Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog
Earlier last month, a young motorcyclist was killed when he ran into the side of an SUV that was attempting to make a left turn in front of the motorcyclist. According to a report by WUSA 9, the accident occurred just after four in the afternoon on River Road in Potomac, Maryland.
Evidently, the motorcyclist was heading north on River Road, and a BMW SUV was heading south on the same road. At some point, the driver of the BMW attempted to make a left turn in front of the motorcyclist. However, the driver of the SUV ended up cutting off the motorcyclist, leaving him no opportunity to avoid the collision.
The motorcyclist ended up colliding with the right side of the SUV. The motorcyclist was then taken to the hospital and admitted with life-threatening injuries, which he sadly later succumbed to. The driver of the BMW was also taken to the hospital, but with only minor injuries. There is no word whether police have charged the driver of the SUV in the fatal motorcycle accident.
Another Failure-to-Yield Motorcycle Death
By far, the most common type of motorcycle accident involves a car or truck making a left turn in front of a motorcycle, as was the situation in the accident described above. This kind of accident is rarely the fault of the motorcyclist, unless the motorcyclist is speeding at the time of the collision.
Most of the time, the driver who is continuing straight down a road has the right-of-way, and those who are turning in front of other vehicles must yield the right-of-way to them. However, that right-of-way may be lost if a driver is traveling at too high a speed for the road. The idea is that it would not be fair to other drivers to always hold them liable in left-turn accidents when the motorcyclist is speeding because it may be difficult or impossible to tell how fast the motorcycle is going at the time the driver decides to make the left turn.
However, the general rule is that the left-turning vehicle must yield the right-of-way to the motorcyclist. The exception mentioned above really only becomes relevant when the other driver claims that the motorcyclist was speeding. If that is the case, an expert witness may be needed to help determine the speed of both parties.
Have You Been Involved in a Serious Maryland Motorcycle Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a serious or fatal motorcycle accident in the State of Maryland, you may be entitled to monetary damages for your injuries or loss. However, the law is full of nuances and surprises that can catch unrepresented plaintiffs off guard, potentially putting their ability to recover at risk. Therefore, it is advised that any accident victim considering bringing a lawsuit speak to a dedicated Maryland motorcycle accident attorney before proceeding. Call 410-654-3600 today to schedule a free initial consultation with a dedicated Maryland motorcycle attorney at the Maryland personal injury firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers.
More Blog Posts:
Another Maryland Motorcyclist Dead After Fatal Left-Turn Accident, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published August 21, 2014.
Fourth-Year GW Medical Student Killed in Motorcycle Accident, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published September 4, 2014.