Earlier this week, a tragic motorcycle accident took the life of a young man from Southeastern DC. According to a report by ABC 7, the accident occurred last Thursday in the late morning near the intersection of Good Hope Road and 16th Street SE.
Evidently, the motorcyclist was heading east on Good Hope Road when an SUV traveling west on the same road attempted to make a left turn in front of the biker. However, the SUV apparently cut off the biker, leaving him with little choice but to run into the side of the SUV.
The young motorcyclist was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Unfortunately, he did not survive and was pronounced dead shortly after he was admitted. Good Hope Road was closed for several hours while investigators tried to piece together the accident and determine who may have been at fault.
Determining Fault in Maryland Motorcycle Accidents
Determining who is at fault in any traffic accident is not always an easy task. For example, take the accident above. If both the motorcyclist and the driver of the SUV were traveling at or below the posted speed limit, it is likely that the SUV driver would be considered to be at fault. This is because, as a general rule, a motorist turning left must yield to those who are coming towards him or her on the same road.
However, if the motorcyclist was speeding at the time of the collision, it is possible that he lost his right-of-way. If this was the case, the motorcyclist may be at fault for the accident because he was speeding at the time.
There are countless other factors that may be in play, given the specific circumstances of the accident. Without more information, it is impossible to tell who may be at fault for the motorcycle accident.
It is for this reason that investigators are necessary after all serious traffic accidents; they help determine who should be held criminally liable for the accident, if anyone. However, their opinion may also be of use in a civil lawsuit so that the victim of the accident has a way to recover for his or her injuries.
In Maryland, any innocent victim of a traffic accident has a right to recover from those at fault. However, being found even the smallest percent at fault can destroy a Maryland plaintiff’s chances of recovering, due to unique Maryland laws.
Have You Been Involved in a Maryland Motorcycle Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a Maryland motorcycle accident, you should speak with one of the dedicated personal injury attorneys at the Maryland law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. The dedicated lawyers at Lebowitz & Mzhen have years of collective experience litigating and winning all kinds of personal injury actions, including motorcycle accidents. To learn more, and to speak to an attorney about your case, click here, or call 410-654-3600 today.
More Blog Posts:
Two Maryland Motorcyclists Lose Their Lives in Recent Motorcycle Crashes, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published July 10, 2014.
Off-Duty Police Officer Killed in Motorcycle Accident, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published July 24, 2014.