Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

Traffic Injuries and Fatalities in Anne Arundel County taking Toll on Maryland Pedestrians and Cyclists

August 8, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Aside from the heat, it would appear that this is particularly bad summer for persons on foot and riding bikes in Anne Arundel County, according to news reports of late. In fact the month of July started out very badly for a number of people who were either hit by passenger cars or commercial trucks while walking or cycling.

As Maryland personal injury attorneys, I and my staff have represented many individuals injured in car, truck and motorcycle crashes over the years. Pedestrian and bicycle-related traffic accidents can be some of the more deadly for the unprotected walker, runner or rider; more so, in some cases, than those individuals involved in a high-speed interstate collision or other car-to-car roadway wreck.

Based on various news reports, there were more than a half-dozen bicycle- and pedestrian-related traffic injuries and fatalities within ten days alone in Anne Arundel Co. As Maryland and Washington, D.C., injury attorneys and occasional pedestrians ourselves, we know all too well that persons on foot can sustain serious and sometimes life-threatening injuries if struck by a passenger automobile or commercial delivery truck. In fact, pedestrians have been know to be killed by speeding bicycles on sidewalks and though marked crosswalks.

Traumatic brain injury is one of the common injuries for pedestrians and bicycle riders, since most people fall down when hit by a car or truck, striking their head on the hard tarmac, curb or other roadway surface. A blow to the head can cause loss of motor function or coordination, trouble with memory, even forgetting how to eat or do the simple things we all take for granted everyday of our lives. Helmets help, of course, but not every time.

Not long ago, an article mentioned the rather marked increase in motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists. According to the news, official in Anne Arundel County noted the increase in these kinds of accidents, noting that there were seven incidents in just two weeks. These included the following:

Maryland Traffic Accident News: Drunken Driver Kills Harley-Davidson Rider in Fatal Baltimore County Crash

July 31, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

If you’ve ever wondered why local police and other law enforcement agencies work so hard to get drunk drivers off Maryland roads, consider that hundreds of people are killed every year across the country by motorists who cause traffic accidents while impaired by alcohol, prescription meds and even illicit drugs (controlled dangerous substances).

Looking at the motoring public as a whole, one can easily deduce that motorcycle riders are at the greatest risk of physical harm when it comes to highway accidents, urban collision and even wrecks along lightly traveled rural roads. It’s not that motorcyclists are any less vigilant than other motorists — in fact, as a group these individuals are probably one of the most safety conscious on the street — but it is that they are much more vulnerable to injury.

One reason why motorcycle accidents involving passenger cars and commercial trucks happen is the visibility issue. Having a much smaller profile, a motorcyclist on the roadway literally does not always register in the mind of the average automobile driver or tractor-trailer operator. Size makes these vehicles more risky in terms of potential collisions.

Still, as Baltimore car and motorcycle accident attorneys and Maryland personal injury lawyers, we can understand the lure that the open road has on riders, especially during the warmer months of the year. That said, we also know that bikers are more likely to suffer from some serious injuries following a truck or car crash.

Maryland Injury Accident News: Prince George’s County Man Charged with Running over Bicyclist with Truck

July 26, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It has already been firmly established that bicycles and motorcycles offer little protection for the riders in the event of a traffic accident. Whether a rider is struck by a passenger car, SUV, minivan or commercial delivery truck, the results can be catastrophic for the bicyclist or motorcycle rider. As Maryland personal injury lawyers and automobile accident attorneys, we have seen enough serious injury and fatal car, bike and truck crashes to know that surviving such a violent collision is just the beginning of a long road to recovery.

Sadly, many people injured in bicycle and motorcycle wrecks do not recover fully from their many injuries. Although the cuts and bruises may heal on the outside, more serious injuries such as spinal cord damage or a closed-head injury (also known as traumatic brain injury) may never heal sufficiently to allow an individual to carry on with a normal life ever again.

For this reason alone, we always recommend that people use caution when enjoying any two-wheel hobby where bicycles, motorcycles, cars and large trucks all share the same road. In addition to being mindful of the dangers lurking around every curve, we also suggest that riders wear protective clothing and that all-important piece of protective gear, a proper helmet.

While no amount of forethought can eliminate every chance of injury on the roadway, these items could provide the needed margin of safety that just might make the difference between life and death in the even of a bad collision on a public road. Of course, no one can really predict when and where a traffic accident will happen, as most readers of news reports will likely agree.

Baltimore Motorcycle Injury Accident News: 12-Year-Old Maryland Boy Dies in Hospital Following ATV Crash

July 17, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Just last month we reported on a teenager who lost his life after crashing into a tree on a friend’s all-terrain vehicle (ATV). This isn’t an isolated episode, as many teens and young adults are injured each year on these machines, and for a variety of reasons. These four- and three-wheeled gasoline-powered machines are certainly fun to ride, but their short wheelbase and narrow track can become an issue for some riders, depending on vehicle speed, road surface and weather conditions.

Naturally, as Maryland auto injury attorneys and personal injury lawyers, we would remind anyone wishing to ride such vehicles to be sure and wear the correct protective clothing and always, without exception, a good quality motorcycle helmet. Closed-head trauma is one of the most commonly seen injuries for those involved in motorcycle and ATV accidents. And you don’t have to encounter another vehicle to end up in the hospital; single-vehicle crashes occur with alarming frequency all across the nation.

While the makers of ATVs claim that their products have been designed and tested to be safe, the very nature of off-road riding adds a variable that can take even the most seasoned rider by surprise. Rocks, dips and drop-offs are not always easy to identify at the speeds that these machines can attain, making the dangers even more pronounced.

For years now, all-terrain vehicles have been making news as young and old riders alike continue to be injured or killed as a result of single- or multiple-vehicle wrecks. Understanding the injuries that can be caused by an out of control ATV, we know how quickly a fun outing can turn into a lifetime of pain and discomfort, if one is lucky enough to survive the initial crash.

In sad cases, such as the one that happened recently, a child can die from his or her injuries and never seen another birthday. The question every parent must ask themselves is whether the exhilaration and thrill offered by these vehicles is worth the potentially deadly consequences.

Baltimore Motorcycle Accident News: Maryland Rider Dies from Injuries Sustained in Frederick County Bike Crash

July 12, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Ask most any dedicated motorcycle rider about how he or she approaches riding alongside any larger motor vehicle and at some point you will likely hear the statement, “I ride as if I’m invisible to other drivers.” This may seem like a strange thing to say, since the common assumption is that many bikers are looking for attention. The sad fact is, attention is not what they get; not at least from passenger car and commercial truck drivers.

Being seen is one of the most important factors in avoiding a traffic accident on Maryland’s roadways. And, yet, motorists involved in both fatal and injury-related accidents with motorcycle riders frequently tell police that they never saw the bike or the rider until after the actual collision. As Baltimore automobile accident lawyers, we know this happens every day across the country.

This isn’t very surprising, especially when one considers the relatively thin profile that a motorcyclist presents to other drivers on the road. Quite literally a motorcycle gets lost against all of the background information that a driver must process every second while traveling down the road. This is why the “invisible” statement is so true. Ride as if you were invisible and you may live to see another day.

Being invisible is bad enough on a high-speed expressway, but it’s nothing compared to riding on a city street or a two-lane country road. At times like these, not being seen can be deadly for motorcyclists, and bicycle riders as well. This is why the best riders work hard to manage the multiple and changing threats encountered along their ride. Risk management is something that every rider needs to master.

Maryland Motorcycle Injury Accident News: Harford County Teenager Dies in Fatal ATV Off-road Crash

June 30, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It’s no secret that ATVs, or all-terrain vehicles, have been in the news for years as youngsters and adults alike have been injured or killed while riding these off-road vehicles. Although the manufacturers claim that their products are safe, the nature of riding off paved roads on a relatively fast, short-wheelbase vehicle can add up to disaster.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers who represent victims of motorcycle, automobile and commercial truck crashes, we are all too aware of the injuries that can be sustained during a traffic collision. Fortunately for those who ride in passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles, being enclosed in a relatively large and heavy motor vehicle can be a saving grace in the event of a bad traffic wreck.

On the other hand, motorcycles, three-wheelers and other ATV-type cycles offer their riders next to no protection. While obviously exhilarating, these vehicles provide a potentially dangerous combination of small size and high power-to-weight ratio, which translates to acceleration with little margin for error.

Just as a street bike, such as a Harley-Davidson or Honda Goldwing, must be ridden defensively and with caution on highways and city streets, so must an all-terrain vehicle be operated with the hazards of off-road riding clearly in mind. Many individuals have been seriously hurt or killed when the ATV they were riding on tipped over and rolled on top of the driver.

Baltimore Motorcycle Accident News: Mother’s Day Marred by Fatal Traffic Accident that Killed Maryland Biker

June 24, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Losing a son or daughter in a senseless traffic accident can be a painful and devastating event for any family. Having such a tragic event take place on a holiday or special family occasion can forever color that day for friends and relatives for years to come, if not for a lifetime.

Mothers and fathers who lose a child to an accident, regardless of their age, can be so overwhelmed with grief that day-to-day activities are nearly impossible. As Baltimore motorcycle accident lawyers and personal injury attorneys, our hearts go out to the families of these victims.

With that said, we understand the draw and excitement that the open road holds for some individuals who ride motorcycles. Whether you ride a cruiser, hog or sport bike, there are few other joys in life than the freedom that a cycle provides. Regardless of whether you live in the dense urban areas of Annapolis, Rockville or the District, or if you enjoy a more rural existence, any motorcyclist worth his or her salt understands the dangers of this sport.

As pastimes go, riding a Harley, Yamaha or Susuki is up there with other rather risky hobbies. But good riders know that balancing pleasure with danger is a basic requirement. Unfortunately, accidents do happen, even to the best motorcycle riders. And when they do, the results can be serious.

One catastrophic accident can send a person to the hospital for weeks or months. Head trauma is usually one of the most common injuries, even for those who wear a helmet, which can lead to paralysis, cognitive problems and even death.

Being Maryland injury attorneys, I and my colleagues have seen how head and brain injuries sustained due to a bad traffic collision can continue to affect a victim medically and financially sometimes for his or her entire life. The trouble is, injuries to the brain and spinal column are much more complex and difficult to correct than are lacerations, bruises and even injuries to other internal organs like the liver, lungs and heart.

Baltimore Personal Injury News: D.C. Cyclists Should Worry the Quality of Roadway AND Cars, Trucks

June 15, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It only takes a while before one realizes that bicyclists and pedestrians run a greater risk of injury here in Baltimore or over in the District thanks to our highly dense urban conditions and other factors that pit motor vehicles against lightweight bicycles and relatively defenseless foot traffic. As Maryland automobile accident lawyers and personal injury attorneys, we not only read the stories of bicycle and pedestrian accidents, but we also meet people who have been hurt in roadway collisions.

With more and more bikes on the road, it appears that riders in Maryland cities and the District have more worries: Cars, commercial trucks and the roadway itself. According to news articles, bike safety advocates are looking for an increase in cycling-related injury accidents now that warmer weather is here to stay for a while. Closed-head injuries, broken bones, road rash, cuts and bruises are all part and parcel of the dangers facing bicyclists.

Based on information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there were 11 fatal bicycle-related accidents in Maryland in 2009. Although some would argue that cars, trucks and SUVs may be to blame for the majority of those deaths, experts advise that our roadways are also a major factor in these statistics.

Because of our more and more crowded streets and byways, the risks associated with cycling have grown over time, according to the news. Roads that are teeming with cars and pedestrians might occasionally appear to present the bulk of the problem, but according to many bicycling enthusiasts much of the concern lies with the road itself.

Lack of cycling lanes, like that one Maryland’s River Road just north of the beltway is one example. An inviting sinuous local roadway, River Road only has two lanes — one in each direction — yet no shoulder to speak off and certainly no designated bicycle lane. Cars passing at upward of 50mph can be unnerving even for a seasoned rider. The opportunities for injury or death are numerous.

One thing in cyclists’ favor in Washington, D.C., and Maryland is the law that permits a bicycle rider to use the travel lane at times when the rider can match the “normal speed” of motor vehicle traffic. This can allow a cyclist to ride more predictably within the traffic flow and also avoid shoulder obstacles, like drainage grates and suddenly opening doors of cars parked on the roadside.

Maryland Motorcycle Accident News: Injured ATV Rider Disputes Officer’s Account of Crash with Police Cruiser

June 7, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The father of a man injured on his ATV during a motor vehicle crash with a Frederick County sheriff’s cruiser is calling into question the police department’s version of what transpired on Saturday, May 23. According to news reports, a man from Mount Airy, MD, and his friends were riding their all-terrain vehicles along a stretch of Old National Pike Saturday.

The riders were reportedly spread across all lanes when a sheriff’s deputy had to brake and swerve to avoid hitting the ATVs. As a result, Christopher Hancock, 22, ended up striking the officer’s patrol car. Hancock was reportedly seriously hurt as a result. The young man’s father, Keith Hancock, says that according to his son the group was traveling in single file, not spread out as the police report maintains.

Furthermore, Hancock has told reporters that the group was only using the public roadway so that they could reach riding trails because the off-road route that they had planned to use was apparently too muddy. According to Hancock, his son remembers that the police car swerved in front of the group of ATVs in an apparent effort to make them stop.

As a result of the crash, Hancock was taken to Baltimore’s R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma center. Based on reports, the man received a variety of injuries including a compound leg fracture, multiple lacerations and head trauma. While doctors believe all of these injuries are non-life-threatening, they are nonetheless extensive and perhaps could have been avoided.

The order of events, as provided by the sheriff’s department, shows that deputies were dispatched to the stretch of Old National Pike near Mount Airy around 4pm in the afternoon after someone reported ATVs on the road. Based on police reports, Deputy First Class William Mosser was going westbound on Old National Pike near Sydney Road when he observed several ATVs approaching in the opposite direction and taking up both travel lanes.

Maryland Personal Injury News: Elderly Driver Cited for Accident that Critically Injured Johns Hopkins Cyclist

May 31, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Pedestrians and bicycle riders in Baltimore, Annapolis, D.C., and Rockville will likely all agree that brushes with motor vehicles are some of the more harrowing experiences in these urban areas. Even on suburban and rural roads the potential for serious injury accidents is quite high. Lucky individuals may only receive bumps and bruises, but those who don’t escape injury can be sent to the hospital with head or neck injuries, broken bones and internal bleeding.

As Maryland personal injury attorneys and auto accident lawyers, we commiserate with the families of those who have been hurt, permanently injured or killed in traffic collisions around the state. Naturally, everyone needs to follow the rules of the road and obey state laws, but the size and weight disparity between motor vehicle such as passenger cars, delivery trucks and commercial tractor-trailers, and people on foot or riding a bike certainly leaves the latter group at a disadvantage.

A little while back, prosecutors cited an elderly woman in connection with a car-bicycle collision that left a Johns Hopkins student Nathan Krasnopoler critically injured and in a coma. According to news reports, the State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore City and the Baltimore City PD issued two traffic citations against 83-year-old Jeannette Walke for her part in a February 26 accident near Johns Hopkins University.