Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

How many times do we read news reports of single-vehicle accidents that either severely injure or kill the operator of that motor vehicle? In many instances, police investigations turn up evidence of driver error or fatigue, which more than likely had a major effect on the outcome of such events. Occasionally, however, investigators determine other possible causes.

One possible cause of a single-vehicle crash can be defective vehicle equipment. While this generally points to a manufacturing problem, such as faulty production methods or incorrect materials, there also exists potential third-party liability through a service facility such as a tire store or local repair garage.

Whatever the cause, the result of a motorcycle crash can be devastating, not only in terms of physical injury but in the monetary and financial cast to an individual or family.
As a Baltimore personal injury attorney, I have represented bikers and their families following serious traffic accidents.

In the case of a fatal wreck, it may be appropriate to file a wrongful death claim against another individual for negligent or wrongful behavior. Yet even if the rider survives a crash, costs to the family may be quite extensive. In such instances, a claim allows the victim and his family to receive compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other financial costs associated with the accident.

A recent news report detailed the crash of a motorcyclist who was riding alone when he apparently lost control of his 2009 Kawasaki bike. According to police, 24-year-old William David Ballenger hit a telephone pole along Catoctin Furnace Rd. near Auburn just after 8pm on a Friday evening.

Although no mention was made of whether defective equipment may have played a part, authorities said Ballenger only had his motorcycle operator's license for about two months prior to the accident. Police reports also indicate that the man was traveling too fast when he lost control of the bike.

Police said Ballenger, who was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, was taken to R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore just after 9pm. His injuries were described as not life threatening. The crash was still being investigated at the time of the news report.

Motorcyclist injured in crash with telephone pole, FrederickNewspost.com, August 21, 2010

It will come as no surprise to bicyclists and cycling enthusiasts that collisions with motor vehicles are the most deadly kind of accident that a bike rider can have. While many bicycle crashes are completely accidental, there has always been an undercurrent of animosity between motorists and cyclists. Whether perceived or real, there can be potential for tragic consequences when the two groups literally butt heads on public roads.

As a Maryland personal injury lawyer, my firm understands the seriousness of a bicycle-car accident. Just as is the case with motorcycle crashes, the pedal-powered rider is virtually unprotected from a motor vehicle’s hard steel body. The roadway itself can itself become an enemy when a biker is thrown off his ride and onto the tarmac.

Whether a bicycle collides with an economy car, a sedan, an SUV, or a commercial delivery truck, the results can be serious, if not fatal to the cyclist involved. Injuries from motor vehicle crashes can range from bruises, abrasions and broken bones, to neck and back injuries. Life-threatening traumatic brain injuries are not uncommon.

It is for all these reasons that bicycling mavens all around the country are extremely sensitive to the behavior of the motorists they encounter on city streets and country roads. An editorial earlier in the summer echoed the concerns of bike riders, calling into question the mindset of some car and truck drivers when it comes to sharing the road.

According to the editorial piece, distracted motorists can make a half-hour commute on busy roads downright dangerous for the average bicycle rider. With dirvers doing things other than concentrating on the road, such as eating or talking on a cell phone, it woudl appear that bicyclists have a legitimate fear while travelling on public roads.

Worse, says the author, over the past couple of years there appears to be a marked increase in aggressive behavior on the part of motorists against bicycles. While police departments may disagree with the extent of motorists' anti-bike attitudes, one Annapolis rider decided to document some of the most egregious incidents of road rage against him as a bicycle rider.

Purchaing a helmet cam a little over two years ago, that Maryland rider began posting some astounding and hair-raising video clips online. Draw whatever conclusions you wish, but those videos posted on YouTube are just a reminder of the constant danger that cyclists face every day on our roadways.

Eric Hartley: 'Invisible' biker takes to the web, TMCNet.com, June 20, 2010

The loss of any life to a senseless traffic accident is tragic to say the least, but the death of a young person is doubly so. Motor vehicle collisions happen quite frequently, but motorcyclists especially know that danger lurks around every corner. What can start out as a pleasant afternoon ride can end in pain and costly medical care, and that’s if one is lucky.

As a Baltimore motorcycle accident lawyer and personal injury attorney, my sympathies go out to anyone who loses a loved one as a result of a bike accident. Regardless of whether you ride a chopper, cruiser, standard or so-called “crotch rocket,” every rider faces the same set of risks on Maryland’s roadways.

Any kind of accident is hard for the survivors to deal with, but a single-bike crash can leave them wondering what went wrong. Although driver error is always at the top of the lit, other factors can conspire to cause an accident. Defective brakes, wheel bearings, faulty tires and poor motorcycle maintenance are just a few of the potential causes of a serious wreck.

Just recently a young girl was riding with her dad on his motorcycle when he apparently lost control and crashed the bike. According to news reports, the father, 42-year-old Brian Ross Little couldn’t maintain control of his bike at the Darlington intersection in Harford County. Police reports indicated that the 14-year-old passenger, Little’s daughter Lauryn Marie, was thrown from the vehicle when it crashed into the rear of a van at the intersection.

Maryland State Police said that both the father and daughter, both Whiteford residents, were thrown from the man’s Harley-Davidson during the collision just before 5pm in the afternoon. Emergency responders arriving at the scene likely treated the injured riders and then transported them to local hospitals for further medical attention. According to reports, the teen was taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where she was pronounced dead. The father was taken to Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.

Motorcycle accident claims life of 14-year-old Harford Co. girl, BaltimoreSun.com, September 3, 2010