Plymouth Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Motorcycling in coastal Plymouth offers sweeping views, historic roads, and quick access to Cape Cod, but those same scenic byways can become unforgiving when a negligent driver fails to look twice. Because a motorcycle provides little physical protection, even a “minor” crash can leave a rider facing months of medical treatment, mounting bills, and an uncertain future. Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers has represented injured motorcyclists throughout Massachusetts for more than three decades, recovering millions for clients while championing safer roads. This in-depth guide explains how Plymouth motorcycle accident claims work, what laws govern them, and why choosing an experienced local attorney is essential for maximizing compensation.

The Unique Risk Landscape for Motorcyclists in Plymouth, MA

Plymouth sits at the mouth of Route 3, the main artery funneling Boston traffic toward Cape Cod, and sees heavy surges of vacationers each spring and summer. Mixing visiting motorists unfamiliar with rotary patterns, narrow colonial streets such as Court Street, and frequent coastal fog, the crash risk accelerates. Massachusetts Department of Transportation (Mass DOT) data show that Plymouth County consistently records one of the state’s highest volumes of motorcycle collisions, with peak months between May and September. Nationally, 6,335 motorcyclists were killed in 2023, accounting for 15 percent of all traffic deaths, the highest figure since the federal government began tracking the metric in 1975.

Common Causes of Motorcycle Crashes in Plymouth

Local crash reports reveal repeating patterns:

• Left-turn conflicts at intersections. A driver misjudges a rider’s speed on Route 44 or Sandwich Street and turns across the rider’s path.
• Rear-end impacts in stop-and-go traffic. Summer congestion near Plymouth Rock leads to sudden stops.
• Door-opening incidents downtown. Parked vehicles on Water Street often leave little margin for riders passing stalled traffic.
• Road-surface hazards. Salt-air corrosion, winter freeze-thaw cycles, and sand left from storm cleanup can destabilize a bike.
• Wildlife and coastal weather. White-tailed deer on Myles Standish State Forest roads and dense sea fog along Route 3A create visibility crises.

Identifying the primary cause and every contributing factor is the first step in proving liability.

Key Massachusetts Motorcycle Laws Every Rider Must Know

Understanding the statutory framework is vital to any personal injury case because a violation can affect fault allocation.

Universal Helmet Requirement Massachusetts maintains one of the strictest helmet mandates in the nation: every operator and passenger must wear Department-of-Transportation-approved headgear, regardless of age or experience (Mass. Gen. Laws c. 90 § 7). Helmets reduce the likelihood of a fatal head injury by 37 percent, according to NHTSA research.Eye Protection

If a motorcycle lacks a windshield, the rider must use shatter-proof goggles or a face shield, also under § 7.

Lane Sharing vs. Lane Splitting

Two motorcycles may ride abreast in a single lane, but riding between lanes of slowed traffic (lane splitting) is prohibited under state road-safety regulations.

Insurance Minimums

All riders must carry at least $20,000 per person/$40,000 per accident in bodily-injury liability and $5,000 in property-damage liability, with those limits set to increase soon. Uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage equal to the BI minimum is compulsory, providing a lifeline when a hit-and-run driver flees the scene of an accident.

Comparative Negligence Rule

Massachusetts uses a 51-percent modified comparative negligence standard. A plaintiff can recover damages so long as their fault does not exceed that of the defendant’s; any award is reduced by the plaintiff’s percentage of fault (c. 231 § 85).

Immediate Steps to Take After a Motorcycle Accident

A well-documented post-crash record strengthens a claim:

• Obtain emergency medical evaluation, even if injuries seem minor. Concussions and internal trauma often manifest later.
• Call 911 and insist that police file a Massachusetts Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report (Form CRA-65).
• Photograph the scene, all vehicles, skid marks, roadway debris, and any construction signage.
• Secure contact information for witnesses, first responders, and tow operators.
• Preserve your helmet, riding gear, and any GoPro footage in their damaged state for forensic review.
• Notify your insurance carrier promptly and cooperate with their investigation, but consult with an attorney before providing recorded statements.

Proving Liability and Overcoming Comparative Negligence

Establishing negligence requires demonstrating duty, breach, causation, and damages. Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers deploys rapid-response investigators and accident-reconstruction experts who:

• Download event-data recorder (“black-box”) information from involved vehicles, verifying speed, braking, and steering inputs.
• Survey roadway design. Poor signage, potholes, or gravel from an improperly secured construction site can create secondary defendants, including municipalities or contractors.
• Retrieve surveillance footage from businesses along Court Street, Cordage Park, and major intersections before it is overwritten, often within 72 hours.
• Analyze cellular-usage logs to prove distracted driving.

Even if a rider violates a safety statute, such as failure to use a DOT-certified helmet, Massachusetts’ comparative negligence system merely reduces, rather than bars, recovery unless the rider’s fault exceeds 51 percent.

Damages You Can Recover Under Massachusetts Law

Compensatory damages in a motorcycle case often exceed those in passenger-vehicle claims because injuries are more severe:

• Past and future medical expenses, including surgeries, prosthetics, and in-home modifications.
• Lost wages and diminished earning capacity, calculated with vocational-economics experts for riders in union trades or specialized professions.
• Physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life activities such as biking, boating, or golfing.
• Scarring and disfigurement, jury verdicts in Plymouth Superior Court have historically recognized the social impact of visible injuries.
• Repair or replacement of the motorcycle, helmet, riding gear, and electronics.
• Wrongful-death damages for surviving family members, including loss of consortium, under the Massachusetts Wrongful Death Statute (c. 229 § 2).

Punitive damages are unavailable in ordinary negligence actions but may arise if “gross negligence” or willful misconduct is proven, such as a drunk-driver case.

Critical Deadlines: Statute of Limitations & Municipal Notice Requirements

Most motorcycle injury lawsuits must be filed within three years of the date of the crash (c. 260 § 2A). Waiting even a day beyond that deadline can forfeit the claim. If the crash involved a roadway defect, loose sewer grate, missing manhole cover, or unfilled utility trench, the rider must also provide written notice to the county, city, or town within thirty days (c. 84 § 18). Failing to send a timely notice can extinguish an otherwise valid case against the municipality.

How Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers Builds Winning Motorcycle Cases

Our firm’s approach blends cutting-edge technology with courtroom-tested advocacy:

• On-scene deployment within hours. Investigators photograph daylight conditions, drone-scan skid-path geometry, and use 3D laser mapping to preserve evidence.
• Medical-team integration. We consult orthopedic surgeons, neurologists, and rehabilitation specialists to document future-care costs and life-care-plan expenses.
• Insurance coverage for excavation. Commercial policy stacking, umbrella-coverage searches, and ride-share policy coordination often uncover six- and seven-figure limits beyond an at-fault driver’s minimal policy.
• Aggressive litigation posture. Defense insurers know Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers is prepared to try cases in Plymouth Superior Court, Barnstable Superior Court, or U.S. District Court if removal to federal court benefits the client.

Our attorneys hold memberships in the Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys and the American Association for Justice and are recognized in Super Lawyers and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

Why Local Experience Matters in Plymouth

A case handled from Boston still demands granular Plymouth insight:

• Familiarity with traffic-flow patterns at Exit 13 (recently re-designated Exit 6) on Route 3 helps explain why sudden lane changes occur.
• Knowing which businesses on Main Street routinely overwrite surveillance footage within 48 hours prompts immediate subpoenas.
• Veterancy with Plymouth District Court clerks streamlines access to certified crash reports.
• Relationships with Plymouth Police Department accident-reconstruction officers facilitate expert depositions on short notice.

These local advantages frequently translate into stronger settlement leverage with insurers.

Frequently Asked Questions Do I Still Have a Case if I Wasn’t Wearing a Helmet?

Possibly. Failure to wear required headgear may increase your comparative-negligence percentage, but unless your fault exceeds 51 percent, you can still recover damages under c. 231 § 85. A skilled attorney can often offset this reduction by showing the primary crash cause was another driver’s negligence.

How Much Is My Case Worth?

Compensation depends on injury severity, medical prognosis, lost income, and insurance limits. Our firm uses economic and medical experts to craft a data-driven valuation, refusing low offers that undervalue long-term needs.

Should I Talk to the At-Fault Driver’s Insurer?

Provide only basic claim-notification details. Adjusters are trained to solicit statements that minimize payouts. Direct all substantive communication through counsel.

What if the Driver Fled the Scene?

Massachusetts UM coverage can pay your losses when a hit-and-run driver is unidentified. Our investigators canvass nearby businesses and request MassDOT traffic-camera footage to try to locate the vehicle.

Speak With a Plymouth Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle collision anywhere in Plymouth County, experienced legal help is a phone call away. Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers offers free consultations and never charges a fee unless we obtain compensation for you. Our team stands ready to investigate immediately, preserve crucial evidence, and fight for the full value your case deserves.

This article is provided for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers today at 617-777-7777.

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