Maine Injury Lawyer Blog

October 5, 2009: A 25-year-old Lisbon motorcyclist has died as a result of a collision with a motor vehicle on Route 125 in Bowdoin. Wade Foster, 35, of Lewiston, reportedly turned his 1995 Chrysler Concord left in front of a motorcycle driven by Richard Paraskevakos, 25, of Lisbon, at approximately 6:45 p.m., according to a release from the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Department. Paraskevakos was flown to Central Maine Medical Center by helicopter, but was later pronounced dead.

According to the Bureau of Motor Vehicle records, Foster is a habitual offender with a previous OUI conviction in 1999. Monday's crash is being reconstructed by the Brunswick Police Department and investigated by the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Department.

Michael Conley of Pittston and Angela Haase of Augusta were seriously injured when the motorcycle Conley was operating ran into the back of an SUV operated by Andrew Collar. Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

The crash occurred just after 11 a.m. as Conley followed Collar's vehicle south toward Chelsea on Stone Street. The officer investigating the crash said that speed did not appear to be a factor in the collision.

As Portland and Bangor accident attorneys with a Statewide personal injury law practice, Peter Thompson and Associates has represented dozens motorcycle operators in similar collisions. An investigation into the cause of this accident would need to examine whether the driver of the SUV stopped suddenly or failed to give proper turn signals. The passenger on the motorcycle would have potential claims against the motorcyclist's insurance coverage, as well as the SUV operator's insurance.

A motorcycle rider and passenger are slowly recovering from injuries sustained in a July 28 crash, the Bangor Daily News reported July 30. Christopher Feltner, 29, and his passenger, Karen Jones, 41, were riding through Corinth when a car pulled out in front of them. The crash sent both Feltner and Jones to the hospital, where Feltner was being treated for a collapsed lung Wednesday. Jones was listed in good condition, but according to her mother, Marie Applebee, she sustained injuries to her hand and foot that required two surgeries.

According to a deputy from the Penobscot County Sheriff's Department, driver Glenn Burleigh of Stetson apparently didn't see the motorcycle heading up Route 15. He pulled into the intersection from Hudson Hill Road, across and into the motorcycle's path. Feltner tried to brake, but hit the back of Burleigh's vehicle. Burleigh suffered no injuries and only moderate damage to his vehicle, but the motorcycle was damaged beyond repair, the article said. The crash was still under investigation Wednesday. Applebee said her daughter planned to give up motorcycle riding, but pleaded with drivers to watch carefully for motorcycles, especially in the summer.

Applebee has a good point. This accident illustrates a common problem I have seen as a Bangor motorcycle crash lawyer: cars "not seeing" motorcycles. Motorcycles are genuinely smaller and harder to see. But in many cases, drivers don't see motorcycles in part because they aren't looking for them -- and it's very easy to miss something when you're not expecting to see it. In fact, the definitive study of motorcycle accidents, the Hurt Report, said that drivers' failure to see motorcycles in traffic is the "predominating cause" of motorcycle accidents. In fact, that report found that drivers violating the motorcycle's right of way were responsible for two-thirds of multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes and 50% of all motorcycle crashes. Unfortunately, because they are without seatbelts or airbags, motorcyclists are far more likely to end up with catastrophic injuries or wrongful death as a result.

Continue reading "Motorcyclist and Passenger Recovering From Serious Injuries in Bangor Car-Motorcycle Crash" »

A married couple from Corinth, Maine survived an unusual motorcycle accident this past weekend: a crash with a horse. According to the July 20 Bangor Daily News, Richard and Donna Bradford were passing by on a 2007 Harley-Davidson when a paint horse named Buster got loose from his field. He ran directly into the road, but Donna Bradford spotted him and was able to tell her husband, who was operating the bike, to take evasive action.

Law enforcement told the newspaper that the Bradfords were lucky to escape with only minor injuries. Donna Bradford was uninjured and Richard Bradford suffered minor bumps and bruises, although their motorcycle took an estimated $1,000 worth of damage. Buster was not so lucky; he suffered a broken jaw that will require surgery, lost a few teeth and has a cut on his lip. At more than 20 years old, he is a pet to Donald and Regina Boulier. The Bouliers were upset about the incident, but said they were glad the Bradfords weren't seriously hurt. Donald Boulier said he also rides a Harley.

As a Bangor motorcycle accident lawyer, I was interested in this story because it's unusual to see such clear evidence of an accident being caused by a domestic animal. Accidents involving loose dogs or livestock aren't common, but they can cause serious one-vehicle accidents. The owner of the animal is legally at fault in many of these cases because most local laws require animals to be fenced, leashed or otherwise restrained from running loose. However, because there's often no witness to the accident or to the animal's escape, this can be hard to prove. As a result, insurance companies have an opening with which to deny legitimate insurance claims filed by accident victims. Often, it's only after they get help from a Maine motorcycle crash attorney that victims get the financial settlement to which they're legally entitled.

Continue reading "Corinth Couple Survives Motorcycle Accident With Loose Horse in Charleston" »

A driver charged with manslaughter in connection with a serious Maine motorcycle accident turned down a plea bargain, the Norwich Bulletin reported July 2. Eugene Parsons of Garland faces criminal charges for the July 5, 2008 accident that killed Alan Begin of Taftville and seriously injured his passenger, Dawn Foisey. The decision by Parsons means he will face trial on charges of manslaughter with a motor vehicle, assault with a motor vehicle, OUI, running a red light and reckless driving. Trial had not yet been set.

According to the article, Parsons had a blood-alcohol concentration more than twice the legal limit when he ran the red light at the intersection of Route 2 and Harland Road in Norwich. He hit Begin's Harley-Davidson motorcycle, killing Begin. Begin's passenger, Foisey, lost one kidney and suffered a punctured lung and broken bones. The newspaper did not specify how much time Parsons could face if convicted, or the terms of the plea deal. However, manslaughter alone carries up to 30 years in prison in Maine.

As a Portland motorcycle crash lawyer, I hope that this article serves as a timely reminder for Maine drivers and motorcyclists that they can never be too careful. Summer is when motorcyclists are most likely to be on Maine roads, and that should raise the awareness of every driver. Statistically, most motorcycle accidents are caused by drivers not seeing motorcycles -- and frequently, "not seeing" motorcycles means not looking for them or not expecting to see them. Unfortunately, the results can be catastrophic. Motorcycle accident injuries cause brain damage, multiple broken bones, spinal injuries, organ damage and other life-changing injuries.

Motorcyclists have all the same rights and responsibilities as drivers in Maine, including the responsibility to be careful on the road and the right to hold others legally liable when they fail to be careful. That means riders involved in a bad Maine motorcycle accident can sue a driver whose carelessness caused their serious injuries and the sky-high medical bills that almost inevitably result. In a Bangor motorcycle accident lawsuit, motorcyclists can recover money to pay hospital bills, future medical treatment and other costs related to the accident, as well as compensation for their injuries, pain and any permanent disability or wrongful death.

Continue reading "Driver Declines Plea Deal in Norwich Motorcycle Crash That Killed Motorcyclist and Seriously Injured Passenger" »