Mike Bottaro car accident attorney

Types of Rhode Island and Massachusetts Motorcycle Accidents

motorcycle accidentMotorcycle accidents happen fast, but the injuries they cause can affect you for weeks, months, or even for the rest of your life. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that you only have one chance to get the full amount of compensation you deserve for your damages. At the Bottaro Law Firm, LLC, our experienced motorcycle accident attorneys know Rhode Island and Massachusetts laws, and we’re here to fight for you. For your convenience, we’ve outlined some of the types of motorcycle accidents below.

Don’t pay out of pocket for your motorcycle accident-related expenses before talking to our Rhode Island and Massachusetts lawyers. Our team has the knowledge and resources to investigate your crash, determine its cause, and help you get the best possible results for your injury claim. Call (401) 777-7777, or contact us online to get started now. Your initial case review is free, and you only pay us if you get money for your claim—that’s our No Fee Guarantee®.

Motorcycle Defects

Rhode Island and Massachusetts Motorcycle Defect Lawyers

You are riding your motorcycle on a sunny day, enjoying the weather and the freedom you feel while riding in the open air. Then something goes wrong. You are sliding on the pavement and scared for your life. What happened? If there is no other rational explanation, a defect in your motorcycle or riding equipment may be to blame.

Seeking Compensation for Motorcycle Defects

Under Massachusetts and Rhode Island law, a “defect” is a problem with a product that makes it unsafe for use as intended. Defects in motorcycles can be life-threatening, and manufacturers are held to a very high standard to ensure the bikes they produce are safe for riders.

Every year, serious and fatal injuries are caused by a variety of defective motorcycle parts, such as:

  • Brakes
  • Chain
  • Clutch and transmission
  • Engine
  • Forks
  • Fuel system
  • Handlebars
  • Wheels and tires

Manufacturers and distributors typically fight vigorously against motorcycle defect claims. This is understandable—in most situations, one successful defect claim can lead to many more.

At the Bottaro Law Firm, LLC, we know how to hold big corporations accountable for defect-related accidents and injuries, and we’re ready to fight for you.

Motorcycle Helmet Safety and Potential Defects

Along with motorcycle defects, riders also need to be cautious about the risks of unsafe helmets. A helmet must meet one of the following two types of safety certifications:

  • DOT Certification
    All helmets sold in Massachusetts and Rhode Island are required to meet minimum standards established by the federal Department of Transportation (DOT). The DOT does not actually inspect all motorcycle helmets that go on the shelves. Instead, manufacturers are supposed to conduct the necessary testing in order to meet the standards, and then they themselves apply the DOT badge showing the helmet is safe for riders.
  • Snell Certification
    The Snell Memorial Foundation is a private non-profit organization that conducts testing on motorcycle helmets. To receive the Snell seal of approval, a helmet must survive rigorous testing in a Snell facility. Snell’s standards are stricter than the DOT’s, so if you want to feel confident that your helmet is top of the line, consider sticking to Snell-certified models.

Unfortunately, some manufacturers and distributors – whether intentionally or unintentionally – improperly label their helmets as DOT and Snell certified. Such improper labeling may give rise to a defect claim. Helmets can also have design issues and suffer flaws during the manufacturing process that decrease their ability to protect riders during an accident.

Protect Your Rights

If you were injured or lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, The Bottaro Law Firm, LLC can investigate to find out if you may have a claim for a product defect. To schedule a free case review, call (401) 777-7777 or contact us online today. There’s no cost to get started, and with our No Fee Guarantee®, you only pay us if you get money for your claim.

Failure to Yield

Motorcycle Crashes Caused by Failure to Yield

Failure to yield the right of way is one of the most common causes of accidents injuring motorcycle riders in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. This, however, doesn’t change the fact that bikers like you have the same rights as everyone else on the road. You follow the same right of way rules as car drivers, and you deserve to be respected once it’s your turn to proceed.

At the Bottaro Law Firm, LLC, our attorneys protect injured motorcycle riders in Rhode Island and Massachusetts by holding negligent drivers accountable for the accidents they cause. Throughout every step of the injury claims process, it’s our goal to help injury victims like you get maximum compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Why Do Drivers Fail to Yield the Right of Way?

It isn’t uncommon to see drivers cut off bikers, make left turns in front of them, suddenly swerve into a lane occupied by a biker, pull out of driveways (or parking lots or side streets) in front of bikers, or otherwise refuse to yield to motorcycles at intersections. So why does this happen? Drivers may fail to yield to motorcycles for many reasons, such as:

  • Distracted driving
  • Texting while driving
  • Drunk driving
  • Ignorance of state traffic laws (ignorance is no excuse for violating the law)
  • Drowsy driving
  • Failure to look both ways before entering an intersection or road
  • Simple inattentiveness
  • Lack of respect for motorcyclists

Attorneys Protecting Rhode Island and Massachusetts Motorcycle Accident Victims

If you believe another driver’s negligence is to blame for your motorcycle accident injuries, contact the Bottaro Law Firm, LLC now. There are time limits involved with filing a lawsuit, so don’t wait. Call (401) 777-7777 or contact our Rhode Island and Massachusetts motorcycle lawyers today to get started.

Limited Visibility

Motorcycle Accidents Caused by Limited Visibility

Obstacles, weather conditions, and other impediments that interfere with a driver’s ability to see everything in the near vicinity of his or her vehicle should be taken into account when investigating a motorcycle accident claim. While these conditions are dangerous for occupants of any vehicle, including pedestrians, experts often discuss limited visibility accidents in the context of motorcycles, due in part to their small size.

Limited visibility motorcycle accidents usually occur in one of two general scenarios:

  1. A motorist was unable to see a motorcyclist before crashing into the bike.
  2. A motorcyclist was unable to spot a hazard or another vehicle before crashing.

At the Bottaro Law Firm, LLC, our mission is to raise awareness about these dangerous roadway conditions and to provide passionate legal representation to Rhode Island and Massachusetts motorcycle accident victims and their families.

What Causes Limited Visibility Accidents?

Limited visibility motorcycle accidents may be caused by a variety of factors, including:

  • Overgrown trees or plant life
  • Inadequate illumination from street lights
  • Heavy rain
  • Thick fog
  • Particularly dark nights
  • Harsh glares from sunlight
  • The influence of alcohol, prescription medications, or illegal drugs
  • Blind spots
  • Poor road design
  • Street signs that are poorly placed / not well-maintained
  • Drivers with impaired vision who choose to drive without eyeglasses or contacts
  • Fading vision in older drivers who have not had a recent eye exam
  • Dilation after an eye exam
  • Malfunctioning or defective headlights
  • Pedestrians, cyclists, or bikers who are wearing dark clothing without illumination devices
  • Animals or pedestrians darting into the road from hard-to-see areas
  • Driving while experiencing medical conditions that affect eyesight

Whatever the cause of your limited visibility crash, we want to help. Our motorcycle accident attorneys are familiar with the Rhode Island and Massachusetts communities we serve, and we’re ready to start investigating who may be liable for your injuries.

Factors That Make Limited Visibility Accidents More Likely

Even when road conditions are beyond a driver’s control, certain behaviors can make driving with limited visibility even more dangerous, such as:

  • Driving while drowsy
  • Texting while driving
  • Distracted driving
  • Speeding
  • Reckless driving
  • Failing to use windshield wipers in the rain
  • Failing to make proper use of headlights
  • Driving with faulty or defective equipment
  • Wearing dark clothing as a motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian
  • Using drugs or alcohol
  • Driving while using medications that include a drowsiness warning
  • Changing lanes without carefully checking for blind spots
  • Entering a new roadway (or making a turn) without carefully looking both ways first

Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Serving Rhode Island and Massachusetts

If you were injured while riding a motorcycle and believe limited visibility may have played a part in your accident, contact the Bottaro Law Firm, LLC now. Our lawyers have the knowledge and experience to protect your rights to the full amount of compensation you deserve. Contact us online or dial (401) 777-7777 now to get started.

Motorcycle DUI Accidents

DUI Accidents Involving Motorcycles

Drunk driving auto accidents often have disastrous consequences for everyone involved. Some motorists, though, are more vulnerable to harm than others. With little protection beyond a helmet and the clothes on their backs, motorcyclists face an increased risk of serious injury in an accident compared to drivers of other vehicles. When drivers choose to get behind the wheel under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the results can be devastating to even the most skilled bikers.

At the Bottaro Law Firm, LLC, our Rhode Island and Massachusetts motorcycle accident attorneys are prepared to aggressively defend you or your loved one after injuries caused by an impaired driver. If you have questions about your legal rights after a motorcycle DUI accident, our experienced legal team is here for you. Call (401) 777-7777 or contact us online to get experienced help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Drunk Drivers Can Face Criminal and Civil Penalties

Anyone who causes an accident while driving drunk is likely to face criminal DUI charges, for which the penalties can be extremely steep. In addition to the criminal court proceedings, victims of motorcycle DUI accidents are allowed to seek financial damages for their pain, suffering, and related expenses in civil court. The drunk driver is responsible for these damages, and we can often seek compensation from his or her auto insurance company as well.

Note that the criminal and civil proceedings are two entirely separate procedures. The state police and your district attorney will handle the criminal prosecution, though they may ask you to report to court as a witness.

In the meantime, The Bottaro Law Firm, LLC wants to help you seek justice in civil court. By filing a personal injury lawsuit on your behalf, our Rhode Island and Massachusetts motorcycle accident attorneys can seek the maximum amount of compensation you deserve for your damages.

Wrongful Death in Motorcycle DUI Accidents

Sadly, because of their physical vulnerability, motorcyclists often suffer fatal injuries in DUI-related accidents, making these some of the most difficult cases we handle.

Wrongful death law in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts permits certain close relatives to recover financial compensation after losing a loved one to someone else’s negligence. The value of the claim depends on many factors, including the nature of your relationship with the victim and any financial impact the loss might have had.

Our legal team understands that pursuing a wrongful death claim can be difficult, and we are here to shoulder the burden for you so that you can take the time you need to grieve and heal.