According to ridetowork.org, bikers that participate in Ride to Work Day will demonstrate the following:

• Motorcyclists come from all age ranges, careers, and walks of life
• There are more motorcyclists on the road today than the general public or politicians know about
• Motorcycling provides positive social benefits for riders
• Motorcycles and scooters help reduce traffic congestion, especially in cities
• Motorcycles are great as a form of transportation and as a hobby

Overall, Ride to Work Day helps increase awareness among other motorists to share the road with motorcycles and scooters. An alarming number of accidents occur because other drivers forget to keep an eye out for motorcycles or don’t know that motorcyclists have the same rights and privileges as any other vehicle on the road.

If you participate in this event, let the Kiley Law Group know how it was and leave a comment!

If you have lost someone in a motorcycle accident due to the reckless actions of a motorist, you may have the right to sue the driver for wrongful death. To find out if you have a case, contact an experienced Boston wrongful death lawyer at (888) 208-1695 for no-cost, confidential consultation.

Affordability – Believe it or not, on average, motorcycles tend to cost at least half as much as most cars or trucks.

Eco-Friendly – With less carbon emissions than other vehicles on the road, motorcycles help contribute to a cleaner environment.

Fuel Efficiency – Most mid-sized motorcycles get at least double the miles per gallon than trucks or SUVs.

Insurance – Motorcycle insurance tends to cost only a couple hundred dollars per year compared to much pricier car insurance plans.

Parking – Motorcycle parking is easy to find and there is much less competition for those close parking spots.

Let us know about your favorite perk as a motorcycle rider in the comments! What finally helped you make the decision to purchase a bike?

The Boston motorcycle accident attorneys at Kiley Law Group are committed to helping injured motorcyclists pursue legal compensation. If you or a loved one has been hurt as the result of another person’s reckless actions, please call (888) 208-1695 for a free consultation.

The NHTSA has provided several tips for motorcycle riders and motorists to help reduce these often fatal collisions:

Steer clear of blind spots – Car drivers should always check their blind spots for motorcyclists when making turns or changing lanes.

Always wear a helmet – Helmets save lives and reduce the risk of brain trauma or other catastrophic head injuries.

Use turn signals – It is safer when both drivers and motorcyclists use turn signals or hand signals to communicate with others on the road before merging with traffic or changing lanes.

Ride sober – Statistics have shown that intoxicated motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes outnumber intoxicated motorists, according to the NHTSA.

Follow right-of-way laws – Motorists and motorcyclists share the same rights and privileges of the road.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle crash that was caused by another’s negligent actions, it is time to contact the Boston motorcycle accident lawyers at Kiley Law Group. We are avid motorcycle enthusiasts and will help you pursue compensation for your losses. Call (888) 208-1695 to speak with one of our attorneys for a free consultation.

Googlers were enthusiastic about Lightning’s bikes, being photographed on the Superbike, requesting to receive product information and signing up to set-up additional test rides.

Lightning Motors Corp. is the first company to introduce a true electric superbike to consumers and has been the first company to accomplish feats in other areas, as well. It has been involved in developing electric two-wheeled vehicles for over six years and has set several world speed records and won many road racing transportations. Aside from the SuperBike, Lightning is also producing electric scooters, ATVs and commuter bikes. If you are interested in learning more about Lightning Motorcycles, visit their website at http://www.lightningmotorcycle.com/.

Do You Currently Own an Electric Motorcycle or Scooter?

At the Kiley Law Group, we are proud supporters of innovation that can make our environment cleaner and healthier. If you have an electric motorcycle, or better yet, a Lightning electric motorcycle, we want to hear from you! And even if you don’t, leave a comment and let us know what you think about electric motorcycles.

Saturday, April 27, 2013 – Wounded Vet Run

Boston’s Wounded Vet Run starts in Everett, Massachusetts at Boston Harley Davidson, 1760 Revere Beach Pkwy, and ends at Suffolk Downs Race Track, 111 Waldemar Avenue, East Boston. The ride ends at the race track with music, food, vendors, stunt show, raffles, and more. Ride proceeds will benefit three of New England’s most severely wounded veterans.

Registration starts at 10:00 a.m. and kick-stands are up at 1:30 p.m. The fee is $20.00 for each rider and $10.00 for passengers. For more information or to make a donation, visit http://www.theyfoughtweride.com/. You can also register through this site.

If you don’t ride but want to support our wounded veterans, you can still attend the concert/ceremony at the end of the run. Visit the site above for more info.

Sunday, April 28, 2013 – 10^th Annual IHRH Mystery Ride

The 10^th Annual Iron Horse Road House (IHRH) Mystery Ride begins in Agawam, Massachusetts at the West Springfield Fish & Game Club, 329 Garden Street. This ride benefits Children of Springfield’s Gray House.

The ride starts at 10:00 a.m. and ride fees include $25.00 for riders and $10.00 for passengers. It ends with a barbecue, raffles and more. For additional information, call (413) 626-5417.

If you participate in either of these rides, let the Kiley Law Group know how it was by leaving a comment! If you’ve participated in these rides before, what is the “Mystery” of the IHRH Mystery Ride?

At the Kiley Law Group, motorcycle lawyer and enthusiast Tom Kiley and his legal team want to help Massachusetts bikers take the necessary precautions to protect their bikes against theft. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) provides the following “Quick Tips” for preventing motorcycle theft (if you think they’ve missed any, leave a comment and let us know!):

• Lock the forks or disk brakes with locks that have brightly colored, large tags.
• Lock motorcycles together when group riding.
• Lock the ignition and remove the key. (Most motorcycle thefts happen when the ignition is off, but not locked).
• Lock your bike onto a stationary, secure object that can’t be taken apart easily.
• Add an alarm.
• Park your motorcycle within a security camera’s view when possible or at least close by when parking in a new place.
• Check your bike periodically when parked at a public event.
• If you park your bike in a garage, block it with cars and always close and lock the garage door.
• Keep your motorcycle’s title at home.
• Add a unique mark/feature to your bike and take a photo. (This is more for getting your bike back in case of theft rather than preventing).
• Keep your insurance card and motorcycle registration on you when riding.
• Be careful about who you give personal information, like where you work or live.

The driver, a 38-year-old Dartmouth man, was operating under the influence of alcohol at the time when he struck and killed a 51-year-old Fairhaven man riding his motorcycle.

According to the Boston Globe, the driver fled the scene of the accident and was involved in a second accident just a short distance away. Another motorist was injured, and the driver fled the second accident scene as well, this time on foot. He was quickly captured.

According to police, the Dartmouth man had alcohol in his car and his blood alcohol level was 0.19, which is more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.

The driver, with a history of repeat drunken driving, is facing a sentence of up to 18 years of prison.

Intoxicated driving is a major cause of auto accident fatalities in the United States, responsible for about a third of all deaths in auto accidents.

If you have lost someone in a drunken driving crash, you may have the right to sue the reckless driver for wrongful death. To find out if you have a case, contact an experienced Boston wrongful death lawyer at (888) 208-1695 and schedule your FREE consultation today.

Bike Week Daytona, FL runs from March 8 through St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, and has been a tradition since 1937. What started out as a simple race has turned into a 10-day festival that includes hundreds of events for motorcycle enthusiasts and brings in hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Here are a few of the events/activities being held this year:

• Bike Week Treasure Hunt
• Harley-Davidson Appreciation Parade
• Budweiser Clydesdale Parade
• Harley-Davidson Demo Rides
• WyoTech 1st Annual Bike Engine Build-Off
• Need 4 Speed Charity Motorcycle Show
• Ride the Loop (one of the best local riding experiences complete with a shortcut to some of the area’s favorite attractions and hang outs)
• Win the 2013 Official Bike Week Motorcycle (one-of-a-kind Harley Davidson valued at a whopping $35,000!)

In addition to the specific events and activities, there are hundreds of vendors as well as daily live entertainment and food. And don’t forget about official Bike Week merchandise for sale.

If you would like more information about Daytona Bike Week 2013 and its events, visit the official website here: http://www.officialbikeweek.com/.

For those of you at the event, the Boston motorcycle accident legal team at Kiley Law Group wishes you a fun and safe ride! And don’t forget to bring back a souvenir!

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) provides helpful guidelines for riding with a passenger on a motorcycle and Tom Kiley and his motorcycle accident legal team encourage every rider to take all the necessary steps to ensure they are riding with a passenger safely. MSF provides several tips; here are some to get you started:

• Make sure you know and follow all state laws and requirements for carrying a passenger (this may include equipment requirements).
• While carrying a child as a passenger is a parent or legal guardian’s decision and may be restricted under state law, the child should be mature enough to handle the responsibilities, wearing all appropriate and properly-fitted safety gear, holding onto the driver, and being tall enough to reach the footrests.
• Carrying a passenger increases weight and affects the handling of a motorcycle, especially around corners.
• Carrying a passenger may increase braking distance, so you may need to brake sooner and/or with greater pressure.
• More space and time will be necessary for passing with a passenger.
• The motorcycle must be designed for a passenger, if it isn’t, don’t carry one.
• The bike’s tire pressure and suspension may need adjusting.
• Passengers should always wear the proper safety gear.

For the entire set of MSF guidelines, visit their website here: http://msf-usa.org/downloads/Passenger_Tip_Sheet.pdf

If you have any other tips for carrying a passenger that are missing here or on the complete set of MSF guidelines, let us know by leaving a comment!

If only there were some way to know what the specific motorcycle helmet laws were in the United States, Europe, Canada, and even Australia … Wait a second, there is!

Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C. Motorcycle Helmet Laws App

The Michigan personal injury law firm of Buckfire & Buckfire, P.C., which created the state by state motorcycle helmet laws infographic, has taken the next step in helping bikers stay well-informed about helmet laws that they may encounter by creating the free Motorcycle Helmet Laws App. The app helps riders get the motorcycle helmet law information they need quickly and easily right from their smartphone. If you are a biker, will be taking a road trip, and have an iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and/or Android device, this app was developed just for you.

What the App Does

Aside from simply giving you each particular area’s helmet laws, the app also has several other features, including, but not limited to:

• GPS Bike Finder that can put a GPS pin on the motorcycle’s location and establish a time for when the rider needs to go back to it. This feature also lets you email location information to friends.
• Add images of interesting helmets and view them in the cool helmet gallery.
• Accident checklist that you can use to take the necessary steps after a motorcycle accident.
• Getting discounts at certain motorcycle shops.

The app may be downloaded from the iTunes Store on iPhone and other Apple devices or from the Google Play store for Android devices. Just search for “Motorcycle Helmet Laws.”