Articles Posted in Motorcycle Accident

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.

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 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.

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.

Road accidents involving motorcycles are statistically some of the most dangerous and deadly types of crashes. According to a press release from the U.S. National Highway Transportation Administration, over 80% of reported motorcycle crashes result in injury or death to the motorcyclist. With numbers like that, motorcyclists should educate themselves on the most common causes of motorcycle crashes, and be vigilant in exercising appropriate safety precautions when taking a bike out on the road.

Motorcycles are some of the smallest motorized vehicles on the road, and the vehicles themselves offer little, if any, protection in the event of a crash. Cars and trucks have been designed with safety features in mind since they became widely used on American roads. Most cars include seatbelts, airbags, and are structurally designed to protect the occupants in the event of a crash. Motorcyclists do not enjoy the same safety features on their bikes. These safety deficiencies can be somewhat offset by the improved maneuverability and stopping distance offered by a motorcycle, but the fact remains that if a crash does occur, the biker is at considerable risk.

Motorcyclists have the ability to use additional safety equipment in the event of a crash. By far, the most important piece of safety equipment is a helmet. Wearing a helmet greatly reduces the risk of serious injury or death to a rider in the event of a crash. The Maryland Transportation Code, Section 21-1306 requires that anyone driving or riding on a motorcycle wear an approved helmet. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) evaluates and grades helmets that are on the market. Riding with a DOT approved helmet is important, as many less expensive helmets on the market today are not sufficient to protect a rider from an accident occurring on public roads or highways.

Left turns present some of the most dangerous situations on Maryland roads. When compounded with nighttime driving, the operators of any vehicles may be rightfully concerned for their safety when other vehicles are making left turns. Maryland motorcyclists are even more threatened in these situations, as their vehicles can be harder to see, and the consequences of a crash are often more severe. A tragic crash earlier this month killed a motorcyclist after a driver failed to yield the right of way when making a left turn on a Southern Maryland highway.

According to a local news report discussing the accident, a 73-year-old man was driving a pickup truck on MD Route 6 and performed a left hand turn onto a smaller road near the town of La Plata. The 18-year old victim, who was operating a motorcycle on Route 6 in the opposite direction, crashed his bike into the pickup truck after the older man failed to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic while performing the turn. First responders were called to the scene and first aid was rendered as the victim was transported to a nearby hospital, but the medical professionals were unable to save the man and he was pronounced dead at the hospital. The article notes that driver error appears to be the cause of the crash, and no mention was made that drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash.

Motorcycles can be harder to see when on a busy road for a variety of reasons, and this means that it is especially important for all drivers and pedestrians to take extra precaution. Motorcycles are much smaller than cars and trucks, which can lead them to be more difficult to see from a distance. The average motorcycle ranges from 75-100 inches long, with a heigh of 40-60 inches. A car’s blind spot may cause motorcycles to be hidden from view temporarily, which can be dangerous for motorcyclists. In addition, some drivers may misjudge the speed at which a motorcycle is going, which can result in injuries.

In a recent news report, a motorcycle collided with a car in Pennsylvania, resulting in a 58-year-old motorcyclist’s death. A trauma doctor pronounced him dead shortly after his arrival at the local hospital. According to preliminary investigations, the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. A car was headed northbound and began to turn left, and the motorcyclist was heading south and unable to avoid a collision, striking the passenger side of the vehicle. The driver of the car revealed to police that she didn’t see the motorcycle approaching due to the low sun.

Driving and riding in any type of motor vehicle comes with its own set of risks, and motorcycles are no different. According to the National Higway Traffic Safety Admnistration, 42 percent of fatal motorcycle crashes that involved another motor vehicle involved a vehicle turning left while the motorcycle was going straight, passing, or overtaking a vehicle. When drivers approach an intersection and are turning, their view of oncoming traffic is partially obstructed, but driverss should take the time to wait until they are able to see around an obstructions to ensure it is safe to proceed. Any time you approach an intersection, it is important to take extra time to ensure that you use your rear and side view mirrors to ensure that nobody is in your blind spots.

The design defect lawsuit filed by parents on behalf of their minor son, who became permanently injured when his Christmas gift of a Kawasaki motorcycle crashed, survived a motion to dismiss earlier this month.

The couple bought a new Kawasaki motorcycle as a Christmas present for their minor son in 2010. When the boy first rode the motorcycle on Christmas Day, the bike crashed, which resulted in a serious and permanent injury. The parents claim that negligent assembly of the motorcycle’s throttle mechanism was responsible for causing the accident.

One of the defendants in the action moved to have the case, which was filed in federal court, dismissed against it, claiming that the court lacked the requisite personal jurisdiction over the company. However, the U.S. District Judge disagreed, and denied the motion, finding that the defendant had sufficient minimum contacts with New Jersey to justify keeping the claim against it.

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A three judge Commonwealth Court panel recently ruled that a Maryland couple cannot sue the Pennsylvania State Department of Transportation for the injuries they suffered during an accident that occurred in 2007.

According to state police, the couple was riding a Harley-Davidson MC at approximately 12:30 p.m. July 22, 2007, when they swerved suddenly in order to avoid a vehicle that careened into their path, and attempted to pass it on the right hand side. Police said that the motorcycle then veered off the road, striking several different obstructions, then became airborne, and traveled approximately 10 feet before coming to a stop.

In the published opinion, the panel ruled that state law precludes the couple from suing PennDOT for the injuries they suffered while riding a motorcycle, because they had left the paved road when the accident occurred. Therefore, because the state has no duty to maintain any area beyond the portion of the road regularly used for or intended for travel, the exception to sovereign immunity (which allows for the ability to sue the state with its consent) does not apply, and the motion to dismiss the lawsuit was thereby granted.

This case is an unfortunate example of what can result when motorcycle accidents happen. It seems clear from the facts that the accident was initially caused due to the vehicle that first swerved into the path of this Maryland couple. However, the actual cause, or in this case proximate cause, of the undisclosed injuries suffered by the couple were the result of the issues with the roadway–presumably the pipe and cement fixture that they hit off of the road. The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania is one of two intermediate appellate courts in the state, meaning that the couple may potentially have the opportunity to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

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