Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

Emergency responders from Howard County recently responded to a serious motorcycle injury accident on the southbound lanes of Maryland's Route 29 near Seneca Drive. Reportedly, a husband and wife riding two-up on a BMW R75/6 contacted a guardrail during the afternoon of June 8 near Columbia, MD. Both riders were transported to the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore for treatment of their injuries.

According to Howard County police, 55-year-old Timothy Danaher was operating the couple’s motorcycle with his wife, Diana Danaher, also 55 years old, riding on the back of the same bike. News articles state that the motorcyle somehow veered to the left causing the vehicle to strike a roadside guardrail -- the reason for accident was as yet unknown. Both riders were thrown off the bike. After being admitted to the hospital, Mrs. Danaher's condition was listed as fair, however her husband was in critical condition.

Without a doubt, motorcycle accidents can inflict some of the worst injuries for the operator and any other person riding along as well. As Maryland motorcycle accident lawyers, we have a great deal of experience in injury accident cases just like this one. Although the Howard County police department’s traffic enforcement section was still investigating the crash, from the sound of it, this accident may have happened due to a defective part or perhaps improper maintenance. Regardless of the cause, the husband’s injuries could be severe, and may include traumatic brain injury or damage to the spinal cord.

Continue reading " Married Couple Severely Hurt after Their Motorcycle Crashes on Route 29 in Columbia, Maryland " »

An off-duty Annapolis police officer was seriously hurt when he rode his motorcycle into the rearend of a construction vehicle on Interstate 95, near Route 216 in Scaggsville, Maryland. The two-vehicle crash happened close to midnight on May 31 -- the incident caused law enforcement personnel to close down the highway for about 60 minutes.

The 28-year-old rider, Edwin Caraballo of Pikesville, MD, has been working about 12 months for the Annapolis Police Department. According to Maryland State Police, Caraballo sustained multiple injuries as well as being knocked unconscious when he apparently rode his 2004 Suzuki motorcycle at a rather high rate of speed directly into the back of the truck.

Police investigators report that Caraballo was travelling on I-95 when suddenly changed lanes apparently not knowing that his newly chosen lane was being shut down for construction. The man slammed into the rear of a Chevy work truck.

When police arrived, they found Caraballo unconscious in the roadway. Howard County Fire and Rescue personnel attempted to revive him and he was subsequently flown to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, where he was listed in serious but stable condition. Reports indicate that the man only had knee and arm injuries, which makes him lucky because incidents like this can easily result in traumatic brain injuries or worse.

According to reports, the off-duty officer was not riding with the proper documentation for his bike or himself. State police charged him with negligent driving, driving an uninsured vehicle, and driving without current registration and a proper driver's license for a motorcycle.

Continue reading " Off-duty Annapolis Police Officer Hurt on I-95 After Crashing Motorcycle into Construction Vehicle " »

The 19-year-old motorist who reportedly caused a deadly motorcycle accident that killed a Maryland rider was fined $115 for the accident, although accident investigators determined that the driver was otherwise not negligent in regard to this traffic fatality. The deceased rider, Harry D. Catts, of Smithsburg, Maryland, passed away due to injuries received late in April on Pennsylvania's Route 11.

Despite the seriousness of the accident, police and the local prosecutor’s office declared that Samantha Young was not "grossly" negligent when she turned her vehicle left into the path of the oncoming motorcycle. Eye witnesses said they saw the teenager make a left turn in front of the 72-year-old rider, who then struck the side of the girl's vehicle.

Police reported that the crash occurred after 1 p.m. on April 26 at a busy intersection near the Plainfield exit of Interstate 81. According to reports, Young told an officer at the scene that she saw the green light and made the turn, but claimed she didn't see the motorcyclist. An accident reconstruction team reviewed the crash scene but apparently found nothing out of the ordinary. Authorities stated that there was no alcohol or cell-phone use involved, and police said that the traffic signals were found to be working properly.

As Maryland Automobile Accident Attorneys, our office has represented many families who have lost a loved one through a motorcycle or car accident. Motorcycle accidents, in particular, can result in very serious bodily injuries or even death due to complications from head trauma or spinal cord injuries.

In this case, the police determined that the driver who caused the accident was simply inexperienced and therefore not grossly negligent for the motorcycle rider’s death. Despite the local district attorney’s statement that the accident was "a mere error of judgment," there is little solace in the fact that the young woman received only a monetary penalty.

Continue reading " Teenage Driver Who Killed a Maryland Motorcycle Rider will Only Pay a Small Fine " »