Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

A word to the wise: It doesn’t matter how good a cycle rider you are, motorcycle accidents can happen to the best riders. Tragically, motorcycle accidents can be very unforgiving to many motorcyclists. As motorcycle accident attorneys, I and my colleagues understand how sudden a fatal traffic accident can occur; many motorcycle-car accidents can spell danger to bike riders. Just recently, a veteran police officer and avid motorcyclist lost his life while riding to work.

According to news reports, an 42-year-old off-duty Baltimore County officer was killed in late October when his cycle nearly collided with a car about two miles from the Parkville Precinct station. Officer Jeffrey Neral, a 17-year member of the department, was riding to work around 1pm on his 2009 Harley Davidson southbound on Old Harford Road when he approached a 2002 Ford Focus, a police spokesman said.

The car's driver, 26-year-old Pei Kao had just left Loch Raven Presbyterian Church in the 9300 block of Old Harford Road. To avoid a collision, Neral laid down the motorcycle but was subsequently thrown from it and hit the driver's side of Kao’s automobile.

Neral was taken by a county Fire Department ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital, where doctors tried to save him. Unfortunately, he died shortly thereafter. The article did not say whether or not the officer suffered any type of brain trauma, however the police report showed that Neral had been wearing his helmet. Kao was not injured in the accident.

According to news reports, this was the second fatal accident involving a county police officer in a little more than month. On September 24, 32-year-old Detective Jason Simons of the Towson Precinct died following a crash on Route 88 near the village of Cooperstown.

Baltimore County officer dies after motorcycle accident, BaltimoreSun.com, October 26, 2009

Even the most simple of traffic incidents can turn a pleasant motorcycle ride into a fight for life. That was the case in mid September when a 36-year-old man crashed on his cycle after a run-in with a small deer not far from his home. The partners at Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC have the background to help persons who have been injured on a motorcycle. In cases such as this one, a relatively small animal caused the rider to be thrown from his bike nearly 50 feet, which resulted in very severe injuries.

According to a news report, Charlie Buckheit was riding his motorcycle along Bodkin Avenue when a small doe leapt in front of his bike. Although it was a small deer, about 100 pounds or so according to his wife, the collision was sufficient to knock Buckheit off his bike.

At 265 pounds, the rider was large enough to weather the hit with the deer, however a lighter person may have been killed by the crash. According to his wife, the man landed in a pile of grass and leaves, which may have softened his landing. He was also wearing a helmet, which was probably an important factor in his survival -- it’s not uncommon for motorcyclists to suffer fatal traumatic brain injuries in accidents such as this one.

In regard to this crash, the man's injuries were extensive. According to reports, Buckheit broke nine ribs, his collar bone and his shoulder blade. The impact also punctured both of his lungs and caused bleeding in his brain -- the crash also resulted in injury to the right frontal lobe of Buckheit's brain; he floated in and out of consciousness for several weeks at the hospital.

The news article reminded of the danger of brain injuries, and as the man’s wife suggested there will be a long road to recovery. “We still don't know what's going to happen," Buckheit’s wife Tammy said. “We won't know the full effects of the brain injury for a full year."

The man returned home after spending a full month in the hospital. The costs of that stay will likely cause a burden on the family, even though he reportedly will receive disability checks equal about 60 percent of his income as a driver for Annapolis beer distributor, Katcef Bros. His wife plans to work from home as long as she can, but she may have to take an unpaid leave of absence to continue to care for her husband and keep costs low.

Community rallies around injured baseball coach, HomeTownGlenBurnie.com, October 14, 2009

It’s sad to say, but most bicycle accidents are completely preventable. As a Maryland personal injury lawyer, I know how out-matched a bicycle is next to larger and more massive passenger cars. A collision between the two almost never goes well for the cyclist. Head and back injuries, broken bones and minor scratches and bruises are all results of car-bike crashes. Fatalities are often very common in car-bicycle crashes.

Recently, a Maryland youngster was very lucky not to have been killed when he was struck by a car on Twin Rivers Road in Columbia, MD. The accident happened around 6pm on October 12. According to news reports, a Ford Focus driven by a 61-year-old Columbia woman was traveling westbound along Twin Rivers Road when it approached two cyclists riding along the right-hand side of the road.

According to police, as the car was about to pass the two bikes, 14-year-old Sergial Brown allegedly made an abrupt left turn directly in front of the vehicle. The boy was struck by the car, but was thankfully not killed. Emergency crews arrived at the scene and treated the teenager, then he was transported by Maryland State Police helicopter to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where he was reportedly listed in good condition.

The driver, whom police identified as Sandra Leland of the 5600 block of Harpers Farm Road, was not injured, according to police. At the time of the news story, an investigation was ongoing, but police did not anticipate charging the woman with any violations.

In this case, the boy was lucky, but he may have sustained some serious injuries that might only become evident years from now. When it comes to car-bicycle accidents, many times the financial costs can be significant. Injuries can be so severe that reconstructive surgery or lengthy and expensive medical treatment is needed for a full recovery.

This is why it is extremely important for anyone who is injured in any kind of accident involving a bicycle to retain a qualified personal injury attorney who is well versed in handling these types of injury accidents.

Cyclist, 14, hospitalized after crash with car, BaltimoreSun.com, October 14, 2009

Motorcycle riding season is drawing to a close for the most part, but accidents are still quite common. As Maryland personal injury lawyers, Lebowitz & Mzhen LLC provide aggressive representation to motorcycle accident victims and their families. We understand the pain that relatives experience at the loss of a loved one. Sadly, fatal bike crashes are not uncommon in Baltimore, D.C. or any of the cites and towns throughout our state.

Toward the end of October, a Carroll County resident died when his motorcycle hit an oncoming passenger car head-on at a high rate of speed in Westminster. In such cases, the survivability of the rider is quite low. According to news reports, Cpl. Mario DeVivio was heading northbound on Route 97 in an unmarked police patrol vehicle when a motorcycle pulled out in front of him.

Edward Nicholas Dill was riding a 2004 Yamaha when Officer DeVivio signaled him to pull over. Instead, the 28-year-old allegedly fled, accelerating away from the police car and disappeared from the view.

According to police reports, Dill traveled about a quarter-mile before crossing the center line in a curve and striking an oncoming Ford Fusion. The force of the impact threw the motorcyclist more than 20 yards from the site of the collision. Emergency personnel arriving at the scene treated and transported the rider by state police medevac Maryland Shock Trauma Center. Unfortunately, doctors could not save the man, who died about four hours after the collision.

According to news reports, an investigation at the scene revealed that the motorcycle had been reported stolen by the Penn Township (PA) Police Department a little more than one month earlier on September 17.

Cyclist dies after head-on collision with a car in Carroll, BaltimoreSun.com, October 20, 2009