Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog
As we continue to shifts toward being a more environmentally aware society, more and more people are relying on bicycles as a primary source of transportation. Indeed, many of the large cities across Maryland and Virginia are in the process of making their streets more bike-friendly by installing additional signage, widening roads, and creating bicycle lanes. These efforts go a long way in reducing the number of Maryland bicycle accidents; however, the risks are still present.
When it comes to determining who is at fault in a Maryland bicycle accident, the legal doctrine of negligence applies. Thus, a bicycle accident victim can pursue a claim against any party who violated a duty of care that was owed the bicyclist, so long as that party’s conduct was a contributing factor in causing the accident.
Certainly, in some Maryland bicycle accidents determining potentially negligent parties is a simple task. However, accident victims should be aware that there may be additional parties who could be held liable. For example, if an accident was caused in part by a poorly maintained road, the local government responsible for maintaining the road may be a potential defendant. Maryland accident victims should note, however, that cases naming government entities as defendants must comply with certain additional procedural requirements.
Driver Strikes and Kills Bicyclist, Claiming She was Distracted by Oncoming Headlights
Earlier this month, a bicyclist was killed when he was struck by a vehicle in an early evening accident. According to a local news report covering the accident, a woman was driving westbound when she suddenly realized she hit something. She pulled over to see that she had struck a bicyclist who was sharing a lane with her. When interviewed by police, the woman told police that she was blinded by the headlights of oncoming cars and could not see the bicyclist.
Police began an investigation into the accident, which included surveying the scene of the crash. Investigators immediately noticed that the section of road where the accident occurred was poorly lit, likely contributing to the driver’s inability to see the bicyclist. Additionally, the bicyclist was reportedly found adjacent to a large puddle of water that had accumulated on the road after a recent storm. This led police to conclude that the bicyclist may have been attempting to avoid the large puddle when the motorist hit him.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Bicycle Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Maryland bicycle accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for the injuries you have sustained. Depending on the extent of your injuries and the surrounding circumstances, this may include amounts for your past and future medical expense, lost wages, as well as compensation for the pain and suffering you have endured as a result of the accident. To learn more about how the attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC can help you, call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free consultation today.
More Blog Posts:
Maryland Man Killed in Recent Motorcycle Accident, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published January 7, 2019.
Settlement Offers in Maryland Motorcycle Accident Cases, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published January 21, 2019.