Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

Study: While Overall Motor Vehicle Collisions Have Dropped, Motorcycle Accidents Continue Apace

September 16, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

There’s no argument that riding a motorcycle places a person in one of the highest risk group among the motoring public, not only due to the frequency of accidents involving bikes, but also the greater likelihood of being injured or killed when compared to similar accidents involving passenger car drivers. This may sound harsh, but motorcycle riders as a group have never been ones to follow the crowd, which explains why this intrepid bunch, despite the ever-present dangers, continues to enjoy their chosen sport.

As a mode of transportation, bikes don’t offer the same level of comfort that even the most basic automobile has. Weather, noise, physical proximity of much larger vehicles all contribute to the array of physical inputs with which a motorcycle rider must deal on a daily basis. It’s no surprise that most riders are, if not immune, certainly inured against the constant onslaught of sensory inputs and perceived dangers. To put it mildly, most motorcycle riders are hardy folks with a passion for their machines.

Getting back to the issue at hand, though, it would seem that bikers have not been enjoying the positive effects of the apparent reduction in traffic accidents over the past year or so. As Maryland personal injury lawyers, we are aware of the reasons for most accidents and even though two-wheeled motor vehicles share only a few similarities with their four-wheeled counterparts, one could only hope that any positive effects from a safer traffic environment would be passed on to the motorcycling community as well.

Do Bicycle Helmets Make Riders Feel Invincible? There Are Many Other Dangers Out There

September 8, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As most any parent will tell you, keeping their kids safe is one of their top-most priorities, especially these days with all of the dangers and unknowns that surround us on a daily basis. Being hit by a car while riding one’s bike has always been a concern, for parents as well as anyone who rides a bike regularly in or near traffic. With the number of bicycle-related traffic accidents in cities like Gaithersburg, Bowie and Washington, D.C., it not strange that many cyclists would be overly cautious whenever they go out on the street.

Being personal injury lawyers here in Maryland, we truly understand the value of protective and other safety equipment for bicycle riders, and motorcyclists alike. Protective clothing, helmets and lights are all important factors affecting survival for any bicycle rider or motorcyclist involved in a traffic collision. But sometimes we wonder whether the use of a helmet gives riders a false sense of security, dare we say invulnerability. Whatever the situation, a cyclist should never let down his or her guard simply because they are wearing a helmet. It’s important to remember that other parts of one’s body are also exposed to injury, not just one’s brain.

Of course, closed-head trauma (aka traumatic brain injury) is a major cause of death and paralysis among bicycle and motorcycle riders. This is not in dispute. It’s just that other kinds of injuries can be just as deadly. Applying defensive riding techniques is essential to avoiding a devastating roadway accident while on a bike of any kind. We are bringing this up because of an article we came across recently, reminding us that biking accidents are much more commonplace than one would expect, and often very deadly.

Two Maryland Riders Killed in Separate, Single-Vehicle Motorcycle Wrecks; Excessive Speed Blamed in Each

August 31, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As Baltimore motorcycle and automobile accident attorneys, I and my colleagues are familiar with the dangers that bikers face every time they hit the road here in Maryland, as well as in the District of Columbia. Whether one rides out of necessity, such as to save money, or if motorcycling is just an enjoyable pastime, the potential for bodily injury and even death are much higher for riders of two-wheel vehicles then for the rest of the motor public.

By its very nature, a motorcycle offers much less protection than a car, SUV or minivan. So, when a bike rider tangles with a slightly larger and much more massive passenger vehicle the results can be catastrophic. Moreover, pitting oneself as a motorcyclist against a commercial delivery truck or over-the-road semi tractor-trailer rig is far from a wise choice. With just a fraction of the mass and next to no protection from personal injury, a biker has little chance of avoiding severe or debilitating injuries should he or she collide with, or be hit by a larger motor vehicle on the highway or even in town.

Knowing the dangers is, of course, just the first step toward a long and successful career of defensive riding with few if any bad accidents. As many a motorcyclist will attest, being ready for the unexpected is one of the hallmarks of a good rider. Not that any of us can predict the future, however the safest motorcycle riders know innately the kinds of traffic or riding situations that can spell potential trouble for them.

Carroll County Man Injured after His Motorcycle is Hit from Behind by a Cadillac

August 26, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

With so many people choosing alternative modes of transportation — meaning something other than owning and driving a personal car or SUV — one’s it is obvious that there has been a relative explosion of two-wheeled conveyances plying Maryland’s roadways over the past several years. Bicycle and motorcycle use has been on the rise here in the Baltimore area, as well as in other cities such as Rockville, Bowie and the District. The point is that with the growing use of smaller, less expensive transportation comes a potential increase in injuries and deaths due to traffic-related collisions.

As a Maryland personal injury law firm, we are well aware of the risks that individuals take when traveling by bike or cycle. And we are in no way being judgmental when we remind people that the opportunity for serious injury or even permanent disability can be significant when riding a motorcycle in highly dense urban areas or in heavy traffic on the highway. Still, we know enough about the motorcycling community to understand that accepting certain risks associated with the sport are just part of the overall experience of riding a Harley, Kawasaki, Triumph or Ducati.

Whether one rides for sport or necessity, every biker understands the potential downside to being caught up in a traffic accident with a passenger car, city bus, commercial delivery truck or a large semi tractor-trailer. The rule that most cyclists follow is to never assume that the other drivers see you. Assuming that one is invisible has probably saved more lives than not.

Bicycle Safety Experts: 20 Percent of Bike Share Riders Wear a Helmet When Riding

August 21, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

While it is not uncommon to see helmetless bicycle riders in the Gaithersburg, Annapolis and Washington, D.C., areas, it is more and more becoming less accepted as a typical practice for even causal cyclists not to wear a protective cycling helmet. Here in Maryland, there are numerous bicycle and pedestrian accidents involving cars and commercial vehicle, so it goes without saying that bike riders in the know would go to great lengths to outfit themselves with proper safety equipment.

Still, as personal injury lawyers practicing in the Baltimore area, we find it difficult to believe that asome people would choose to risk their health, not to mention their life, by not wearing an approved form of head protection against the potential of a traffic-related crash. Of course, times have changed over the past several decades and bicycle helmets have become much more evident in their use all around the U.S. But for people in such a densely populated urban area like ours, one would hope that there would be more adherents than scoffers.

We mention this because of an article we ran across detailing a study that was made in the Boston area concerning members of the public who took advantage of that city’s bike-sharing program. What one might have expected, especially from those who opt to ride a bicycle in a city environment, is a high percentage of helmet use. However, the results of the study showed that bike-share participants who wore helmets were severely under-represented versus non-wearers. Considering the frequent severity of bicycle-related personal injuries, this is rather disconcerting.

Baltimore Biker Injury News: Two Maryland Residents Hurt in South Lebanon Motorcycle Crash

August 16, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It seems that everywhere we look these days motorcycle riders, as well as pedestrians and bicyclists, are being injured on a fairly regular basis. The trouble may stem from the facts that warm weather brings out the recreational riders in droves, but even so it is hard to see so many individuals being hurt or killed in traffic accidents. As Maryland personal injury attorneys, I and my staff are ready and willing to help victims and their families recover financially from these types of roadway collisions, but the sad fact is there are some auto accidents from which there is really no recovering.

People who are killed in a traffic wreck that is caused by a negligent driver cannot be brought back to life. This may sound trite, but it is a fact and it cannot be changed by any lawyer, judge or court. All the victim’s family can hope is that justice will be served and that the family will not be further town apart by the financial distress losing a loved one to a fatal car or commercial trucking accident.

And it bears repeating that riders who are hurt in car-bike or bike-truck accidents can be severely injured to the point of life-long disability. Closed-head trauma, spinal cord damage and other head/neck/back-related injuries can complicate a victim’s recovery, which can be weeks if not months or years in the making. Motorcycle-related traffic accidents are difficult, if only because the rider and/or passenger have next to no protection during impact.

Centers for Disease Control Weigh in on Helmet Use: Brain Buckets Save Lives and Money

July 31, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

If it wasn’t already obvious to most people out there, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has weighed in with their recommendation for helmet use by motorcycle riders. With a number of states still allowing bikers to travel unprotected by a certified motorcycle helmet, and with several states having repealed helmet laws requiring riders to wear so-called “Brain Buckets,” the CDC’s announcement that helmets save lives AND money would seem to call into question the wisdom behind legislation in those non-use states.

As Baltimore automobile accident lawyers, my firm handles cases ranging from pedestrian, bicycle and motorcycle injury accidents to car and commercial trucking collisions. One thing that we know, having seen our share of severe traffic accidents, is that unprotected individuals fare much worse on average than those who have some kind of protection.

According to study out of Washington, D.C., the CDC deduced that states which require riders and passengers of two-wheeled motor vehicles wear a helmet at all times on public roads had, in the words of the article, “dramatically lower” costs vis-à-vis biker-related accidents. In other words, it was found that those states with better, more all-encompassing helmet laws experienced lower monetary costs when it came to riders/passengers hurt or killed in bike crashes.

As Summer Temps Rise and Vacationers Flood the State’a Roadways, Motorcycle Safety of Paramount Importance

July 24, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

This far into the summer it may appear all too obvious that it’s perfect motorcycling weather here in Baltimore and throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. Whether your passion is standards, cruisers, customs or sport bikes, the two-wheelers are out in force enjoying the sunny days and warm evenings. One could argue that we’re past the dangerous season, now that drivers of passenger cars and commercial delivery trucks are more used to seeing bikers on Harleys, Hondas, Yamahas and Kawasakis, but complacency has led to more than one traffic accident in the past.

As Maryland personal injury attorneys, I and my legal staff know better than some that motorcycle crashes and passenger car accidents kill way too many people every year. No matter if you ride for pleasure or as a daily commuter, staying on top of the nearby traffic action is one of the best ways to staying alive. Experience and training are also keys to survival, as is the proper equipment and bike maintenance.

More than one motorcycle rider has been killed due to improper or lack of vehicle upkeep. Tires that are too old, hardened rubber or cracked sidewalls, shallow or non-existent tread, under- or over-inflation; one or all of these could lead to trouble down the road. And tire failures can happen just when you need them the most, such as during an emergency maneuver to avoid a serious collision with another vehicle or pedestrian.

Caution to All Bike Riders; Bicycle Accidents Causing Closed-head Injuries Can Be Fatal

July 16, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It only takes a moment to wind up in the emergency room these days. Bicyclists, runners, and even average pedestrians should use caution when near vehicular traffic or exercising in the evening hours. We bring this up because of the news today that “7 Habits” author, Stephen Covey, passed away following a protracted hospital stay; following a cycling accident back in April, he had received a traumatic brain injury that apparently led to fatal complications.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers, we understand that no one can fully protect themselves from the various and sundry dangers confronting people on a regular basis each and every day. From passenger car and commercial trucking collisions to trip-and-fall mishaps at home, the potential for bodily injury is always there. Similarly, the opportunity for critical or even fatal traffic wrecks, pedestrian accidents or truck crashes are ever-present within our densely populated cities and urban areas, such as Baltimore, Gaithersburg and Washington, D.C.

The bicycle accident which seems to have precipitated Mr. Covey’s death provides just one more example of the dangers that face every rider, young or old. In Mr. Covey’s case, the bike crash occurred late last April as he was reportedly riding down an incline near Provo, UT, a ways south of Salt Lake City. Although no other vehicles were involved, Covey did have an assistant riding with him, according to local police.

Motorcyclists Beware: Unexpected Events Can Cause Serious Injury or Worse

July 6, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

If there is one thing that motorcyclists, as well as other drivers, cannot completely avoid it would be random occurrences that affect the safety of that particular rider, driver or vehicle occupant. Traffic accidents by their very nature are random, whether they happen here in the Baltimore area, over in Bowie, Annapolis or Washington, D.C. What is more important to understand is that preparation can only help one to be ready for the unexpected.

As a Maryland personal injury lawyer, I know that nobody can fully prepare themselves for any contingency. This is why insurance companies exist and why people buy life, health and automobile insurance policies; there are just some events that cannot be predicted. Certainly, the timing of catastrophic events is very difficult to pin own, and again, this is why people all over the world purchase insurance to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Taking random events as a given, and as haphazard as they may seem, unexpected car and trucking accidents can turn out to be very deadly. More than one motorist, biker, cyclist, pedestrian or bystander has been killed or maimed by the random and deadly events sometimes precipitated by a negligent individual. And more than one wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in a Maryland court following what the plaintiffs have deemed gross negligence or even extreme indifference on the part of the defendant.