Aerosmith guitarist, 59-year-old Joe Perry, was hospitalized last week after his motorcycle was hit from behind while he was traveling in Middleboro. Fortunately for Perry, he suffered only a back injury and some minor cuts and bruises. Edmund Lindberg, a 28-year-old Iraqi war veteran and Worcester County Jail Correctional officer whose motorcycle was struck days earlier when a car made an abrupt left turn into his path, wasn’t so fortunate. Just thirty minutes after the collision Lindberg was pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Motorcycle accidents can and often are deadly. According to a June 2010 report of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of fatalities has more than doubled over the past 10 years. According to the Insurance Information Institute (III) there has also been a significant increase in deaths among riders age 40 and up.
Motorcyclists, who have virtually no protection in a crash, must be extremely careful to avoid accidents. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) offers these safety tips: “(1) Get trained and licensed; (2) Wear protective gear–all the gear, all the time–including a helmet manufactured to the standards set by the DOT; (3) Ride unimpaired by alcohol or other drugs; (4) Ride within you own skill limits; and (5) Be a lifelong learner by taking refresher rider courses.” MSF offers a wealth of information on safety and rider training courses as well as information about Massachusett’s and other area states’ laws regarding motorcycling. Additional information can be found in the Department of Transportation’s publication, Motorcycle Safety.
We hope you’ll have an injury free ride.
The Boston motorcycle accident lawyers at KJC Law Firm, including Kathy Jo Cook and Timothy Wilton, have more than 90 years of experience litigating serious personal injury cases. KJC Law Firm handles cases for clients all across the state of Massachusetts.
