Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

Products liability covers a range of topics one of which is defective vehicle equipment that may be responsible for motorcycle, trucking and passenger car accidents. Faulty, poorly designed, or incorrectly maintained vehicle components, systems and safety equipment has been known to be the main cause a many vehicle crashes and resulting traffic accidents.

As a Maryland personal injury attorney who represents bikers injured as a result of a crash on a highway, rural road or city street, my main objective to help that victim and his or her family recover various medical cost and lost wages suffered as a result of the accident. For families who have lost a loved one as a result of a bike crash, the burden can be especially hard when the deceased was the primary breadwinner for the family.

If defective equipment is to blame, there may be a third party to consider in a suit. It’s not uncommon for defective equipment and components to be a source of both minor and serious motorcycle accidents. Depending on the particular system that failed on the bike, the resulting wreck can cause injuries from cuts and bruises to internal bleeding, permanent spinal cord damage and even fatal brain trauma.

A recent news article illustrated how a rider can be killed as a result of a collision. According to police reports, a 49-year-old Hyattsville man was killed on an early Sunday morning while riding with a passenger on his bike along University Boulevard near Baltimore Avenue.

According to reports, the two individuals were traveling west on University, approaching an overpass at Baltimore Avenue near MD-193. Police reports indicate that the driver apparently failed to negotiate a lane barrier, which the motorcycle hit head-on. There was no indication if defective equipment was to blame, though police likely would investigate that and other potential causes since no other vehicles where reportedly involved.

Emergency crews arriving to care for the victims found the man dead at the scene. His passenger, a 43-year-old Hyattsville woman was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries at Prince George's Hospital.

Man Killed in Motorcycle Accident on University Boulevard, CollegePark.Patch.com, August 8, 2010

Without a doubt, motorcycle riding gives its fans a wonderful experience of freedom and adventure. There is little in the way of affordable fun that provides that same level of joy and excitement on the open road. But as a Maryland motorcycle accident attorney, I know the downside to all that fun and adventure. Sadly, when a rider is involved in a highway accident, especially at cruising speeds or involving a large commercial truck, the result can be nothing less than tragic.

While riding provides an unparalleled traveling experience, the pleasure of a two-wheel excursion must always be balanced against the dangers inherent with the sport. Not long ago a news article point out that fact in no uncertain terms.

According to the article, a woman was killed when the bike she and her husband were traveling on went out of control and crashed in Baltimore County. Based on police reports, the accident occurred on Putty Hill Avenue just after 12:30am in mid-July.

The early morning accident reportedly happened because the driver lost control of the bike and it skidded into an oncoming vehicle. According to reports, as the biker lost control of his 2005 Harley Davidson, the motorcycle skidded onto its right side and slid across the center line of the roadway, crashing into the left-hand front tire of a 2001 Chevy Tahoe.

The passenger, Kimberly Jean Bortell, was ejected from the bike and struck the bodywork of the SUV, killing her instantly according to Baltimore County Police. Bortell’s husban, Charles Joseph Bortell, was only injured in the crash. After emergency responders arrived they treated the man and then transported him to Bayview Hospital for additional medical attention.

No mention was made whether or not the accident was a result of driver error or defective equipment, such as a worn tire that may have lost pressure. At the time of the article, police were still investigating the crash.

Woman killed in motorcycle accident on Putty Hill Avenue, ABC2News.com, July 18, 2010

If there is but one constant it’s that motorcycle riding can be a risky pastime. Whether you ride a Honda or Harley, Ducati or Yamaha, if you get into a crash situation with a four-wheeler or semi tractor-trailer you’ll need a lot of luck to avoid an injury. And, the faster you are going at the time will also determine your odds of receiving serious injuries such as broken bones, road rash or a skull fracture.

As a Baltimore motorcycle accident lawyer, I represent riders who have been injured as a result of another person’s negligence. I know from experience that bikers involved in bad highway collisions can have a long road to recovery -- not just physically, but financially. Unfortunately, many riders are killed outright when hit by a larger passenger car or sport utility vehicle.

Well, there may be hope for better protection for riders in the future. According to a recent article, there is a new product that might reduce motorcycle crash injuries and even fatalities. The makers call it the Armored Air Jacket and it is supposed to improve bikers’ chances of surviving a bad crash.

The system works by incorporating a system of airbags into specially-designed jacket. According to the manufacturer, Armored Air Jackets are equipped with a small compressed carbon dioxide cartridge attached via a so-called “ripcord” the other end of which is attached to the bike, much the same way in that the throttle-kill ripcord is attached to a jet ski or snowmobile.

When the ripcord is pulled it activates the cartridge which in turn inflates the airbag system within the jacket, which occurs in about a half-second. The manufacturer says that the inflated airbag provides “an armor-like layer of extra protection to the most vulnerable areas of the body.”

If it functions as advertised, this system could be a great piece of safety wear. In the event of a crash, where the rider is thrown from the bike, the system is claimed to help protect the rider’s neck, chest, back, ribs and spine against impacts from another object or the roadway.

Apparently there have already been some real-world tests. Based on one account, the manufacturer says that the system likely helped lessen the injuries of one Maryland motorcycle rider who was cut off by a motorist in Baltimore and then thrown from his bike about 100 feet and hitting the ground at 70mph. The rider, who was wearing an Armored Air Jacket, reportedly received only an injured hand, soreness, scrapes and bruises.

Airbags For Motorcyclists: Armored Air Jackets Provide Wearable Protection, Newsblaze.com, June 29, 2010

As a Maryland personal injury attorney and motorcycle accident lawyer, my job is to help victims and their families recover from the aftermath of sometimes life-altering traffic collisions. Regardless of whether the individual is a driver or passenger, injuries sustained in a crash on city streets, open highways or rural country roads the results can be horribly expensive in both human and financial terms.

A recent article points out the dangers of police pursuit, especially in cases where life is lost. According to news reports, a Baltimore patrolman was suspended after he allegedly ignored orders to break off a chase with a biker allegedly riding a stolen Suzuki GSX 600. Police officials said that the 10-year department veteran had received orders to stop chasing a motorcyclist who was eventually killed in Cockeysville, MD, he apparently crashed as a result of the police pursuit.

Baltimore police are reportedly barred from chasing vehicles unless provided with specific orders to do so. The chase in question began on Northern Parkway after the officer, Timothy Beall, apparently saw the motorcyclist racing with another vehicle. According to the article, Officer Beall fatally shot a man in January 2009 when the suspect pointed an assault rifle at the officer during a foot chase in Better Waverly. The Baltimore Police Department ruled that the shooting was justified.

The recent pursuit of the motorcyclist occurred in the early morning hours when Beall observed the rider, identified as 27-year-old Haines E. Holloway-Lilliston, committing traffic violations in the city.

According to police reports, around 3am Maryland State Police were advised that a Baltimore city officer was behind a motorcycle that was speeding northbound on Interstate 83. Shortly thereafter, Officer Beall called the MSP barracks and stated that he believed the bike was stolen.

The chase apparently ended on an off-ramp from I-93 to Dulaney Valley Road when the rider lost control and crashed. Police said that Holloway-Lilliston was thrown from the bike onto the hood of the patrol car and finally hitting the roadway.

Troopers responding to the scene found the crash on the ramp involved the marked patrol vehicle and the motorcycle. Emergency crews and EMS workers responding to the crash pronounced the motorcyclist dead at the scene, likely due to massive injuries such as brain trauma.

According to the news article, a preliminary investigation indicated that the motorcycle was in front of the police car as both proceeded south on the off-ramp. No charges had been filed at the time of the article, however the completed investigation will likely be provided to the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office for review.

Baltimore officer suspended after chase ends in fatality, BaltimoreSun.com, July 25, 2010