Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

Police Urge Motorcycle Awareness As Accidents Increase

November 4, 2013 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The Lynchburg Police Department recently began an attempt to encourage motorists to maintain an awareness of motorcyclists sharing the road. According to the department, there have been 21 motorcycle accidents so far this year in Lynchburg alone.

Cars and other full sized vehicles can be deadly to motorcyclists. One of the problems with drivers of cars and other vehicles is that many times they may be looking for another car when they check their surroundings or blind spots, and may not look more carefully for something smaller, such as a motorcycle.

The police reported that there are typically two main causes of motorcycle accidents. In single motorcycle collisions, typically excessive speeding, such as on a curve, causes the motorcyclist to lose control. When another vehicle is involved, however, the cause is typically a result of the driver of the car having not seen the motorcyclist, and cutting over into their lane.

Five Deaths in Multiple Motorcycle-SUV Crash Near Maryland State Border

October 23, 2013 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A tragic collision resulted after an SUV and two motorcycles collided in south-central Pennsylvania near the Maryland line, just a little under a week ago.

According to police, two motorcycles traveling in the same direction collided head-on with the SUV traveling the opposite way in Franklin County, killing four people on the motorcycles and one person travelling in the SUV.

According to another source, the SUV was heading northbound and crossed over the center line for unknown reasons, striking the Harley-Davidson head-on. Upon impact, the SUV spun counterclockwise and was struck broadside in the passenger door by the second motorcycle, a Suzuki. All vehicles were reportedly traveling under the speed limit of 55 MPH.

Woman Faces 10 Years for Texting Death of Motorcyclist

October 15, 2013 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

An Anne Arundel County woman is facing charges for the death of a motorcycle driver, which authorities believed was a direct result of the woman’s texting while driving. According to sources, this is the first official charging of manslaughter while texting in Anne Arundel County.

Last March, a 30 year old man was riding north on his motorcycle on Route 3 in Gambrills, when the 19 year old driver maneuvered her car into the motorcyclist’s path in an attempt to cross Route 3 to get to the Royal Farms, resulting in the death of the motorcyclist.

The prosecution in the case claims that, in addition to cell phone records (which are presumably time stamped), they have an eyewitness who saw the woman driving with one hand, and looking down while texting with the other. The driver faces several charges in relation to the incident, including negligent manslaughter. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines.

Head on Collision Kills Two Motorcyclists in Calvert County

October 8, 2013 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Over the weekend, the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office reported that they responded to a collision in Huntingtown involving a motorcycle.

Upon arrival, authorities found both of the vehicles within different parts of the same lane on Point Plum Lane. The appearance of the aftermath was apparently consistent with evidence of a head-on collision. The motorcycle driver and passenger were both reportedly ejected upon impact, and were found west of the motorcycle.

The initial investigation revealed the SUV was traveling eastbound on Point Plum Lane, as the motorcycle approached the intersection of Point Plum Road and Twin Oak Lane. In an attempt to enter a private drive, the SUV turned left in front of the motorcycle, causing a crash. The vehicles collided in the center of the westbound lane of Plum Point Road.

Columbia Man Faces Felony DUI Charges in Double Motorcycle Fatality

October 1, 2013 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

According to officials, last month, a Columbia man was charged with felony driving under the influence after his vehicle killed two motorcyclists.

A South Carolina Highway Patrol Senior Trooper reported that the man was traveling north on Highway 21 one Monday evening, when his 2008 Saturn crossed the center line. The Saturn then reportedly collided with two BMW motorcycles head-on. The two motorcyclists both died instantly due to blunt force trauma, according to the local county coroner. The 21 year old was transported to a local hospital for unreported injuries. His passenger was uninjured.

The driver of the Saturn was subsequently charged with two counts of felony DUI, and one count of second-offense driving under suspension.

Abingdon Woman Killed in Motorcycle Accident

September 30, 2013 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Millsboro Police reported that a Maryland woman died earlier this month in a motorcycle crash on Route 113.

The Abingdon woman was riding a Yamaha sports bike, when she failed to stop at a traffic light, continuing into the intersection of Route 113 and Route 24. It was there that she then ran into a vehicle that was turning northbound onto Route 113. The motorcyclist was transported to a local hospital, but later died from her injuries.

Police did not release information regarding the other vehicle in the accident. They did reveal, however, that they believe speed was a contributing factor to the collision.

Germantown Motorcyclist Killed in Rockville Collision

September 23, 2013 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Montgomery County Police recently released updated information regarding an accident involving a motorcycle and an SUV in Rockville near Montrose Road and Tower Oaks Boulevard.

According to a statement from police, a 2006 Toyota Highlander was traveling east on Montrose Road and began to turn left onto northbound Tower Oaks when it struck a Ducati 848, which was traveling west on Montrose. The driver and passenger of the motorcycle were ejected from the vehicle. Police stated the bike then erupted into flames.

The driver of the motorcycle died at the hospital as a result of the injuries he suffered following the collision. The passenger reportedly suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries, police said. Police also said the driver of the Highlander suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Fatal Collision on Maryland Route 301 Between Motorcycle and Tractor-Trailer

September 16, 2013 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this month, Maryland State Police troopers responded to a reportedly serious motor vehicle collision involving a motorcycle on US Route 301, just north of MD Route 227.

The preliminary investigation revealed that a tractor-trailer was traveling northbound on US Route 301 at MD Route 227, and had stopped at the signal for a red light. Once the light turned green, the truck began to travel forward and through the intersection. At that time, a Yamaha Motorcycle carrying a male driver and passenger was also traveling northbound, behind the tractor-trailer. The motorcyclist somehow failed to control his speed in order to avoid the collision, and crashed into the trailer. Though the information regarding the nature of the collision is unclear, it appears as thought the motorcycle was not stopped at the red light, but rather had been traveling at a fast speed and failed to anticipate having to slow down.

When police arrived on the scene, they located two unresponsive men wearing motorcycle safety equipment and lying in the roadway. Further inquiry revealed that both men had been ejected from the vehicle, and they both ultimately died at the scene due to their injuries. The driver of the tractor trailer was unharmed.

Two Motorcycle Accidents in Carroll County over the Weekend

September 9, 2013 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Two unrelated motorcycle accidents in Carroll County left one rider dead and another seriously injured in on two different roadways.

The first accident, which occurred in Taneytown in the morning, involved a rider who reportedly failed to negotiate a turn properly, which caused him to careen off of the road where he ultimately crashed into a fence post and wire. Emergency personnel pronounced the man dead at the scene. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

An unrelated motorcycle crash occurred in the evening in Westminster, resulting in serious injuries to the rider. According to police, the motorcyclist was riding westbound on Route 97 when he crossed the double yellow line, and thus entering the southbound lane where he collided head on with an SUV. The four occupants of the SUV, two adults and two children, were reportedly unharmed in the crash. The motorcycle rider reportedly suffered serious but not life threatening injuries and was was taken by helicopter to Shock Trauma for treatment. Police believe that speeding and alcohol consumption may have been factors contributing to the crash. The investigation remains ongoing and charges are reportedly pending.

Fatal Motorcycle Crash on Md. 550

August 26, 2013 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A motorcyclist was reportedly driving north of Thurmont over the weekend, when he apparently lost control of his motorcycle, throwing both him and his female passenger from the bike.

At nearly 12:30 in the afternoon, the motorcycle was heading south on Md. 550, north of Kelbaugh Road in Sabillasville, Md., when the driver suddenly lost control on a curve in the road, throwing both riders off of the bike.

Maryland State Police reported that the man was pronounced dead on the scene. According to a news release from state police, the woman was transported to a local medical center for treatment of her injuries. The investigation remains ongoing.