SUV-Motorcycle Crash Kills One, Injures Two

On August 4, 2013, a man was killed and his wife hospitalized with serious injuries after their motorcycle collided with a Ford SUV near the intersection of Meadow and Smithville Roads in suburban Boston, Massachusetts.

The rider, 58-year-old Thomas Mansfield, was rushed to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead. 54-year-old Jane Mansfield, a passenger on the motorcycle, was flown via helicopter to UMass Medical Center in Boston with critical injuries. The SUV driver, 41-year-old Marc Pillsbury, was also hospitalized due to injury.

The exact cause of the crash, which occurred at about 11:00 at night, is still under investigation.

Motorcycle Accidents

Even if the rider is wearing a safety helmet, motorcycle collisions very often involve serious and fatal injuries. The rider is completely exposed to the oncoming traffic and has no protection from other vehicles or flying debris. Some common injuries include:

• Head/neck and lower spine. When riders are thrown from the bike, they often fly through the air for several yards and land on hard concrete or other hard pavement. The spine and neck are very vulnerable in such situations.
• Lower extremities. If the rider is not thrown, the rider is frequently crushed between the motorcycle and another vehicle.
• Facial scarring. The rider frequently bounces face-down on the pavement after landing. Even after the severe abrasions heal, the facial scars may be impossible to totally erase.

Fault can often be difficult to establish, meaning that you need a serious attorney with the resources to thoroughly investigate the facts and partner with experts in order to help ensure that the victims receive fair compensation for their injuries.