This summer, Spada Law Group was a sponsor at the 6th annual Sammy’s ride for yet another year. Together, we raised $4,000 for the Massachusetts Motorcyclists Survivors Fund.
What is Sammy’s Ride?
Sammy’s ride is a 35-mile memorial ride in Danvers, MA to honor and celebrate the life of Sammy Morgan Storm. Sammy was a Wall of Death Trick Rider, a 2006 Sturgis Hall of Fame inductee, and holder of three land speed records in the Guinness Book of World Records for her land speed record on vintage motorcycles.
Sammy was a pioneer for modern motorcycling women and was known as the Queen of Motordrome riding all over the world. Sammy passed away in 2008 due to complications from injuries she sustained in her career.
In addition to the memorial ride, Sammy’s Ride also includes food, bike games, and live music. Spada Law is a very proud sponsor of the event.
What is the Massachusetts Motorcyclists Survivors Fund?
The Mass Motorcyclist Survivor Fund (MMSF) is a nonprofit organization that raises funds to help local families when riders are seriously injured or killed in a motorcycle accident. The nonprofit also promotes motorcycle safety and awareness to reduce accidents, injuries, and fatalities.
The fund was started by riders who attended a funeral of a fellow rider and wanted to do more to help the rider’s family, such as by helping the rider’s child pay for college. The vision grew. Research revealed that from 1999-2003, about 42 riders died in Massachusetts on average per year. In fact, more recent statistics show that from 2016 to mid September 2022, 346 riders have lost their lives on Massachusetts roads, which means we are now approaching close to 50 deaths per year. The families of these lost riders need help and MMSF continues to be there for them.
Soon, the fund was born to help riders’ families have immediate access to finances after a tragic accident or death to help cover some bare minimum living expenses for a few months. The goal is to help offer breathing room and space for grief by eliminating some of the financial stress.
What Are Your Compensation Options After Being Injured in a Massachusetts Motorcycle Accident?
Spada Law is proud to help sponsor Sammy’s Ride and to have the Mass Motorcycle Survival Fund (MMSF) as one of our charities of choice.
MMSF primarily helps people who don’t have other sources of support or legal recourse. For example, if a rider was at fault for the accident. The fund helps injured survivors of accidents, and also surviving families of riders who are injured or killed. We want all riders and riders’ families in Massachusetts to be aware of this fund, and to reach out if they are in financial need in the wake of a motorcycle accident tragedy.
At Fault for a Motorcycle Accident? You Still Have Options
While the fund primarily helps riders and families when a rider was determined to be at fault, or when there isn’t another responsible party – you might have additional options for compensation after a tragedy. We always recommend contacting a motorcycle injury attorney before you count yourself out of options. A free consultation with an injury lawyer can help you determine what options might be available to you – and you might be surprised by your options.
Single Motorcycle Accidents Don’t Mean You’re Out of Luck
Single motorcycle accidents are those that only involve one rider and no other vehicles. Often, they happen because another driver does something that requires you to adjust to attempt to avoid a collision.
Even if you didn’t make contact with another car or vehicle – you still may be entitled to money damages for a “no contact” or even a “hit and run” motorcycle accident. For example, we recently handled a case that involved a motorcyclist being run off the road by another driver. The rider was seriously injured, but he assumed he didn’t have a personal injury claim because the other driver never stopped.
Thankfully, his friend told him to call Attorney Len Spada. Spada Law was able to investigate, and in the end we were able to settle his case for $100,000 – the full limit of his own insurance coverage.
Never Assume You or a Loved One Were At Fault for a Motorcycle Accident
Motorcyclists themselves often assume they are partially responsible for their accidents, but that is irrelevant. Even if you THINK you may be partially at fault for an accident, determining who is at fault depends on much more than your opinion. To recover financially for your injuries, you must only be determined to be 50% or less at fault in Massachusetts. Don’t let an insurance company have the final word. Speak with an experienced motorcycle attorney to determine if you have a case.
Many people are often quick to blame motorcyclists as “at fault” for an accident. “Motorcycle bias” is a real thing. It affects how police investigate motorcycle crashes, how insurance companies evaluate claims, and how juries decide cases. We know, however, that most motorcyclists are actually some of the safest people on the roads because their lives depend on it.
Remember: police reports do not have the final word. Recently, we took on a case in which a pedestrian was struck by a UPS delivery truck and was catastrophically injured. The police report was one of the worst we’ve seen in 30 years and drew baseless conclusions that favored the UPS driver. Thankfully, the family of the injured woman came to us and we can fight for them to get justice and the compensation they deserve.
Were You Injured in a Motorcycle Accident? Schedule a FREE Consultation Today
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident, it’s important to remember that you are not automatically at fault. But due to motorcycle bias, you will need to work harder to prove your case, which requires the skill of an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer.
Even if you think you might not have a case – please reach out to us to learn how we can help. We can investigate your case to see if there is legal recourse, and even if there isn’t we can help connect you with the Massachusetts Motorcyclists Survivors Fund to help you get the support you need.
At Spada Law Group, we have helped countless riders obtain the compensation they deserve after being involved in a motorcycle crash. We want to help you too.
Contact us today for a free consultation and let us put our experience to work for you. We service the entire state of Massachusetts and have offices in Chelsea, Peabody, Worcester, and Newburyport. If coming to our office is inconvenient, we can handle your entire case virtually through Zoom, so do not let geographical distance stop you from getting the help you deserve.
