Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

Speed May Kill, But Other Factors Can Also Conspire Against Maryland Motorcycle Riders

June 30, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Here in the Baltimore area, we see many bikers out and about on their motorcycles during the summer months. As automobile injury attorneys, we know that a certain percentage of these motorcyclists may be hurt or killed before the year is out. Is this a reason in and of itself to swear off bikes? For those “dyed in the wool” bikers, probably not. As for the rest of you, well, let your conscience be your guide.

Being Maryland personal injury lawyers, I and my colleagues know that human nature is difficult force to reckon with when it comes to dangerous or, at the very least, somewhat risky pastimes. We know that with so many individuals on this planet it is hard to use a cookie-cutter approach to pigeonholing any one person or group as practicing this or that lifestyle or recreational hobby. As long as the law doesn’t prohibit a pastime, then people should be free to pursue whichever activity they choose.

Again, motorcycling certainly cannot be placed in the same category with fishing or tennis. Injuries in those sports do occur, but they are rarely life-threatening. But when a motorcyclist gets into an accident of his own making or through no fault of his own, the ante is much higher than most any other leisure pursuit. In fact, when a rider (and likely his passenger as well) is lying in a hospital room and more than likely physically compromised, the driver of the passenger car or commercial delivery truck who may have actually caused the traffic accident in the first place might be perfectly fine and walking around.

Maryland Driver Accused of Hit-and-Run Bicycle Accident has Record of Not Appearing for Court

June 26, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Personal responsibility is one of the important cornerstones of a civilized society, yet it appears that many people choose to shirk this most basic of civic duties for their own personal gain, and to the detriment of their neighbors and fellow citizens. For those who injure or kill another person as a result of their own negligence, the law is strict and relatively unyielding. But still, many of those people who inflict pain and suffering through negligence or just plain thoughtlessness apparently decide that they are better served by avoiding the law and deferring justice. Frankly, their respite typically lasts only a short period of time.

As Maryland injury lawyers, I and my legal staff and colleagues put our energies into representing individuals who have suffered in one way or another following an injury-related motorcycle, car or commercial trucking accident. No two car accidents, truck crashes or bike wrecks are quite the same, which is why police and personal injury attorneys like ourselves must investigate the facts, gather evidence and present these elements in a courtroom to establish negligence on the part of one or more individuals or parties.

Naturally, in any civilized society those accused of wrongdoing are expected to face their accusers and present their own evidence to defend themselves against accusations or formal criminal charges. However, some individuals attempt to prolong the process by failing to show up for scheduled court hearings. We were reminded of this kind of situation when reading a recent news article about an man who was accused of hitting a young bicycle rider with his vehicle and then leaving the scene of the bicycle-automobile accident.

Baltimore County Hit-and-Run Bicycle Accident Leaves Maryland Teenager in Critical Condition at Hospital

June 12, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Anyone who has seen a hit-and-run traffic accident probably knows the feeling of anger or, at the very least, outrage at the ease with which some motorists can blithely drive away following a potentially serious automobile crash. While many hit-and-run accidents involve simple property damage, some can and do result in serious and occasionally life-threatening bodily injury. As Maryland personal injury attorneys representing individual victims or their families, we can say that these kinds of roadway accidents can be expensive in both life and limb, as well as financially.

Not only can a hit-and-run driver face certain criminal charges if he or she is found guilty, the victims of such negligent actions can sometimes bring a civil suit against that individual and sue for damages as a result of the crash. These damages can include medical treatment for severe injuries like closed-head trauma, spinal cord damage, broken bones and internal injuries; rehabilitation costs for those people who have lost the ability to walk on their own or sustained partial or permanent paralysis; not to mention lost wages due to being out of work for an extended period.

It’s important to remember that some families of victims killed by a hit-and-run driver may also file a wrongful death lawsuit against the negligent party or parties. As is the case, many a hit-and-run accident occurs because the negligent individual may have been drunk behind the wheel of his vehicle at the time of the crash. Also, lack of automobile insurance can also drive a motorist to leave the scene of an accident, without concern for the ultimately more complicated situation that doing so can create.

Baltimore Motorcycle Accident Update: Seasonal Safety Reminder for Maryland Bikers

June 6, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Now that the warm weather is here, and likely here to stay, more than a few Hondas, Harleys, Kawasakis and Ducatis are hitting the roadways of Maryland; here in the Baltimore area, over in Rockville and Gaithersburg, not to mention the streets of Washington, D.C. But it’s important to remember that as bikers venture back onto the roads, other vehicles are still there in large numbers.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers, we only know too well how drivers, passengers and motorcycle riders can easily be injured or killed by getting into an accident with another passenger car, a city bus or a commercial delivery truck. And since the drivers of those larger motor vehicles need to get used to the latest batch of motorcyclists crisscrossing our urban areas and interstate highways, the early part of the motorcycle season can see a lot of unexpected automobile accidents.

Once the less intrepid riders know that the cold weather is mostly past, they likely head out in greater numbers. But just as four-wheel motorists must adjust to the presence of more bikes on the road, bikers would do well to observe caution when mixing with those very same cars and trucks. Drivers of passenger cars, SUVs and minivans have just as many distractions as they did during the colder months, but adding two-wheelers to the high-speed mix can make for a deadly combination. More than one rider has been killed in a traffic accident through distraction; don’t let it be you.

Summer in Maryland: Hoping Bikers Avoid Fatalities and Reduce their chances of Injury in Car-Bike Crashes

May 31, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

With the Memorial Day holiday now behind us and summer fast on its way, we feel compelled to advise caution to those who will be riding their motorcycles around the state this coming season and on into fall. As with any discussion of biking safety, one must certainly remind those riders who venture out on hot summer weekends (and especially warm-weather holidays) that some drivers will not be paying strict attention to the road; accidents can and will occur in the coming weeks and months — and there is little anyone can do about it.

Of course, the dangers posed by summer traffic are nothing new to most motorcycle riders, since every motorcyclist worth his or her salt understands the intrinsic risk associated with such a dynamic and exhilarating sport. It always seems that the number of riders on Maryland roadways increases in direct proportion to the rise in average temperature. With those increased numbers comes, hopefully, a greater awareness on the part of car and truck drivers as to the existence of bikes sharing the traffic lanes. One can always hope, at least.

Still, as with most aspects of life, not everyone is paying the best attention to traffic conditions as they should be. This has always been the case, but over recent years with the increasing availability and use of cell phones, smartphones, mobile email and other hand-held apps, the fight for a driver’s attention is being lost by the task at hand, namely operating a motor vehicle safely and thoughtfully.

Baltimore Traffic Injury News: Study Says Maryland’s Three-Foot Rule Being Ignored by Motorists

May 23, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As personal injury lawyers based in the Baltimore area, our firm is very sensitive to the safety and well-being of our residents, including pedestrians and bicyclists traveling throughout the urban areas here in Maryland, as well as in the District. Baltimore, as well as other cities throughout the country, has attracted a significant number of bicycle riders, runners and health-seeking walkers and joggers. There is no need for these people to be subject to excessive dangers in their own home towns.

Yet, nearly every pastime has with it some risk. Depending on the activity, a person must take into account a number of inherent dangers as part of that pastime, be it jogging for exercise, cycling for enjoyment or even walking to work. As automobile and trucking accident lawyers, we understand that eliminating all risk is a virtual impossibility. That’s not to say people should abandon their passions based on a certain amount of intrinsic hazard involved with that activity; just be aware of the negatives and stay as safe as one can.

For bicycle riders, Maryland’s state legislature had acted to improve the cycling community’s safety by enacting the so-called “3-foot rule.” This rather new legislation was supposed to give riders an extra amount of “legal” buffer on public roads; which was a welcome change since some of the roadways in an around our urban centers leave very little should room for bikes. Obviously the potential for bodily injury is still quite high for cyclists.

State of Maryland’s Highway Safety Agency Brings Motorcycle Safety Awareness Program to the Public

May 16, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

For anyone who intends to ride a motorcycle, but who lacks the training or background to date, Maryland’s (HSO) Highway Safety Office has a safety awareness curriculum that may be just the thing for people looking to better their chances for a safe and lower-risk biking career. Whether for a pastime, sport or strictly commuting, motorcycles offer a number of practical advantages over passenger cars. Unfortunately, increased safety may not really be one of them.

As Baltimore auto accident lawyers, my firm is prepared to represent victims of motorcycle collisions, not to mention people hurt as a result of car or commercial truck accident. I and my colleagues understand why motorcycle riding is not a risk-free hobby, but we also know that riding a whatever bike — be it a Honda, Harley, or Yamaha; cruiser, chopper or sport bike — is an experience not soon forgotten. The fact is, motorcycle riding is a balance between the excitement and freedom of the open road tempered by a heightened awareness of one’s vulnerability.

Nobody would argue that being struck by a car or truck while on a bike could end one’s life. On the other hand, with the proper amount of risk management and proper safety equipment, most any biker can find himself living to a ripe old age. Still, it never hurts to have a refresher course in the basics from time to time. Certainly the uninitiated should seriously consider a motorcycle safety program like the one that Maryland provides.

Annual “Ride of Silence” Honors Bicyclists Injured or Killed in Traffic Collisions in Maryland and Elsewhere

May 9, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Anyone who has lost a friend or loved one to a traffic-related pedestrian or cycling accident needs no reminder of the senseless nature of such events. As ones who represent the victims of severe and fatal automobile, motorcycle and trucking-related roadway collisions, I and my legal staff have first-hand experience with people whose pain may take years to go away, if ever.

Here in the Baltimore area, as with parts of the District, Cumberland, Annapolis and Bowie, MD, hardly a week goes by that there isn’t a news report of a car crash involving a cyclist or pedestrian. These types of accidents are almost always “one-sided,” in that the person on foot or on his or her bike has little protection against a 3,000-pound car or even larger commercial delivery truck or 18-wheeler. In these instances, closed-head trauma, spinal cord injuries and broken bones can all be quite common.

The upcoming “Ride of Silence,” being undertaken by cyclists and bicycle clubs all across the globe, will hopefully raise the needed awareness regarding the dangers of car- and truck-bike crashes. While it is hardly reasonable to expect that all bicycle and pedestrian collisions can be eradicated through this or any other single effort, its heartening to think that even one person will not die in the future as a result of this mass demonstration of respect for those who have passed away as a result of senseless traffic accidents.

Baltimore Injury Accident News: Three Motorcycle Accidents across Maryland; One Fatality and Two Serious Injuries

April 30, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As evidenced by the huge number of motorcycling fans and riders throughout our state and the nation, motorcycle riding is a fairly popular sport, and way of life, for many individuals. Without the enthusiasm of full-time riders and hobbyists, one could say motorcycles would be just another form of transportation. But as most anyone can tell, especially after speaking with some dyed-in-the-wool motorcycle fanatics, bikes are not simply a way to get from point A to point B, they are the only way to truly enjoy a getting anywhere.

Whether you live or work in Gaithersburg, Rockville Annapolis or the District, even if you’re not a biker, you see motorcycles of all types on the road — Honda’s, Harleys, Ducattis and Kawasaki’s, among others. Most automobile drivers who are not bikers may not understand the draw that these machines have on some people, yet the passion is unmistakable once one has had a chance to talk with a motorcycle owner.

What most non-riders may not understand is the apparently easy acceptance of the high risk and serious dangers that motorcycle riding presents on a daily basis to these enthusiasts. Despite the numerous stories of bike accidents and fatal traffic crashes involving motorcycles, to an outsider it would appear that none of these individuals cares about their safety. Of course, this couldn’t be farther from the truth, at least for most consummate riders.

Hagerstown, MD, Rider Indicted for Passenger’s Death in Fatal DWI-related Motorcycle Crash

April 22, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

While we’ve said it before, it bears additional repetition in this instance: Motorcyclists as well as bicycle riders must be on top of their game when it comes to sharing the road with other motor vehicles. The fact is, traffic accidents happen, but accidents involving cars and two-wheelers can turn out very badly for the cyclist or motorcycle rider. Be aware, too, that crashes involving heavy commercial trucks, such as tractor-trailers and large box trucks can be downright deadly for those traveling on two-wheels.

Of course, this is information nothing new. As personal injury attorneys representing victims of truck and automobile accidents here in Maryland, as well as in Washington, D.C., I and my colleagues understand the seriousness of any roadway accident, but those that include relatively unprotected individuals can result in critical injury. Quite often, bikers, cyclists or pedestrians are killed in traffic accidents, which is why we also represent the families of victims who have lost a loved one through a traffic collision caused by a negligent or thoughtless driver.

When it comes to motorcycles, riders and passenger alike should know how tenuous their safety can be amidst heavy traffic or when passing through intersections in a busy part of town. More than one rider has been hurt or killed by a car or truck whose driver did not see them or didn’t observe a red traffic signal. Excuses aside, the end result can be tragic for everyone involved. We will add, too, that drunken driving on a bike is an invitation to disaster like no other.