Motorcycle Accidents

Attorneys for Injured Riders Across Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Based in Andover and proudly serving communities across northern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire.

Each year, thousands of motorcycle rides end with the devastating sound of a crash and a rider down. Unlike passengers in cars, motorcyclists have little protection, making them nearly 30 times more likely to suffer fatal or life-altering injuries in an accident. The freedom and thrill of riding through places like Boston, Lowell, Peabody, or Manchester come with significant risks, as riders take on the full impact of a collision with little to no buffer.
In many cases, motorcycle accidents are caused by negligent drivers who fail to notice or respect motorcyclists on the road. Distracted driving, failure to yield, and reckless behavior put riders at serious risk, often with catastrophic consequences. No matter the cause, injured motorcyclists need strong legal representation from a team that understands the unique challenges they face on the road and the legal complexities that follow an accident.

At Kiley Law Group, our motorcycle attorneys bring over 50 years of experience and more than $1 Billion recovered for injured riders throughout Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. From bustling city streets in Boston and Lowell to scenic roads in Andover, Rye, and Manchester, we’ve proudly served communities where riders need trusted advocacy. We understand the profound impact a motorcycle accident can have physically, emotionally, and financially and we are dedicated to holding negligent drivers accountable. Whether it’s covering medical bills at Boston Medical Center or Lawrence General, recovering lost wages, or seeking damages for pain and suffering, we fight to help riders and their families get back on their feet.

Don't be left wondering if you have a claim. Contact a trusted motorcycle accident attorney serving Greater Boston and beyond for a free case evaluation. Call Kiley Law Group. We’re available 24/7. You can also reach out online, and we’ll get in touch with you promptly.

motorcycle attorney serving victims in Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Do Loud Pipes Save Lives?

From the courtroom to the open road, Attorney Tom Kiley has spent more than 50 years fighting for injured bikers and riding alongside them. In this guide, Tom shares his hard-earned wisdom and legal insights for all riders and their families to stay safe and well informed. Tom answers the question “Do Loud Pipes Save Lives?”.

Available for a limited time only as a free digital download.

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Motorcycle Attorney in Massachusetts and New Hampshire

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Motorcycle Accident Attorney serving Massachusetts and New Hampshire residents

motorycle attorney for victims in Massachusetts and New Hampshire

Tom’s Story

Why InjuredBikerLaw.com Was Born

Tom Kiley, Sr. has been a lawyer for over 50 years and a motorcycle rider for even longer. His passion for riding began with dirt bikes in his youth, evolving into a lifelong love of motorcycles and the freedom they bring. In 1975, Tom bought his first Harley-Davidson, expecting only the thrill of the ride, but discovering something even greater, a true brotherhood of riders. From cross-country adventures to attending the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally for over 20 years, Tom has traveled thousands of miles, forging lifelong connections within the biker community.

But with every ride comes risk. Tom knows firsthand the fear and uncertainty that follows a crash. He’s experienced it himself. While he was fortunate to walk away with minor injuries, many fellow riders haven’t been as lucky. Seeing the devastating impact of motorcycle accidents on his community, Tom felt compelled to take action. That’s why he created InjuredBikerLaw.com, a dedicated division of Kiley Law Group solely focused on fighting for injured motorcyclists and their families.

For decades, Tom has proudly stood up for the biker community, representing over 1,000 riders who have been injured or lost their lives due to negligent drivers. He understands the unique challenges motorcyclists face and is committed to holding careless drivers accountable. As a rider and an attorney, Tom blends his passion and legal expertise to ensure injured bikers get the justice and compensation they deserve.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Boston, Andover, Lowell, Peabody, Rye, Manchester, or any surrounding area, trust a lawyer who rides. Visit InjuredBikerLaw.com today or call for a free consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney who serves your community.

What Counts as a Motorcycle Accident Claim?

A motorcycle accident claim arises any time a rider suffers injuries or losses because of another party's negligence on the road. These cases go well beyond the obvious scenario of two vehicles colliding at an intersection.

Motorcycle accident claims in Massachusetts and New Hampshire commonly involve collisions caused by distracted or inattentive drivers, vehicles that fail to yield at intersections or when merging, doors of parked cars swinging open into a rider's path (known as dooring accidents), trucks and commercial vehicles that cut off or squeeze motorcyclists, defective road surfaces including potholes, missing signage, and unmarked hazards, and defective motorcycle parts or equipment that cause the rider to lose control.

What all of these scenarios have in common is a third party whose negligence put a rider in harm's way. If you were hurt in any of these circumstances, you likely have a claim worth pursuing.

Who Can Be Held Liable in a Massachusetts Motorcycle Accident?

Liability in a motorcycle accident depends on the facts of the crash. More than one party can share responsibility, and Massachusetts law allows you to pursue compensation from every party whose negligence contributed to your injuries.

Negligent Drivers

The most common source of liability in motorcycle accident cases is a driver who failed to see, respect, or yield to a motorcyclist. Distracted driving, failure to check mirrors and blind spots, and aggressive behavior behind the wheel all qualify as negligence under Massachusetts law. If a driver's careless conduct caused your crash, that driver and their insurance carrier can be held accountable.

Employers of Commercial Drivers

When the at-fault vehicle is a commercial truck, delivery van, or company car, the driver's employer may share liability. Under respondeat superior, employers can be held responsible for the negligent acts of employees operating vehicles in the course of their work. Trucking companies, delivery services, and businesses with fleet vehicles all fall into this category.

Government Entities

Dangerous road conditions cause motorcycle accidents with alarming regularity. Potholes, missing or faded lane markings, defective guardrails, and poor signage can all contribute to a crash. When a hazardous road condition caused or contributed to your accident, the government entity responsible for maintaining that road may be liable. Claims against municipalities and state agencies in Massachusetts require strict attention to notice deadlines and procedural rules, which is one reason early legal involvement matters.

Vehicle or Parts Manufacturers

If a defect in your motorcycle or another vehicle contributed to the crash, a product liability claim may be available against the manufacturer, distributor, or retailer. Defective tires, brake failures, and throttle malfunctions have all been the basis of successful product liability claims in Massachusetts.

How Motorcycle Insurance Claims Work in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is a no-fault state for standard automobile insurance, but motorcycle insurance operates under different rules. Motorcycles are not required to carry Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage under Massachusetts law, which means injured riders cannot simply turn to their own insurer first the way car occupants can.

This distinction puts motorcycle accident victims in a fundamentally different position from the start. To recover compensation for medical bills, lost income, and other damages, injured riders in Massachusetts typically need to file a claim directly against the at-fault driver's liability insurance.

Several coverage issues arise regularly in motorcycle accident cases.

Underinsured and uninsured motorist coverage. If the at-fault driver carries minimal insurance or none at all, an injured rider may face a gap between what the at-fault driver's policy pays and the full value of their losses. Riders who carry uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on their own motorcycle policy can use it to cover that gap. This coverage is one of the most valuable protections a rider can carry and is worth reviewing before an accident ever occurs.

Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage. MedPay is an optional coverage that riders can add to their own motorcycle insurance policy. Unlike liability coverage, MedPay pays your medical bills regardless of who caused the accident, with no deductible and no need to prove fault. Common policy limits are $5,000 or $10,000. While those amounts may not cover catastrophic injuries, MedPay can be extremely helpful for covering co-pays, deductibles, and outstanding balances that health insurance does not fully pay. Riders who carry MedPay have an additional source of recovery that kicks in immediately after the accident.

Bias against motorcyclists. Insurance adjusters are trained to look for ways to reduce payouts, and motorcyclists are frequently targeted with arguments that they were speeding, lane splitting, or riding recklessly, even when the evidence does not support these claims. An experienced motorcycle accident attorney can counter these tactics and fight for an accurate assessment of fault.

Comparative negligence. Massachusetts follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 231, Section 85. If you are found to be more than 51 percent at fault for the accident, you cannot recover compensation. If you are found to be partially at fault but 50 percent or less responsible, your recovery is reduced in proportion to your share of fault. Insurance companies will attempt to assign as much fault to the rider as possible for exactly this reason.

Kiley Law Group investigates every motorcycle accident thoroughly, gathering police reports, witness statements, crash reconstruction data, and medical records to build the strongest possible case against the at-fault party.

Common Injuries in Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcyclists absorb the full force of a collision with almost no structural protection between them and the road, other vehicles, or fixed objects. Even a relatively low-speed crash can produce serious, life-altering injuries.

Common injuries Kiley Law Group sees in motorcycle accident cases include traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), even in riders wearing helmets, road rash and deep abrasions requiring skin grafting, broken collar bones, wrists, arms, and legs, spinal cord injuries causing partial or complete paralysis, internal organ damage from blunt-force impact, crush injuries to the lower extremities, and severe burns when fuel ignites during a crash.

Recovery from these injuries is often lengthy, expensive, and uncertain. Many riders face multiple surgeries, months of physical therapy, and permanent changes to their ability to work and live independently. The damages available in a motorcycle accident claim are designed to account for all of these consequences.

Learn more about catastrophic injury claims at Kiley Law Group.

Compensation Available After a Massachusetts Motorcycle Accident

A successful motorcycle accident claim can recover damages across several categories. The right compensation depends on the specific facts of your case, but generally includes the following.

Medical expenses. All accident-related medical costs, past and future, including emergency transport, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, medications, and long-term care.

Lost wages and earning capacity. Income you were unable to earn during recovery, plus future income losses if your injuries prevent you from returning to your previous occupation or working at all.

Pain and suffering. Compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by the accident and your injuries.

Loss of enjoyment of life. If your injuries prevent you from participating in activities you valued before the crash, including riding, that loss has compensable value.

Property damage. The cost to repair or replace your motorcycle and any other damaged personal property.

Wrongful death damages. If a loved one died in a motorcycle accident, the family may be entitled to funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and related damages under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 229.

Massachusetts does not cap compensatory damages in most personal injury cases, which means the full extent of your losses can be pursued. Punitive damages may be available in cases involving particularly egregious conduct.

What To Do After a Motorcycle Accident in Massachusetts or New Hampshire

The steps you take in the hours and days following a crash directly affect your ability to recover fair compensation. Here is what you should do.

Get medical attention right away. Some serious injuries, including internal bleeding and traumatic brain injuries, do not produce obvious symptoms at the scene. A medical evaluation creates documentation that connects your injuries to the accident, which is essential when filing a claim.
Call the police and get a report. A police report is a foundational piece of evidence in any motorcycle accident claim. Make sure the responding officer documents the other driver's information, the position of the vehicles, and any statements made at the scene.
Document everything you can. Photograph the crash scene, the road conditions, skid marks, traffic signals, your bike, and your visible injuries. Collect names and contact information from any witnesses before they leave.
Do not admit fault or apologize. Statements made at the scene, even casual ones, can be used against you later. Stick to exchanging insurance and contact information.
Avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurer without an attorney. The at-fault driver's insurance company will likely contact you quickly. Their adjusters are trained to gather information that minimizes your claim. You are not required to give a recorded statement, and you should not do so before speaking with a lawyer.
Contact a motorcycle accident attorney. Evidence fades quickly, witnesses become harder to locate, and insurers begin building their defense from day one. Early legal involvement protects your rights and gives your case the strongest possible foundation.

Massachusetts Statute of Limitations for Motorcycle Accidents

Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 260, Section 2A, injured riders have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. In New Hampshire, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is also three years under RSA 508:4.

Missing this deadline almost always means losing your right to pursue compensation entirely, regardless of how strong your claim is. While three years may seem like plenty of time, building a solid case takes time, and waiting can cost you access to evidence, witnesses, and records that become harder to obtain as time passes.

Limited exceptions exist. The discovery rule may delay the start of the three-year clock if an injury was not immediately apparent. Claims involving minors may also toll the statute of limitations. However, relying on an exception is risky, and consulting an attorney early is always the better approach.

Why Riders Choose Kiley Law Group

Motorcycle accident cases require attorneys who understand both the legal complexities of personal injury law and the real-world dynamics of riding. Kiley Law Group has represented injured riders across Massachusetts and New Hampshire for more than 50 years. The firm has recovered over $1 billion for clients and has handled some of the most serious and complex motorcycle accident cases in the region.

Attorney Tom Kiley, Sr. is not just a lawyer who handles motorcycle cases. He has been riding since his youth, purchased his first Harley-Davidson in 1975, and has attended the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally for over 20 years. He has represented more than 1,000 injured riders and their families. That combination of legal experience and personal understanding of the riding community is what makes Kiley Law Group different.

When you work with Kiley Law Group on a motorcycle accident case, our team will investigate the accident and preserve critical evidence, identify all liable parties and all available insurance coverage, handle every communication with insurance companies on your behalf, work with medical experts and accident reconstruction specialists to document your losses, and fight to recover the full compensation you are owed, including damages for injuries, lost income, and pain and suffering.

There is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Contact Kiley Law Group for a Free Motorcycle Accident Consultation

If you or a family member was injured in a motorcycle accident in Massachusetts or New Hampshire, do not try to handle the insurance companies on your own. These cases are too complex, and the stakes are too high.

Contact Kiley Law Group today at 978.474.8670 for a free consultation. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our attorneys can come to you, whether you are at home, recovering in the hospital, or prefer to meet virtually.

This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Massachusetts law referenced includes Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 231, §85 (comparative negligence), Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260, §2A (statute of limitations), and Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 229 (wrongful death). New Hampshire law referenced includes RSA 508:4 (statute of limitations). Laws change; consult a licensed Massachusetts or New Hampshire attorney for advice specific to your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Motorcycle Accidents in Massachusetts

Who is liable when a car driver causes a motorcycle accident?

The at-fault driver is liable when their negligence causes a motorcycle accident. This means their liability insurance is the primary source of compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. In some cases, additional parties such as the driver's employer, a government entity responsible for road conditions, or a vehicle manufacturer may also share liability depending on the circumstances of the crash.

Does Massachusetts no-fault insurance apply to motorcycle accidents?

No. Massachusetts no-fault Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage does not apply to motorcycles. Unlike car accident victims, injured motorcyclists cannot turn to their own PIP coverage first. This makes it especially important for riders to carry uninsured and underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on their own motorcycle policy to protect against gaps in the at-fault driver's insurance. Riders should also consider adding Medical Payments (MedPay) coverage to their policy. MedPay covers medical bills up to the policy limit regardless of fault, and a $5,000 or $10,000 MedPay limit can help cover balances that other insurance does not pay.

What if the driver who hit me doesn't have enough insurance?

If the at-fault driver's policy limits are not enough to cover your losses, you may be able to file a claim under your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage if you carry it on your motorcycle policy. An attorney can review all available coverage, including any umbrella policies, to identify the maximum compensation available to you.

How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim in Massachusetts?

You have three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Massachusetts under Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 260, §2A. In New Hampshire, the same three-year window applies under RSA 508:4. Missing this deadline typically results in losing your right to pursue compensation, so contacting an attorney as soon as possible is strongly recommended.

Can I recover compensation if I wasn't wearing a helmet?

Possibly yes. Massachusetts requires riders under the age of 18 to wear a helmet, but adult riders are not legally required to wear one. If you were not wearing a helmet, the defense may argue that your injuries were more severe as a result, which could reduce your recovery under Massachusetts comparative negligence rules. However, not wearing a helmet does not bar you from filing a claim or recovering damages for injuries that would have occurred regardless.

What if I was partially at fault for the motorcycle accident?

Massachusetts follows a modified comparative negligence rule under Mass. Gen. Laws Ch. 231, §85. If you are found to be partially at fault but 50 percent or less responsible for the accident, you can still recover compensation, though your award will be reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found to be more than 50 percent at fault, you cannot recover. Insurance companies will often argue that the motorcyclist bears more fault than the evidence supports, which is why having an experienced attorney is critical.

What damages can I recover after a motorcycle accident?

Injured riders in Massachusetts can pursue compensation for all past and future medical expenses, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and property damage. In cases involving particularly reckless conduct, punitive damages may be available. Families who lost a rider in a fatal accident can pursue wrongful death damages under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 229.

Pleasant experience despite the unfortunate situation.

~ Eric N.

I would recommend to anybody with personal injury. Doug Henderson was very responsive, determined, a pleasure to work with.

~ Ellen H.

I felt that they were very honest and professional and did everything that they said, without fail. They were nice guys, very prompt, and I would recommend them to anybody.

~ Paul D.

Excellent! Attorney Kiley was always warm and helpful. He never seemed to lack for my concern and always responded to me in a timely manner. I never felt forgotten and was never bogged down with complicated matters. It was a pain free process and I’m very satisfied with the results.

~ Brittany C.

I was seriously injured by an impaired driver. I looked at some law firms and chose Kiley Law Group. Doug Henderson called me within 24 hours and assured me that he would do everything to make sure I was covered medically and financially. Doug was compassionate and worked hard! I would highly recommend Kiley Law Group. I want to thank everybody for all the hard work on this settlement.

~ Robert O.

My experience at the law firm was very good. Everyone was inviting and made me feel welcome. I would tell that everyone was hardworking and motivated to do the best they could for me. I am happy I chose Kiley Law Group. The Kiley Law Group handled my personal injury case, and I have previously worked with one other lawyer. My experience was great and I would definitely recommend Tom Kiley, Jr. and the law group again.

~ Samuel G.

$2 Million

Motorcycle Accident

$3.5 Million

Head Injury

$2.6 Million

Brain Injury

$1.3 Million

Wrongful Death