Lane Change Motorcycle Accident Attorney in Boston

Any time a motorcyclist enters and shares the roadway, he or she individually faces a severe and heightened risk of serious injury. Unprotected motorcyclists must be aware of their surroundings at all times to mitigate any potential and severe risks while sharing the road with potentially distracted drivers. Over 80% of reported motorcycle accidents have resulted in serious injury or death to the motorcyclist. One of the most often common causes of injury to motorcyclists is when a car changes lanes and subsequently strikes the motorcyclist. More often than not, a driver of a vehicle, at times inattentive, does not see a motorcycle in the lane next to him or her and then subsequently executes an unsafe change of lanes resulting in the side-swiping, or forcing the motorcyclist off the road, seriously injuring the motorcyclist.

If you have been injured in a lane-change collision, speak with an experienced motorcycle injury attorney at Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers today.

Unfortunately, in some of the most recent reports from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were over 5,000 motorcycle riders killed in accidents in the year 2016. Nationally, motorcyclists are far more likely – nearly 28 times more - to be victims of crashes, especially fatal ones, than other vehicle motorists. Many of these deaths can be attributed to drivers regularly making abrupt, sudden, and dangerous lane changes directly into the path of motorcyclists posing consider life-threatening risks. What is most blatant is that any of the scenarios mentioned above involve risks that, if they result in injury to the motorcyclist, deserve to compensate the rider.

Some opposing motorists will argue that motorcyclists are to blame by oftentimes ‘lane splitting’. Lane splitting is essentially when motorcyclists, usually in heavy traffic, ride the line between the lanes to pass cars on both sides. Although motorcyclists in Massachusetts are permitted to share the road and ride side-by-side, lane splitting is not allowed in the Commonwealth. However, even if an accident occurs, it does not completely bar a motorcyclist from recovery. The Commonwealth follows a comparative fault rule. By this rule, only if the victim is 51% or more responsible for the accident would he or she be barred from recovery. However, if successfully pursuing, his or her damage award would be reduced by the percentage the plaintiff would be found to be at fault.

Motorcyclists should be able to identify, to the best of their ability, potential risks surrounding them that may result in serious injury. From teenagers to adults, drivers can be distracted by a myriad of different factors, inevitably pulling his or her focus off the road and substantially increasing the chance of an accident. Common causes include the following but are not limited to:

• Reckless driving
• Driving under the influence of alcohol
• Driving under the influence of drugs
• Driving with road rage
• Failure to adhere to traffic laws or traffic signals
• Texting while driving
• Engaging in the internet or social media while driving

Motorcyclists suffer the most when individuals don’t adhere to the laws of the road. Unfortunately, as a motorcyclist, there is very little protection to stand between the rider and an opposing vehicle, whether it is a truck, a car, or another form of transportation. Often, these injuries result to areas above the waist, including the head, back, and general torso area, which are collectively home to the most vital organs in your body. As a result, injuries sustained are often severe and pose a long and arduous path to recovery. Common injuries, outside of fatalities, include the following but are not limited to:

• Head Injuries
  • Severe brain damage
  • Traumatic brain injuries
  • Concussions
  • Comas
• Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Partial or complete paralysis
• Broken Bones
  • Partial or complete
  • Severed limbs
• Road Rash
  • Extreme burns
  • Exposed bone

It is imperative that you seek immediate medical attention if you have been injured in an accident. The injuries sustained must be treated properly, promptly, and effectively. The medical treatment serves to both get you back in good health as well as serving as proper evidence of your injuries to assist you in your claim for compensation. Helpful evidence can include:

• Photos of your injury
• Photos of the accident
• Photos of damage to your property
• Receipts

Although each case presents a different scenario with varying facts, you should speak with an attorney at the Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers who specializes in motorcycle accidents to see if we can help and assist you with your claim. You may be entitled to significant amounts of compensation to help put back together what you have lost.

Please contact Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. (617) 777-7777.