Boston Motorcycle Injury Lawyer Blog

Harley Davidson is recognized as one of the best motorcycle brands in the world. Their motorcycles are produced to a quality standard that rivals motorcycles made in Japanese, German, and other American motorcycle companies.

Most people are more familiar with vehicle recalls since they are generally regarded as major news. Since motorcycle owners are a very small group compared to vehicle owners, motorcycle recalls do not get the headlines that vehicle recalls do.

Harley Davidson recent announced a major recall of some of their 2009-2010 vehicles that were produced between June 6, 2008 and November 19, 2009. The vehicles in the recall include Harley CVO, trikes, and all touring models. This recall includes over 111,000 motorcycles.

This is a huge recall.

In 2008, Harley Davidson sold approximately 219,000 motorcycles across all their brands. If one of the major automotive companies had a recall this large, there would be a congressional investigation and heads at the top of the company would roll.

Luckily, this is not the case with Harley Davidson as this recall is in an attempt to pre-empt rider injuries. According the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the front engine mounts may distort in the event of a major front-end collision. This distortion can cause a fuel leak and in the presence of an ignition spark could cause a fire.

Owners of bikes in this Harley Davidson recall, need to take their bikes to their local Harley Davidson dealer to have a left and right bracket installed which will minimize the distortion in the case of a major front end collision.

Thankfully, this recall is based on a ‘worst case scenario’ of a major front-end collision and is intended to make Harley’s motorcycles safer. Unlike the current recall for the Toyota Prius, this Harley recall is not the result of everyday motorcycle usage.

Call your local Harley dealer to see if your bike is part of the recall or go to the NHTSA website to get more information.

Hi, I’m Tom Kiley, and when my buddies and I go riding we always put safety first. Get a free copy of my motorcycle book for some valuable riding tips. And if you or loved one are ever hurt in the Massachusetts area, contact the Kiley Law Group for legal advice from a real motorcycle attorney.

Whoever said bikers are heartless tough guys was dead wrong.

In the wake of the Haitian earthquake disaster, the global community has come together to provide much needed support to the people of Haiti. This horrific disaster has shown that even in the worst of times, people across the world can connect and help their fellow man.

This holds true for the biker community too. Over the years, bikers have shown they can come together to help others in need. Usually, bikers come together to help mainly other bikers.

Over the past few months though, the motorcycle community has come together to do its part to help the Haitian relief effort. Individuals, motorcycle clubs, motorcycle accessory retailers, and large motorcycle manufacturers have all pitched in to help.

Harley Davidson donated 28 new Buell and Harley Davidson motorcycles to the government of Haiti to aid the relief effort. The motorcycles were delivered to their facility in the Dominican Republic and then delivered to the United Nations Stabilization Mission. Once the mission is complete, the motorcycles will be a permanent donation from the Motor Company to the government of Haiti.

Hot Leathers donated $1 from every online purchase from January 20th to February 14^th to the Haitian relief effort through the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross used their donation to deploy personnel, provide supplies, and to contribute financial support to Haiti.

Spearheaded by Haitian born American actor Jimmy Jean-Louis, Ride 4 Haiti on February 27^th benefited Hollywood Unites for Haiti. This biker event united individuals and companies in southern California to aid the relief effort. With thousands of bikers and hundreds of businesses and volunteers joining this ongoing biker effort, financial and resource donations have made a positive impact on the relief efforts.

It’s great to see the motorcycle community come together to make a positive contribution to the Haitian relief effort.

Harley Davidson has been a pioneer in the motorcycle industry for a variety of reasons. For years, the Motor Company has been an innovator in motorcycle design and performance. Harley Davidson is one of the most well recognized and respected brands among motorcycle companies and other businesses.

Harley Davidson has also been an innovator in the area of diversity. The Motor Company has made it possible for many minorities and women to enjoy professional careers in the motorcycle industry.

In 1998, Katherine Johnson became the first African American female to own a Harley Davidson dealership.

Ms. Johnson, the owner of a small marketing and advertising firm in Milwaukee, WI, was at a point in her career in the late 1990s where she wanted to consider a career change. She discussed her desire to change careers with her friend who also was a recruiter for Harley Davidson. After a few conversations, Johnson decided to become a Harley Davidson dealer.

There was one problem. Johnson knew practically nothing about motorcycles. She also had to overcome her misconceptions about motorcycle riders. Her knowledge of motorcycles came from watching TV shows and movies like Easy Rider. She felt that motorcycle riders were largely criminals.

This lack of knowledge did not deter Johnson, at the time a 50-year-old mother of two. By utilizing her marketing and advertising knowledge and Harley training, she was able to successfully open her dealership in December 1998. Ultimately, she learned that Harley owners are among the most loyal customers in the world and her customer base would largely be professionals. Her grand opening was a success and on that day, she sold 18 motorcycles.

Harley Davidson was instrumental in helping Johnson develop a business and leave a legacy behind for her children and grandchildren. In the process, Johnson was able to make Harley history.

After six surprisingly successful seasons, The Learning Channel (TLC) pulled the plug on American Chopper. This show chronicled the Teutel family’s business, Orange County Choppers, as they built one of a kind choppers each episode for various companies and events.

This show took chopper building from the garage and put it in the living room of people across the world that knew nothing about the science and artistry of custom motorcycles. This show helped lead the resurgence of the motorcycle industry in the U.S. and across the world.

This show also chronicled the slow demise of the Teutel family.

Over the 6 seasons, Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. fought constantly over just about everything. While their growing feud made compelling TV, it was apparent that things would end in a huge train wreck…and they did.

Paul Jr., the principal designer and co-owner of Orange County Choppers, left the show and the company along with his younger brother Mikey. The three main members if the Teutel clan do not speak to each other and Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. have taken their feud to court over ownership of the company and money.

The last episode ended with both Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. expressing how they regret that things have gotten so bad but neither was willing to take steps toward reconciliation. Both were moving forward with new families and with new business ventures.

What does this mean for the motorcycle industry?

The Teutel family fell apart due to the huge and conflicting egos of Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. And while the show has ended, Orange County Choppers is doing better than ever; despite the economy. Regardless of their legal battle, choppers are here to stay.

TLC decided to go in another direction and American Chopper got the axe. That’s show business. Thankfully, the motorcycle industry is not quite that fickle. The Teutel family helped revive the motorcycle industry and even their big egos cannot slow down the momentum they helped create.

I don’t know what the future holds for the Teutel family and Orange County Choppers. All I know is I am thankful for what they have done to help the motorcycle industry survive and prosper.

And who knows. Maybe Paul Jr. will get his own show.

Motorcycle accidents claim too many lives each year. When we lose a friend or loved one, we should take time to reflect on their lives and learn from their triumphs, failures, and legacy.

In 2009, the motorcycle community said goodbye to Bruce Rossmeyer.

Rossmeyer, the world’s largest Harley Davidson dealer with 14 dealerships died on Thursday, July 30^th while riding with some friends to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. He died at age 66 and is survived by his wife Sandy and 5 children.

Rossmeyer started his first dealership in 1994 at the boom of motorcycles resurgence and through his high visibility marketing campaigns, became a huge player in the retail motorcycle world. He was a huge promoter of the Daytona Bike Week and built Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach, FL. Rossmeyer was also known for his philanthropic efforts as a major sponsor of Camp Boggy Creek for chronically ill children.

Oddly, Rossmeyer died while riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle with no helmet.

For over 15 years, Bruce Rossmeyer has been a giant in the motorcycle industry. As we turn the page from 2009 into 2010 let’s not forget the spirit of Bruce Rossmeyer as we honor his memory through our love of motorcycles.

Known for his days as a heavy metal rocker with Twisted Sister in the 1980s, Dee Snider always makes an impression.  Fortunately for the March of Dimes, Snider uses his star power and passion for motorcycles to help children in need.

Snider once again led the March of Dimes Bikers for Babies Charity Ride as its Grand Marshall and National Event Spokesman. The ride took place on Sunday, September 13^th and featured featured approximately 1000 bikers riding from Middletown, CT to the Elks Lodge in Westbrook, CT.

Each year Snider leads the ride and visits the University of Connecticut Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. As the father of 2 premature children, Snider has been a steadfast contributor to children health initiatives.

Proceeds from this year’s biker event will support research and support programs and the University of Connecticut. For a recap of this year’s event and for information about next year’s event when scheduled, visit the official site for Bikers for Babies. The 2010 event will be a great way to enjoy a great day of riding and support neonatal research.

Under normal circumstances, animal activism and rebel bikers don’t match. On the surface, it would appear that these two groups are hopelessly different and have no common ground.

The Rescue Ink team is proving that animal lovers can also be hardcore bikers.

When they heard that a house in foreclosure had 180 stranded cats that needed to be rescued, they jumped into action. This week, they began the week long task of capturing and rehabilitating the cats so that can eventually be placed in a loving home. Without their intervention, these cats would have like been abandon on the streets or euthanized.

More than just a group of animal activists, Rescue Ink is a show featured on the National Geographic Channel chronicling their adventures in fighting animal abuse and neglect. The members from Rescue Ink would be a very hard group to forget if you saw them. And if you saw them, you would not get in their way. They look the part of outlaw bikers with their tattoos, big muscles, and even bigger attitudes. These guys mean business.

While their passion lies in animal advocacy, they are all also avid bikers riding Harley Davidson and Suzuki Hayabusas. The Rescue Ink team comes from all walks of life. Some are firefighters, personal trainers, restaurateurs, body guards, martial artists, and from the school of hard knocks.

The Rescue Ink team doesn’t just focus on cats and dogs but all animals. Their success stories include saving birds, horses, and other animals from neglect and abuse. When it comes to doing their job, they stop at nothing within the law to save animals and bring animal abusers to justice.

For bikers that share Rescue Ink’s passion for animals, there are lots of opportunities to help. They are always looking for people to adopt rescued animals, volunteers, and donations. There are also events that help support their ongoing activities and opportunities to participate in support organizations across the country.

It’s good to see passionate bikers who also have a passion for something as worthwhile as animal activism. Rescue Ink, the show, is on Fridays at 10PM EST on the National Geographic Channel.

Raynham, Massachusetts – A biker was seriously injured on Route 44 in Raynham motorcycle accident after being struck by a car.

According to local reports in the Raynham Call, the motorcycle accident occurred around 5 p.m. on Tuesday night at the intersection of Route 44 and Paramount Road. The injured biker, 45-year-old Frank Medeiros, had both legs crushed in the motorcycle accident but is expected to survive.

The identity of the driver of the car that struck Medeiros has not been released by police. Medeiros was airlifted to Brigham & Women’s Hospital where he is receiving treatment. We sincerely hope that Frank Medeiros makes a complete recovery from this terrible accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a Massachusetts motorcycle accident and injured due to the negligence of another driver, contact motorcycle enthusiast and Andover personal injury lawyer, Tom Kiley.

Sons of Anarchy is a fictitious, gun running motorcycle gang set in the fictional town of Charming, CA. These guys are true 1%ers and the show details all the gritty nuances of outlaw biker life. The fights, the conflicts with other biker gangs, dodging law enforcement, and family dynamics are all shown in startling detail and with great dramatic effect.

One of the unsung parts of the show includes the beautiful motorcycles the Sons of Anarchy ride each week across our TV screens. Most of the bikes are customized Harley Davidson Dynas. The rumble of their bikes and the uniformity of their mean black image add depth to their outlaw image. They look like a bunch of bad asses on these bikes.

Oddly enough a few of the actors including Ron Perlman, the President of the Sons of Anarchy SAMCRO Chapter and one of the principal actors, had never ridden a motorcycle prior to season one.

In an interview in issue #127 of Iron Horse Magazine, Perlman stated “I will never feel 100% confident on the bike. I’ve got too much respect for the machine and too little faith in myself, but I had more time before we started production. I had no time during the first season to learn.”

After some one on one training before season 2, Perlman is now a much more confident rider.

As for the other actors in Sons of Anarchy crew, they have taken a huge liking to the bikes they ride on the show. Many have ordered custom Harleys of their own.

In the same issue of Iron Horse Magazine Chris Gordon, the Picture Car Coordinator for Sons of Anarchy stated “…most of the guys got personalized Dyna’s from Eagle’s Nest H-D. They did a killer job in giving each guy exactly what they wanted. They have taken delivery of the bikes, so keep an eye out for the boys rolling around Hollywood with big smiles on their faces.”

The love of motorcycles can come from anywhere. In the case of the guys from Sons of Anarchy, it comes from working in a close bond and enjoying what they do for a living. It appears that the actors from Sons of Anarchy have actually formed their own motorcycle gang. As long as they keep riding, we will keep watching.

Reading, Mass – Two bikers were tragically killed when the motorcycle they were riding on collided with a pickup truck on Lowell Street in Reading, Massachusetts.

According to reports in The Eagle Tribune, the motorcycle accident claimed the lives of 25-year-old Penney Jean Richards and an unidentified 32-year-old male.

The motorcycle accident is still under investigation by local authorities, who have not revealed the cause or who is at fault for the Reading motorcycle crash.

If you or someone you love has been injured or killed in a Massachusetts motorcycle accident, contact Andover personal injury lawyer and motorcycle enthusiast Tom Kiley for a FREE consultation.