting functional impairment.
- Lacerations: Sharp debris, parts of the vehicle, or road pavements can cause deep cuts or tears in the skin.
Sadly, some motorcycle accidents can result in fatalities, potentially leading to wrongful death claims. Our wrongful death attorneys at Rightful Legal will help ensure those left behind are compensated for their loss and justice is obtained.
Damages in Motorcycle Accident Cases in Massachusetts
Attorney Tracy Paulsen can help you ensure you can get justice and fair compensation for your injuries in a motorcycle accident in Massachusetts.
One such area concerns the concept of damages, which fall into two primary categories: economic and non-economic damages.
- Economic damages: These are quantifiable and relate directly to monetary losses that result from the motorcycle accident in Massachusetts. It’s important for victims to understand the different types of economic losses they may have a claim for, such as:
- Medical bills: Accumulated costs for immediate and ongoing medical care due to injuries from the accident.
- Lost wages Wages lost due to inability to work immediately following the accident.
- Future treatment costs: Projected expenses for necessary long-term medical treatment and rehabilitation.
- Lost earning capacity: Compensation for probable earnings that the victim would have made if not for the accident.
- Property damage: Costs to repair or replace the motorcycle or other property damaged in the accident.
- Non-economic damages: These damages are less tangible because they don’t have a specific dollar amount associated with them. However, they are equally important in a motorcycle accident claim. Non-economic damages typically include:
- Pain and suffering: This includes such concepts as physical pain, emotional distress, and the impact on the victim’s lifestyle and enjoyment of life. Pain and suffering damages vary greatly and depend upon the extent of the injuries and their long-term effects.
You can call or Text Attorney Tracy Paulsen of Rightful Legal to get started on your motorcycle accident claim at 617-821-5856.