It may not come as a surprise, but motorcycle riders are at greater risk of injury and or death than their counterparts riding in cars. However, the actual disparity in risk is higher than one might think. In fact, some sources claim that for every mile traveled, motorcyclists are 35 times more likely than car riders to have a fatal accident. Given the tremendous risk of motorcycle accidents and the potentially fatal results of such crashes, both motorcyclists and drivers of cars should take extreme precautions when it comes to navigating traffic situations involving motorcycles and sharing the road. Unfortunately, motorcyclists in Maryland are no exception to these risks.

What About Motorcycle Makes Them More Likely to Be Hit by Other Drivers?

Tragic and concerning accidents are unfortunately all too common in Maryland and show the need for car drivers and motorcyclists to engage in exceedingly careful when driving at high speeds near or around motorcycles. The smaller profile of motorcycles creates a greater likelihood of motorcycles occupying blind spots of larger vehicles and the open nature of motorcycle riding creates unique harm for riders involved in any crashes. When operators of larger vehicles only look out for other large vehicles and cars and fail to pay special attention to motorcycles and smaller vehicles, it places the smaller vehicles at great risk. In the event that a driver fails to see another vehicle, resulting in a crash, they could face both civil and criminal legal liability. A recent news article discussed a local fatal motorcycle crash.

According to the local news article about a Maryland motorcycle accident, the accident occurred on February 3, at approximately 3:52 pm when a motorcycle and an Amazon delivery truck collided. Emergency personnel and vehicles responded to reports of a serious motor vehicle accident involving an Amazon vehicle and motorcycle on Mechanicsville Road in the area of Asher Road. Crews arrived and found a motorcyclist suffering from multiple injuries including femur and ankle fractures. EMS evaluated the motorcyclist and requested a medivac due to the severity of the injuries. EMS began CPR and reported that the motorcyclist died at 4:45 pm.

In 2023, Maryland roadway fatalities were at the highest the state has seen since 2007. In response, the Maryland Department of Transportation Motor Vehicles Administration (MVA) recently announced several New Year’s resolutions aimed at reducing the number of accidents in the state. In a recent news article, an MVA administrator discussed the agency’s plan to prioritize Maryland drivers’ safety in the new year.

How is the MTA Trying to Reduce Car Accidents?

First, the MVA has asked Maryland drivers to create a MyMVA account, which allows drivers to access their vehicle information in real time. For example, MyMVA displays drivers’ REAL ID status, emission deadline, and copies of correspondences between drivers and the MVA. The account also allows drivers to complete transactions online, which eliminates the need to go to a branch office in-person. Similarly, the MVA has advised enrolling in Maryland Mobile ID. This smartphone application helps drivers keep their personal information secure, including their driver’s license or other state-issued identification card. The MVA hopes to expand this service in the new year.

The MVA has also asked drivers to take several steps to ensure their vehicles are road-ready. First, the MVA has instructed drivers to check for vehicle recalls, which an authorized dealership will repair for free. Staying up-to-date on vehicle recalls allows drivers to ensure their vehicles are working properly, which may reduce the risk of an accident caused by a vehicle malfunction. Drivers should also understand roadside safety and make sure their vehicles are in good working condition. Finally, drivers must find the right seats for children. Not all car seats are appropriate for all children. Factors like the child’s age, height, and weight may impact the car seat that will best protect your child in the event of an accident.

Dangers of Driving Under the Influence in Maryland

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is not only dangerous but highly illegal. The chances of crashes and fatal accidents increase when drivers are inhibited because they are less able to react to dangerous road conditions and generally exercise poor judgment when driving. Drivers operating under the influence make bad driving decisions, misjudge driving maneuvers, and are unable to fully concentrate on the road. Unfortunately, Maryland drivers are no exception to this trend and are all too familiar with the dangers of drivers operating their vehicles under the influence. According to a Center for Disease Control (CDC) study, Maryland drivers reported driving after drinking at a higher rate than the national reporting rate. In fact, between 2009 and 2018, 1,515 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes in Maryland. The CDC has found that over 10,000 people per year die in such crashes throughout the country. Recent local news coverage discussed a fatal DUI crash that tragically resulted in six deaths.

According to the news coverage about the recent crash, the accident occurred on March 22 when two drivers were driving at excessive speeds. One of the cars clipped the other car as it attempted to change lanes, sending it careening into a construction site. The first car was traveling at 121 mph at the time of the collision, while the car that was changing lanes was traveling at 108 mph when it was clipped. Maryland State Police identified six construction workers who were killed in the collision. As a result of the crash, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore created a work group to create safety changes for construction work zones.

Hit-and-run accidents are often characterized by several distinct elements. Common characteristics include the accident having very few witnesses and or poor lighting, as the driver is more likely to believe there will not be repercussions for their behavior. If there are many witnesses or the scene is highly visible, people are less likely to flee the scene of a crash. Similarly, drivers are much more likely to flee the scene of an accident between the hours of midnight and 4:00 a.m., than between 8:00 a.m. and 11:59 a.m. This is due to a host of reasons, but one explanation is that nighttime drivers generally engage in more risky behavior.

What Is the Definition of a Hit and Run Accident?

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety defines hit-and-run accidents as collisions in which at least one person involved in the crash departs the scene of the crash before offering any (or sufficient) information or aid to the other involved person(s) or fails to properly report the crash. Hit-and-run accidents are a major issue for many reasons, but in particular, they can increase the severity of outcomes given delays or the complete absence of medical attention for the victims. As of 2017, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has found that both the rate and fatality levels of hit-and-run collisions are on the rise. There were an estimated 737,100 hit-and-run crashes in 2015. This translates to a hit-and-run crash happening somewhere in the U.S. every 43 seconds. The 2,049 fatalities that resulted from hit-and-run crashes in 2016 were the highest number recorded up to that point.

A recent news report described a serious Maryland hit-and-run accident. According to the reporting by Fox Five Washington D.C., the accident occurred around 9:00 pm on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2024, near the intersection of Landover Road and Neighbor Lane. By the time police officers responded to the scene of the crash, the man was unresponsive. Prince George’s County police are seeking the driver who left the scene of the hit-and-run. Authorities state that the man found at the scene was later pronounced dead at the scene.

The danger of not wearing your seatbelt is compounded when a truck or other large vehicle is involved in the crash. That goes for people in the large vehicle as well as others on the road. Bigger vehicles like trucks and SUVs are larger than other vehicles and often transport more passengers or cargo. That means that large automobiles can become difficult to maneuver in emergency situations, preventing drivers from turning or stopping suddenly due to the weight of their vehicle and cargo. Even without heavy cargo or large trailers, big vehicles are heavy, making accidents involving them inherently dangerous. Additionally, long-distance drivers are under extreme pressure to spend significant hours on the road, as they may have to meet delivery deadlines. This can lead to exhaustion and impaired judgment on the roads. Tired drivers are more likely to make mistakes when driving, increasing the likelihood of accidents. It is vital to wear your seatbelt while on the road and stay aware of large vehicles that could be merging onto your road. A recent news article discussed a serious multi-vehicle accident.

According to the local news article, the accident happened at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 4, along westbound Liberty Road in the area of Westminster, Maryland. Law enforcement investigators said that the driver of a Chevy Equinox was attempting to make a left turn onto Skidmore Road when a Saturn rear-ended the vehicle. The collision forced the Chevy into the eastbound lanes of Liberty Road and the Chevy was struck by a Ford F-350. A number of individuals were pronounced dead at the scene, and two victims of the crash were flown to a nearby hospital, where one later passed away. Following the crash, all the westbound Liberty Road lanes remained closed while the Maryland State Police Crash Team continued with its investigation.

How Much Car insurance Do You Need in Maryland?

Maryland maintains minimum insurance requirements for drivers in the state. Minimum insurance requirements are designed to ensure sufficient compensation is available to victims of car accidents should it be required. As a result, Maryland drivers are required to purchase at least $30,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per person, $60,000 in bodily injury liability coverage per accident, and $15,000 in property damage liability coverage.

The Maryland government recently released a Maryland roadway fatality report through a new fatality reduction initiative, Zero Deaths Maryland. The report indicates that the state is currently on pace to have a higher number of driving fatalities this year than last year. At this same point last year, Maryland had 321 roadway fatalities, while currently there are already 353 fatalities reported on Maryland roads. The report further indicates that the number of fatal crashes throughout the state has gradually increased year over year beginning in 2018.

What Are the Top Causes of Fatal Truck Accidents?

There are various causes of fatal automobile accidents, including the size of the vehicles involved and whether any of the vehicle operators were impaired. According to Zero Deaths Maryland, the state has been relatively stable when it comes to fatal car accidents involving driver impairment and overall accidents involving impaired drivers. In 2017, Maryland had 170 driver-impaired fatal crashes while in 2021, the state had 154 driver-impaired fatal crashes. Similarly, in 2017 there were 6,654 total driver-impaired crashes, while in 2021 there were 6,522. A recent news article discussed a fatal accident that resulted in four deaths.

The news article detailed a recent crash that occurred on the evening of Saturday, November 5, around 5:30 PM in Carroll County. Maryland State Police from the Westminster Barrack responded to multiple reports of a three-vehicle crash in the area of westbound Liberty Road at Skidmore Road. The preliminary investigation revealed that a Chevy Equinox collided with a Ford F-350 after a Saturn rear-ended the Chevy. The initial collision then caused the Chevy to enter the eastbound lanes, violently colliding head-on with the Ford that was traveling eastbound on Liberty Road. The driver and two of the passengers in the Chevy were pronounced dead at the scene while two additional passengers from the Chevy were transported by air to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland. One of those transported later passed away at the Shock Trauma Center. The driver of the Ford was also brought to the hospital for treatment for his injuries. Investigators do not currently believe that impaired driving was a factor in the crash, but the investigation is still ongoing. The Maryland State Police Crash Team is leading the investigation.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), motor vehicle-related incidents are a leading cause of line-of-duty deaths for law enforcement officers in the United States. However, according to the CDC, such accidents are highly preventable. From 2011-2020, 454 officers died due to motor vehicle-related incidents, both struck by and crashes, which accounted for 33% of all line-of-duty deaths in those year excluding COVID-19 deaths. It is important to promote motor vehicle safety among officers so they can stay safe while working to make communities safer. According to the CDC, behavior-related hazards for officers include not wearing a seat belt, speeding through intersections, being distracted by electronics while driving, and experiencing tunnel vision from increased stress. It is vital for officers to make a conscious effort to reduce such behaviors, as it not only threatens their own lives but the lives of those around them as well. A recent news article discusses a car crash involving a Maryland State Trooper driving through an intersection.

According to the news article, the accident occurred when the trooper was traveling southbound on St. Charles Parkway on the evening of Thursday, September 14 shortly after 5:00 PM. The trooper was traveling with emergency equipment activated and came to a full stop at the intersection of Billingsley Road on St. Charles Parkway when a Toyota Corolla traveling eastbound on St. Charles Parkway struck the trooper’s unmarked Ford Explorer. Both the state trooper and the driver of the Toyota Corolla were transported to the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center in La Plata for treatment of their injuries. According to investigators, impaired driving was not believed to be a factor in the crash. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Does Negligence on My Part Affect My Case?

Contributory Negligence is the legal concept preventing victims in an accident from receiving recovery for their personal injuries if their negligence contributed to the accident at all. Simply put, even if the negligence of the operator of another vehicle is largely responsible for the motor vehicle accident if the victim was even slightly negligent, it is possible they will not be able to recover any compensation. In Maryland, contributory negligence is interpreted broadly, allowing minor negligence by the victim in personal injury cases to defeat even very strong plaintiff claims.

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is not only dangerous but highly illegal. The chances of crashes and fatal accidents increase when drivers are inhibited because they are less able to react to situations that come up on the road or exercise poor judgment while driving. Unfortunately, Maryland drivers are all too familiar with the dangers of drivers operating their vehicles under the influence. According to a study by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Maryland drivers reported driving after drinking at a higher rate than the national reporting rate. In fact, between 2009 and 2018, 1,515 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes in Maryland. The CDC has found that over 10,000 people per year die in such crashes throughout the country.

Does My Negligence Affect My Maryland Car Accident Case?

Contributory Negligence is a legal concept that potentially prevents plaintiffs in an accident case from receiving recovery for injuries resulting from a crash if their negligence contributed to the accident to any degree. Essentially, even if the negligence of the operator of another vehicle is largely responsible for the accident if the plaintiff was even a little negligent, it is possible they will not be able to recover compensation. In Maryland, contributory negligence is interpreted very broadly, allowing minor negligence by the plaintiff in personal injury cases to defeat even very strong claims. A recent article discussed a local fatal crash where the cause of the accident is still under investigation.


According to the news article, the accident occurred in the evening on Friday, September 29, around 7:30 p.m. A passenger SUV with four people in it was heading east on Whitmore in Bowie, Maryland when it left the road and crashed into a tree. The SUV became engulfed in flames when it struck the tree, and by the time paramedics and EMTs arrived on the scene, all four people inside the car had died. The cause for the SUV’s sudden departure from the road and into the tree is still under investigation by the Prince George’s County Police Department. Police investigators not only closed off the road to continue conducting their inquiry, but the police spokesperson said they expected to be working late into the night trying to identify the four bodies, as the fire that engulfed the SUV made identification much more difficult.

In a devastating incident that unfolded earlier this month, a multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 81 near Maugansville in Washington County, Maryland, left two people dead and three others injured. According to a local news report, the multi-vehicle accident was triggered when an SUV collided with the rear of a tractor-trailer that had come to a halt due to traffic conditions. This initial collision set off a chain reaction, involving three additional tractor-trailers and a pickup truck. Tragically, two lives were lost in the aftermath of this horrific accident. This tragedy demonstrates the unpredictability and potential dangers that Maryland drivers face every day.

How Can You Stay Safe on Maryland Highways?

Maryland drivers need to pay attention to the speed of traffic ahead, and always be ready to slow down if necessary. Drivers following too closely are a leading cause of highway accidents and multi-car collisions. When cars travel at highway speeds, it is advised to leave at least 350 feet between themselves and the car in front of them at a speed of 70 miles per hour. Drivers following too closely may be responsible for any damage or injury caused in an accident.

In the wake of such a traumatic event, the victims and their families may grapple with physical, emotional, and financial challenges. Personal injury cases can be complex, and navigating the legal process while dealing with the aftermath of an accident can be overwhelming. This is where the expertise of a skilled Maryland personal injury attorney becomes invaluable. Victims of accidents and their families often have legal rights that entitle them to compensation for their suffering and loss. The experienced Maryland personal injury attorneys at Lebowitz and Mzhen can help.

When a child is injured in a car accident, a parent’s worst fear comes true. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 63,000 children suffered injuries in a car accident in 2020. Issues such as ill-fitting booster seats and riding without a seatbelt have worsened those statistics. Fortunately, parents and caregivers can take a few extra precautions to ensure their child is as safe as possible in the event of a car accident.

Sadly, four children and one adult suffered injuries after a serious vehicle accident in Waldorf, Maryland. As a news article reported, the accident occurred on the southbound side of the highway. Emergency personnel responding to the accident found two damaged vehicles with multiple injured occupants. Two ambulances transported three children and one adult to the hospital for their injuries. A fourth child, who suffered head injuries, was medically evacuated by chopper to the hospital. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

How Can You Keep Your Children Safe in a Car Accident?

Parents can follow a few steps to protect their children in case of an accident. First, make sure your children use a seat belt. In the event of a car accident, seat belts can often be the difference between a minor and major injury. If your children refuse to wear a seatbelt, try to explain the importance of wearing one for their safety. For small children, wearing a seatbelt is only the first step to preventing serious injury. In addition to wearing a seatbelt, make sure to place your children in a car seat. Small children may not be able to wear a seatbelt without the boost of car or booster seat. The right car seat for your children will depend on their age, weight, and height, and it is important that the seat is the proper size.

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