There are significant risks in driving motorcycles. The smaller profile of motorcycles leaves them vulnerable to car blind spots and the open nature of motorcycles can throw drivers from the vehicle upon impact during a crash. Because of this, on average, driving or riding on a motorcycle is more dangerous than driving cars. Motorcycle riders are not protected by their vehicle in the way that the occupants of a car are. As a result, approximately 72 percent of motorcyclists are injured when they crash. Unfortunately, Maryland drivers are all too familiar with the dangers of motorcycle driving. Maryland on average has 73 motorcycle rider and passenger deaths per year and averages an additional 1,046 riders or drivers injured each year. This issue has continued to get worse in Maryland, with the state seeing an increase in motorcycle crashes from 2019 to 2020. A recent news article discussed an extremely serious fatal multi-vehicle motorcycle crash.
According to the news article, Maryland State Police Troopers from the Leonardtown Barracks responded to the intersection of Mechanicsville Road and Asher Road around 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 4. They were responding to reports of a two-vehicle crash. According to a preliminary investigation, the motorcycle, operated by a single individual, was traveling south on Mechanicsville Road when for an unknown reason, struck a delivery van attempting to turn into a residential driveway. Law enforcement investigators reportedly do not believe that impaired driving was a factor in the crash. Mechanicsville Road was closed for more than 4 hours due to the accident. Personnel from Maryland State Police Helicopter Trooper 2 – Washington, based at Joint Base Andrews in Camp Springs, responded to the scene to assist. The Maryland State Police Crash Team continues to investigate the cause of the crash.
Does My Negligence Affect My Maryland Case?
Contributory Negligence is a legal concept present in Maryland that potentially prevents plaintiffs in an accident case from receiving recovery for injuries resulting from a crash if their negligence contributed to the accident to any degree. Essentially, even if the negligence of the operator of another vehicle is largely responsible for the accident if the plaintiff was even a little negligent, it is possible they will not be able to recover compensation. In Maryland, contributory negligence is interpreted very broadly, allowing minor negligence by the plaintiff in personal injury cases to defeat even very strong claims.