Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

Baltimore Motorcycle Safety Update: Improper Helmet Choices have Deadly Consequences during Bike Accidents

May 26, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Don’t sell your safety or health short by choosing sub-standard protective gear for riding your bike. This is the message that many safety experts have tried to pass on to motorcyclists and bicycle riders over the years. Most importantly, both of these groups should pay particular attention in their choice of helmet for riding. It is true, not all brain buckets are created equal.

As Baltimore injury attorneys, we have represented Maryland motorcyclists who have become involved in car crashes and we also know the post-crash effect of riding with no or poorly designed safety equipment. As supposedly uncomfortable and isolating that motorcycle helmets are, the alternative can be many times more uncomfortable and potentially life-altering. Although many states have no mandatory helmet law, Maryland is not one of them.

Whether you ride on the state’s rural roads or ply the densely trafficked city streets of Annapolis, Washington, D.C., or Rockville, the country roads, one thing is certain: no biker cannot go back in time, prior to a serious traffic accident, and don a helmet to protect himself. When it comes to the future, the proactive approach is usually the most prudent course of action.

As every good rider knows, the key element of a motorcyclist’s protective wardrobe is his or her helmet. Of course, gloves, boots, a decent pair of chaps or overalls, and a good leather jacket are all recommended for the best possible protection, but an industry- and government-approved helmet is paramount. Going without this important item is just inviting disaster.

Yet, many bikers apparently don’t believe in the safety benefits of high-quality headgear, and as such many decide to buy and wear an illegal helmet. The reason why is up for debate; however, cost could be one or fashion another. What the experts seem to agree on, however, is that relying on a novelty helmet or a cheap knock-off to protect you in the event of a motorcycle wreck is a false economy that one could live to regret. And if not the rider, then his or her family if the crash is fatal.

According to news reports, many bikers who wear sub-standard novelty or beanie-type helmets don’t realize that they are violating the Department of Transportation law — namely the one that requires a helmet to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 218.

Baltimore Motorcycle Accident News: Two Riders Injured, Taken to Hospital in Separate Bike Wrecks

May 17, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

The old expression, “Where there’s one, there’s another,” can apply to many things in life. On the road, motorcycle riders keep this phrase in mind whenever they see a deer or other animal in or near the roadway. You and your Harley, Ducati or Yamaha might avoid an accident with a buck, but keep a watchful eye that a second deer isn’t behind the bushes waiting to dart in front of you and your bike.

Maryland motorcyclists are no strangers to single-vehicle crashes, especially in autumn when fallen leaves and a little bit or rain can make pavement slick at the worst possible moment. More than one biker has lost control of his mount in a fast corner and collided with a guard rail, tree or other immovable object. Road rash is a distinct possibility in such biking accidents, but a broken leg or arm is not unusual.

Once down, a disabled motorcycle rider lying in the roadway can easily be hit by an approaching passenger car or commercial truck, especially at night. Many bikers have lost their lives in this kind of fatal, post-crash collision. The point we are trying to make here, as Maryland personal injury lawyers who represent riders injured in traffic accidents, is be careful out there. The riding season is still new and you’ll enjoy it more from the saddle of your favorite bike, instead of a hospital bed.

On that note, we ran across an article that returns us to the original saying of “Where there’s one.” According to the news, two motorcyclists were taken to the hospital following two separate traffic accidents on a Friday not long ago. In one crash, a rider from Hagerstown apparently lost control of his bike on an entrance ramp to I-70. There was not indication if the wreck was caused by defective equipment, but that’s always a possibility in single-vehicle accidents.

Baltimore Motorcycle Accident News: Maryland Approves Pilot Program for All-new Biker Licensing Clinic

May 10, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

For many people out there it may come as somewhat of a surprise that there are individuals who drive a car, motorcycle or commercial vehicle without being properly licensed. For some, the cost of obtaining a valid passenger car or commercial driver’s license is apparently too much to spend. As Maryland personal injury attorneys, we come across this situation from time to time and it is disconcerting.

When it comes to bikers, it would not be a stretch to say that there are people operating motorcycles on public roads who do not possess the proper endorsement from the state. In fact, here in Baltimore, we have had problems with individuals breaking the law by riding unlicensed and possibly uninsured trail bikes and other off-road vehicles on city streets and causing occasional traffic accidents.

It is possible that there are some very competent motorcycle riders out there who, for whatever reason, choose to operate a bike illegally by not becoming properly licensed. Is it a matter of cost, of time, or a lack of concern? There is no easy answer. Many of these individuals do not get caught until they get pulled over for a traffic violation or end up getting into a traffic accident with another vehicle.

Howard County Motorcyclist Dies after Fatal Traffic Accident; SUV Failed to Yield at Jessup Intersection

April 30, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Now that the motorcycle riding season has more or less begun, it’s important to remind all riders out there to be extremely cautious when venturing out amongst those larger and more massive motor vehicles on our roadways. No matter what kind of cycle you ride – Suzuki or Harley, Yamaha or Kawasaki, cruiser or sport bike — your ride is almost always going to lose a fight with even a small passenger car, much less a larger sport utility vehicle or commercial delivery truck.

As Maryland personal injury attorneys who represent motorcycle riders injured in traffic collisions as a result of another person’s negligence, we have the experience and know-how to help victims of serious injury accidents. Having a qualified motorcycle accident lawyer by your side is extremely important since car-bike wrecks usually lead to extensive physical injuries and expensive medical treatment. Post-accident, recovery from a bad crash can take months or even years of physical therapy and additional surgeries.

According to a news article not long ago, a motorcycle rider was killed when he collided with a large SUV along a stretch of Rte1 in Jessup, MD. Based on police reports, 63-year-old Douglas Gorenflo died as a result of the crash, which occurred on a Wednesday afternoon near the intersection of Montevideo Rd. Gorenflo, an Elkridge resident, was heading north on his Honda Shadow around 1:35pm when the accident happened.

Baltimore Personal Injury News: Maryland Cyclist Critically Injured following Car-Bicycle Accident

April 23, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

We’ve already written numerous times about the inherent dangers of being a pedestrian or bicycle rider in cities like Baltimore, Annapolis, Frederick and Washington, D.C. In fact, most anyone who has lived and worked in the more densely populated urban areas will likely attest to the tremendous opportunity for personal injury as a result of a traffic accident.

As Maryland automobile injury lawyers, I and my colleagues are keenly aware of the potential for serious injury that persons on foot or riding a bike can be exposed to. Too many people in this state are killed in senseless car and trucking accidents and the statistic bear this out. Even those people who are “lucky” enough to survive a brush with death can be hurt enough to require multiple surgeries for broken bones, internal injuries and spinal cord damage.

Medial costs for these kinds of injuries can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, hundreds even, and that doesn’t include the possible long-term physical therapy that a man, woman or child might need over the course of their life as a result of chronic head, neck or back pain. A lifetime in a wheelchair is a terrible thing to face when caused by another person’s negligence.

Maryland Bicycle Injury News: Traumatic Brain Injuries Can Mean a Lifetime of Struggle and Pain

April 15, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

For most people, reading the words “closed-head injury,” or “traumatic brain injury” may conjure up scenes of traffic wrecks or other serious injury accidents, but what do those simple words really mean? To you, me or a family trying to deal with a loved one recovering from such a life-changing event? Unless you’ve lived it yourself, the reality of such an experience — not to mention its aftermath — is far from most people’s imaginations.

As a Baltimore automobile injury attorney and personal injury lawyer, I’ve seen the results of traumatic head injury up close and personal. As a firm that represents victims of car, truck and motorcycle accidents, I and my colleagues understand that the challenges faced by individuals who have survived terrible traffic accidents do not always end when they leave the hospital.

Unless a person is one of the lucky few who can pick up their life where they left it after a severe car or commercial trucking accident, weeks, months or even years of intensive rehabilitation may loom ahead. And not just for that one person, but for his or her family as well. The costs can be staggering, all because of a moment’s loss of concentration or negligence actions of another individual.

In Frederick, Hagerstown, Annapolis and College Park, as well as towns and cities all across Maryland, motor vehicle accidents happen on a daily basis. Some crashes are fatal and take the lives of one or all occupants of a vehicle; others are less severe, yet leave scars that take years or even decades to heal. A recent story caught our eye regarding a seven-year-old boy, now a 49-year-old man who has struggled all his life since a childhood bicycle accident put him in a wheelchair and stole he youth.

According to the article, Kevin Detwiler is one of the lucky few who has a life now, but who went through hell along with his family following a tragic accident in the late ‘70s when he was struck by a car on an early spring day in St. Mary’s County. He was reportedly out for a ride with the rest of his family when the crash happened. The accident landed the second grader in the hospital with what is now known as traumatic brain injury.

Maryland Traffic Injury News: Baltimore Named in $40 Million Lawsuit following Motorcycle Rider’s Death

April 9, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

While motorcycles offer their owners an unparalleled feeling of freedom on the open road, there are dangers associated with riding one. It makes little difference if your bike of choice is a Harley, Honda, Triumph or Yamaha, when a motorcyclist tangles with a passenger car or commercial truck, the results can be very serious. At the very best, one can expect cuts, bruises and so-called “road rash.” Worse yet, a car-motorcycle accident can result in broken bones, internal injuries and bleeding, or even closed-head trauma.

As Baltimore motorcycle injury lawyers and personal injury attorneys, we understand the draw of these powerful and liberating machines, while at the same time being fully aware of the dangers that the hobby presents from time to time. It is a sad fact of the biker lifestyle that a pleasant afternoon ride or morning commute can quickly turn into a life-threatening and sometimes life-changing event due only to a moment’s inattention on the part of another motorist.

Worst-case scenarios are, of course, fatal traffic accidents involving a cycle and a larger motor vehicle, such as a sedan, SUV or minivan. Semi tractor-trailer rigs can also pose extreme danger to a rider, not only in a collision, but also in terms of thrown tire treads or other broken or defective vehicle equipment. Just the other day it was reported that the family of a motorcycle rider killed during a July 2010 police pursuit is suing the City of Baltimore for wrongful death.

According to news reports, the $40 million lawsuit alleges that the officer who struck Haines Holloway-Lilliston on an Interstate-695 exit ramp was at fault when he rammed into the back of the motorcycle while distracted by his telephone and radio communications. The suit arose following the release of an investigation report by the Maryland State Police, which concluded that Baltimore Officer Timothy Everett Beall was told to end his pursuit of Holloway-Lilliston and that the patrolman acknowledged the command and turned off his siren and lights.

According to previous reports, the Baltimore County prosecutor’s office had declined to press vehicular manslaughter charges against the 32-year-old Officer Beall even after the patrolman allegedly failed break off the pursuit back on July 25. Beall had told investigators that the rider had crashed out in front of his patrol car and that the police cruiser never made contact with the mans motorcycle.

Baltimore Motorcycle Accident News: Woman Indicted following Traffic Accident that Killed Biker

March 31, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As Maryland personal injury attorneys and motorcycle accident lawyers, we understand the attraction that the open road holds for most every motorcycle rider out there. The feeling of freedom and independence that a bike offers cannot be duplicated in a closed passenger car. But just as a sedan blocks many of the sensations of the outside world from the driver and passengers, it also provides greater protection in the event of a bad traffic collision.

Motorcycles offer few if any of the safety features that make survival in serious auto accidents more certain. Even with protective outer wear, boots, gloves and a motorcycle helmet, riders can be critically injured in traffic crashes that a passenger car driver would likely walk away from. Broken arms and legs, internal bleeding and traumatic head injuries are all possible outcomes.

In the worst of cases, motorcyclists can receive such extensive injuries that they may actually die at the scene of an accident before they can be rushed to the hospital for treatment. Even a biker who survives a wreck might end up a paraplegic or quadriplegic due to irreparable damage to the individual’s spinal cord. Years of physical therapy combined with full-time care can sap a family’s budget and result in deep financial troubles.

Maryland Personal Injury News: Bicycle Safety Promoted by Mother of Fatal Car-Bike Accident Victim

March 27, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

We wrote last year about the tragic death of Natasha Pettigrew, a candidate for U.S. Senate who was struck by a sport utility vehicle during an early morning ride on her bike in Prince George’s County last fall. According to news stories at the time, the 30-year-old woman was training for a triathlon when she was killed in an alleged hit-and-run traffic accident in Maryland’s Prince George’s County.

Recently, Pettigrew’s mother, Kenniss Henry, has taken up crusade to make the streets of Maryland, Washington, D.C., and other areas safer for bicycle riders. According to news article, Henry has lobbied the Maryland legislature in Annapolis to try and get a new bill introduced — the Vehicular Manslaughter Act. Along with advocacy groups like Bike Maryland, Henry is reportedly pushing to close a major loophole in Maryland state law.

According to news reports, the current law essentially says that if a flagrantly reckless, yet sober driver causes a traffic death in Maryland, he or she will pay no more than $1,000 in fines through traffic court. The only other option is for the driver to be charged with a felony (however this typically never happens because the standards of proof are so very high).

Baltimore Motorcycle Accident and Injury Update: Maryland’s Motorcycle Law Specifics Aim at Rider Safety

March 16, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As Baltimore injury accident lawyers, we are well aware of the laws and statutes created to protect motorists, including motorcycle riders, here in Maryland. These laws, while seeming to some as interfering with personal freedom were nonetheless written with good intentions in mind, especially where they provide safer and less dangerous traffic conditions for riders and passenger car drivers alike.

When it comes to traffic laws specifically written with bikers in mind — helmet regulations and lane-sharing laws immediately come to mind — these likely vary from one state to another. All the same, it is critical that every motorist who shares our public roadways clearly understands and follows these rules.

By all bikers being aware of and abiding by Maryland’s helmet and other mototcycle-related traffic laws, this can go a long way toward helping to reduce the instance of motorcycle crashes in cities like Frederick, Rockville, Hagerstown and Bowie.

Anybody who has ever seen a friend or relative in a hospital ward following a serious motorcycle crash can understand how extensive a rider’s injuries can truly be. Compared a person injured in a passenger car or commercial truck accident, under similar circumstances, the motorcyclist is usually worse off following the wreck.

The laws of physics being what they are, fate does not lend a biker much margin of safety when tangling with an SUV, pickup truck or 18-wheeler. In cases where a rider is hit by a car or box truck on a city street or highway, size is a big factor in who ends up in the emergency room. Sadly, in such accidents the motorcyclist typically loses that encounter hands down.

Whether a person is riding a motorcycle, scooter, bicycle and other two-wheeled vehicle, a traffic accident can land the rider in the hospital with cuts, bruises and road rash, if they are lucky. Worse accidents can result in neck and spinal damage, or traumatic brain injury. Here’s a short list of some Maryland state laws that may help save your life.