Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

It would not be a stretch to say that anyone driving a motor vehicle on public roads should be required to follow the law as it applies to traffic safety. As licensed drivers and citizens we all have a responsibility to operate our vehicles in a civilized and safety conscious manner, yet there is a small group of motorcycle and ATV riders that have made a name for themselves as they flout the law in cities such as Baltimore.

As a Maryland personal injury attorney and motorcycle accident lawyer, I have the skills and training to represent riders who have been injured in motor vehicle and other traffic-related car and commercial truck crashes.

While I support citizens’ rights to exercise their freedom when choosing a mode of transportation, I also know that riding even a licensed motorcycle or ATV on public streets can be a risky pastime. Being maimed or fatally injured on a motorcycle could not be considered the objective of most clear-thinking individuals.

Collisions involving motorcycles and trucks or passenger cars can have dire consequences for the relatively unprotected bike rider. Although helmets and other types of protective outer wear can improve a rider’s chances of surviving a crash, the laws of physics don’t always allow for a good outcome for motorcyclists hit by a commercial truck, SUV or even a smaller economy car.

Head trauma, neck injuries and spinal damage can easily occur to even the most well-padded and helmeted rider. The change for traumatic brain injury jumps appreciably for those who don’t wear a helmet or ride in a fashion that increases the odds of a serious or fatal traffic accident.

The recent news articles surrounding the growing trend of dirt bike riding on city streets has raised a number of questions about the safety of not only the riders, but the rest of the motoring public and pedestrians as well. According to reports, packs of dirt-bike riders have been taking to Baltimore’s residential streets and apparently ignoring stoplights, traffic control signs and legal speed limits.

Continue reading " Baltimore Motorcycle Safety News: Increasing Incidents of Dirt Bike Riding in Town Raises Safety Concern " »

The family of cycling accident victim, John R. Yates, has settled out of court their lawsuit against a commercial truck owner and the driver of the vehicle that was involved in the bicycle-truck crash. According to news reports, the defendants in the case recently agreed to pay an undisclosed amount rather than take their chances in court. The reportedly $5 million wrongful death lawsuit alleged negligence on the part of the owner of the tank truck as well as the driver of the vehicle that allegedly ran over and killed Yates on a Baltimore street earlier this year.

As Maryland auto accident attorneys and personal injury lawyers, I and my staff understand the anger and sadness that accompanies the loss of a loved one killed in a senseless traffic collision. Bicycle and motorcycle riders in particular are most at risk on city streets and rural roads due to the size and weight disparity between their relatively small and lesser protected two-wheelers and other motor vehicles.

Any crash between a bike and a passenger car, 18-wheeler or commercial delivery truck can result in serious and sometimes fatal results. Head, neck and spinal injuries are always a potential risk in such collisions. In the case of Mr. Yates, the 67-year-old bicycle enthusiast died from the injuries he sustained when the truck allegedly turned into him on August 4 this year.

Based on police reports, the accident occurred on Maryland Avenue when the vehicle began to turn right onto Lafayette Ave. catching the man and his bicycle in the rear wheels of the larger vehicle.

News reports said that the out-of-court settlement satisfactory to all parties in what was certainly a heartbreaking traffic accident. Although the amount was not announced, the defendants’ lawyer said that it was appropriate given the facts and circumstances surrounding the late summer crash. Reportedly, the Yates family attorney said his clients were satisfied with the outcome as well.

The victim’s family reportedly was not interested in taking the suit to trial, especially since Yates’ death actually prompted significant legislation in Maryland’s General Assembly regarding bicycle rider rights and motor vehicle law as it pertains to the safety of cyclists on public roads. In fact, this past October saw the 3-foot rule go into effect, requiring motorists to maintain a buffer when passing a bicyclist.

Family of cyclist killed in crash settles with truck driver, employer; BaltimoreSun.com, December 1, 2010

Anyone who says that traffic accidents only happen to other people would do well to reconsider that statement. Even if you don’t drive a car, SUV, minivan or commercial truck, as a pedestrian or bicyclist you too could end up being caught in a potentially fatal traffic accident. As Maryland personal injury lawyers, I and my staff are well versed in the law and we understand the possible causes of severe or deadly automobile, trucking or pedestrian collisions.

A sad story that illustrates my point involves a young up and coming political candidate who met an untimely end following a car crash on the streets of Largo, MD. According to news articles, 30-year-old Natasha Pettigrew, Maryland Green Party candidate for the United States Senate, was on her bicycle training for a triathlon when she was struck by a sport utility vehicle around 5:30am on a Sunday morning.

The accident, according to Maryland State Police, happened on Route 202 at the intersection of Campus Way when the cyclist was hit by a passing SUV. Police said the SUV’s driver, 40-year-old Christy R. Littleford, called from her home about an hour after the crash stating that she thought she may have hit a deer but realized it wasn’t an animal after she arrived home and saw Pettigrew's bicycle trapped underneath her vehicle.

After receiving the call, MSP arrived at the scene, probably with other emergency responders, after which Pettigrew was transported to Prince George's Hospital Center. Unfortunately, the woman could not be saved and she died of critical injuries later the next day.

At the time of the article, police investigators were still piecing together the accident and had not yet determined if Pettigrew had reflective clothing on or had lights working on her bike during that pre-dawn ride. No charges had yet been filed against the driver, though Police reports showed that alcohol or drugs did not appear to be a factor in the crash.

Md. Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate dies, WashingtonPost.com, September 22, 2010

It’s a tragedy when anyone is killed in a senseless Maryland traffic accident, but to lose a loved one as a result of a fatal hit-and-run crash, that is a double blow to a family that is already reeling from the loss. As a Maryland automobile injury lawyer, I have represented victims of car, bike and commercial trucking accidents over the years. One thing that never seems to change is the sadness of families of people killed in by negligent drivers.

When a motorist is found to have operated his or her vehicle in a negligent manner that results a catastrophic traffic accident, that person should be held liable for the injury or wrongful death of the victim or victims. In some cases, the state will want its pound of flesh too, meaning the defendant could also wind up spending time in jail. Whatever the circumstances, it doesn’t change the fact that careless or reckless acts committed by another individual, whether a passenger car driver or professional truck driver, can have long lasting effects on the victim and his or her family.

A little while back, a man was killed in a hit-and-run accident here in Baltimore. At the time of the news report, police were still looking for the suspect, who was reportedly driving a black Mercedes-Benz at the time of the crash. These kinds of accidents can be hard to solve, but the fact that the driver fled the scene may indicate the potential for negligence on his or her part.

According to reports, Baltimore City police responded to a reported hit-and-run car-motorcycle collision during a Saturday evening along the 5200 block of Erdman Avenue. An eye witness to the crash, Laura Price, said that a black Mercedes hit 25-year-old Gerard Grant's motorcycle. According to Price, there was an audible “pop” after which the woman saw Grant and his bike flying through the air. Based on reports, the bike flipped three times before coming to a stop.

Following the collision, nearby residents came to the man’s aid, performing CPR prior to the arrival of emergency personnel. After EMS arrived, Grant was taken to Bayview Hospital for medical treatment however he died not long after as a result of his apparently extensive injuries.

At the time of the article, police were looking for a black Mercedes with significant damage to the driver's side and which also was missing its mirror. There was no specific indication of road rage, according to police.

Motorcyclist killed in hit-and-run accident in Baltimore, ABC2news.com, September 12, 2010