Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

Summer is fast upon us. Motorcycle riders have already been flooding the city streets and roadways across Maryland. But as any good rider knows, motorcycle-automobile accidents can be unforgiving on bikers and their passengers. Many motorcycle and car accidents become very tragic because a motorcyclist has little protection against the mass of a car, SUV or pickup truck.

Where a driver of a car or truck is relatively protected in the case of a crash, a motorcyclist and his or her passenger can receive the direct impact from another vehicle. Motorcycle occupants can also be thrown far from the scene of a bike wreck. As a result, motorcycle accidents have rather high injury rates that include broken bones and lacerations, neck and spine injuries, traumatic head injuries, and other permanent and non-permanent injuries.

Wearing a helmet is one of the best choices a motorcyclist can make to improve his chances of surviving a bad motorcycle crash. The proper helmets can reduce the incidence of fatal head injuries by a large percentage. The use of various protective outerwear and good footwear can also mean the difference between minor and serious injury, or even death.

Sadly, the Maryland legislature may adopt legislation that allows some riders to decide if they wish to wear a helmet or do without. According to the American Motorcycle Association (AMA), House Bill 1282 and Senate Bill 492 would provide exemptions to the motorcycle helmet law currently on the books in Maryland.

Authored respectively by Delegate Curt Anderson (D-Baltimore) and Senator John C. Astle (D-Annapolis), the new law would apply to operators or occupants of three-wheeled enclosed-cab motorcycles or operators of two-wheeled motorcycles who have been licensed for at least two years, or those who have completed a motorcycle rider safety course. An adult passenger riding on a two-wheeled motorcycle would also be able to choose whether or not he or she wishes to wear a helmet as long as the operator is exempted under the law.

Our experience as Baltimore motorcycle accident attorneys tells us that whenever helmets are not worn, injuries can be more serious. It’s a fact that no matter how well you prepare, there is always a chance that you could be involved in an accident on your bike. It makes no difference whether the cause is driver error, another driver’s negligence, excessive speed, or alcohol or substance use, an accident is an accident; outfitting oneself with a helmet is cheap insurance and better protection than none.

AMA News & Notes: May 2010, ama-cycle.org, April 9, 2010

Where there’s one there is usually another, or so the saying goes. As more than one motorcycle rider has commented, seeing one deer or other large animal by the side of the road means at least another may be close by. This kind of thinking has saved many a biker from a serious motorcycle crash due to wildlife in the roadway. Of course, safety should always be the primary concern of any rider who takes his riding seriously.

Even so, traffic accidents like car-bike crashes can and do happen. For owners of Yamahas, Ducatis, Harley-Davidsons and Buells, avoiding a traffic accident is a full-time job when operating a motorcycle on public roads. Heavy traffic and rush hour congestion only increases the risk to bikers of every kind.

Not too long ago, a couple unrelated traffic accidents sent two riders to the hospital on the same day. Based on news reports at the time, one of the motorcyclists was involved in a single-vehicle crash in Pasadena, while the other hit a large sport utility vehicle in Glen Burnie.

According to police reports, emergency responders were called to the scene of the first accident at Mountain and Hickory Point roads in Pasadena just before 2pm on a Sunday afternoon. The police call indicated that a 72-year-old rider had hit a pothole and apparently lost control of his bike. Paramedics arriving at the accident scene treated the man and then transported him to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Based on news reports, the motorcycle rider had serious but not life-threatening injuries.

Later that evening, emergency personnel were alerted to a two-vehicle traffic accident in Glen Burnie around 8:40pm. The bike-SUV crash happened at Point Pleasant Road and Bell Avenue in Marley. The collision involved a Chevrolet Suburban and a Harley-Davidson, according to police reports.

The 48-year-old Harley rider was treated at the scene by Paramedics and then transported to the shock trauma center with serious injuries, according to a Glenn Burnie County Fire Department spokesperson.

Motorcycle crashes send 2 to hospital, HometownGlenBurnie.com, April 7, 2010

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