Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

Baltimore Bicycle Accident Update: Safety Equipment for Bikes could Help Save Lives

February 23, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Being a personal injury lawyer and practicing Maryland bicycle accident attorney I understand the causes for bicycling injuries in and around large municipalities. Living and working in Baltimore, Annapolis, D.C. and other cities around the state, cyclists must be constantly aware of the dangers presented by other vehicular traffic, as well as watch out for pedestrians and parked cars.

Although bicycle crashes cannot totally be prevented, having some key safety equipment on your bike can make a big difference in helping riders avoid serious injury or death. Cycling is fun, rewarding and healthy, not to mention energy efficient and economical. Although the weather is still rather cold and snowy for most riders’ comfort, the following tips can get you in a safe state of mind once spring rolls around.

Here are five useful accessories that every bicycle rider should consider from the standpoint of accident avoidance and crash survival. Whether you choose to include any or all of the following items in your compliment of cycling gear is up to you. Just keep in mind that any time an automobile and a bicycle meet in a traffic collision, the bike and its rider are usually the ones to suffer.

1) Audible signaling device, such as a horn. Most bike accidents happen when the driver of a car, truck or SUV does not see the cyclist approaching and turns his vehicle into the bike’s path. Having a load horn, especially in loud urban setting, could help to get a driver’s attention before disaster strikes.

2) A rear-view mirror. A large number of cycling-related injuries and deaths are attributed to the rider being hit from behind by a motor vehicle, such as a delivery truck, city bus or passenger car. Using a rearview mirror can help riders avoid this kind of accident by allowing them to see what’s approaching from behind.

For relatively little money, cyclists can purchase rear-view mirrors that clip to the bike’s handlebars, or onto the rider’s helmet. Some newer cycling glasses combine sunglasses with tiny rear-view mirrors built right into the frames.

3) A headlamp. Maryland, like most other states, requires cyclists to have an operating headlamp for use after dark. Although your odds of being cited for not having a headlamp could be quite low, not taking advantage of a headlamp for night riding would be inviting danger on the road. A headlamp serves two separate and distinct functions; first it provides needed forward lighting so that the rider can actually see the roadway ahead of him or her, and thus avoid potholes or road debris that could cause a puncture or serious injury; second, it lets other drivers and slower-moving pedestrians see you coming in the dark, and hopefully avoid a possible accident.

Maryland Bike Safety News: State Seeks to Reduce Car-Bicycle Accidents with New Legislation

February 18, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

In Baltimore, Annapolis, the District of Columbia, and other municipalities across Maryland and the surrounding area, more and more people are riding bicycles as a way to reduce commuting costs and lead healthier lives. As a bicycle accident attorney and experienced personal injury lawyer, I know the freedom and invigoration that bike riding provides many in our community.

Unfortunately, with more people bicycling to work and school, the potential for bodily injury may also be on the rise. It’s not unusual for a rider to sustain broken bones and lacerations as a result of a collision with a motor vehicle, such as a passenger car, SUV or delivery truck. Instances of car-bike accidents usually increase with the higher traffic density found in medium and large metropolitan areas.

In an effort to alleviate, or at least limit the potential for traffic accidents involving bicyclists, our state legislature is doing its part to help cyclists have more rights on publics roads. According to news reports, the Maryland Senate this recently approved a measure requiring motorists to give bicycles, scooters and other personal transportation devices, such as Segways, at least three feet of space whenever possible.

Motorcycle Accident Update: Safety should be Priority One as Bike Riders Prepare for the Spring Thaw

February 12, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

This time of year any motorcycle rider worth his salt is experiencing more than a little cabin fever, waiting for the snow and ice to clear and the days to warm up. We’re still weeks away from any decent riding weather, but it never hurts to brush up on rider safety prior to that first warm, dry day. Whether you ride a cruiser, chopper, crotch-rocket or scooter, accidents can happen to anyone, any time.

As a Maryland motorcycle accident attorney and personal injury lawyer, I’ve met my share of riders in both good and bad circumstances. Unfortunately, injuries caused by motorcycle crashes can be much more severe than those of car accidents. Safety is always in the mind of a good rider, and should be foremost in the minds of all motorcycle riders as spring approaches.

Among things to remember as the weather warms up are riding in rain and at night. Spring brings warmer days, but it also brings rain showers and wet roadways. Although it’s more enjoyable to ride in the dry, every rider will get caught in rain at some time or another.

Riding in the rain has its own safety concerns and it takes more than throwing on a rain suit to prepare for wet pavement. Your gear is important, of course. Make sure your rain gloves and boots fit correctly — badly fitting equipment can interfere with your ability to brake and shift properly. Poorly fitting gear has probably led to more than one fatal motorcycle wreck.

Every driver should know to use extra caution at the first sign of rain. This is when the water tends to sit on oily patches, especially at intersections. As that water finds the low spots in the roadway, it mixes with the oil residue making things extremely slippery. As a motorcycle rider, this should be your main concern when those first rain drops hit your windscreen.

Many a prudent rider will take the opportunity to stop for a cup of coffee when it starts to rain. This allows some of that oil-water mix to be washed away and also gives the rider time to put on some rain gear. If you’re lucky, it’s just a quick shower, but even so, keep in mind that even damp pavement offers less traction than dry.

In spring, the days are getting longer, but night riding is still a reality. Remember that dusk is actually the worst time for all drivers. This is when people’s eyes are getting adjusted to driving or riding by headlights, not daylight. It’s especially important to be extra cautious just after sunset.

It never hurts to slow down somewhat when riding at night, especially on any winding road. Take advantage of the headlights of vehicles in front of you to see farther. Be especially careful to keep an eye on the road surface, since at night it is much more difficult to see sandy patches or other debris on the roadway.

Lagging Maryland Traffic Laws, Increasing Bike Usage Make Car-Bicycle Traffic Accidents More Possible, Deadlier

January 24, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It won’t be long before the promise of spring weather entices more and more cyclists out onto the roads in and around cities like Annapolis, Bethesda and D.C., among others. As Maryland traffic accident injury attorneys, the staff at Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers can see a shift toward greater environmental consciousness, so it’s not surprising that more people are using bicycles to get to work, school or even to the store for some light shopping.

Unfortunately, even though more riders are out on the roads, our traffic laws and driver awareness are apparently behind the times. What does this mean in terms of increased traffic accidents and bicycle riding injuries? According to a recent editorial, the percentage of people using bikes for transportation has been on the rise for nearly 20 years, with no expectation that this trend will change any time soon.

To accommodate this increase in two-wheeled traffic, engineers and traffic planners have been working to update the state’s infrastructure and to encourage cycling and create a more safe environment for autos and bikes to coexist. There has also been a call for improved and updated legislation as well.

Baltimore Motorcycle Injury Update: Bike Wrecks and Serious Injuries can happen Anywhere, Anytime

January 15, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Regardless of your level of experience in riding motorcycles, accidents can and do happen. Whatever you ride, be it a cruiser, chopper or crotch-rocket, the dangers on Maryland’s urban and rural roads are many and varied. As a personal injury and motorcycle accident lawyer serving residents of Baltimore, Annapolis, the District and the rest of the state, I have seen the results of bike crashes and the bodily injuries that can be sustained.

Traffic accidents are inevitable with so many cars and trucks on the road. But even when multi-vehicle accidents — that is a truck- or car-motorcycle collision — there are always the single-bike accidents to consider. Whether a wreck is caused by defective equipment such as a poorly maintained fork assembly, worn-out wheel bearing or bad brakes, or by an external cause, the outcome can be serious.

Motorcycles provide much fun and excitement, but they also must be respected. High speeds and rider inattention are a recipe for disaster. Whatever the cause, a motorcycle crash can cause severe injuries including broken bones, scrapes, gashes and road rash, traumatic brain injuries and spinal damage. Maryland’s helmet law is something that has saved many lives, but a helmet can’t keep a rider from making a fatal mistake or underestimating local conditions.

Washington County Motorist Fined $140 for Negligent Driving Accident that Seriously Injured Young Bicycle Rider

January 9, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

A motorist from Fairplay, MD, was ordered to pay $140 as a fine stemming from a 2009 accident that seriously injured an 8-year-old boy riding his bicycle. The fine, which was for negligent driving, was levied against Meghann Marie Weaver, 21, by the Washington County District Court. The accident occurred on August 27 along a stretch of Jordan Road. As a Maryland personal injury attorney, I have seen numerous reports of car-bicycle accident during my career — those that involve children can be the most tragic.

In this case, while the child was not killed in the accident, one of the young rider’s legs had to amputated at mid-shin. According to reports, he has been undergoing rehabilitation at the Kennedy-Krieger Institute in Baltimore. Unfortunately, this youngster will carry with him a life-long disability as a result of another person’s negligent behavior.

According to court records, other charges of reckless driving and driving a vehicle in excess of reasonable and prudent speed on a highway were dropped by the prosecutor’s office. Based on the police investigation, alcohol was not a factor in the accident.

Maryland Cycling Injury News: Baltimore Seeks to Become a Safe “City of Bicycles”

January 5, 2010 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

There are proposals being put forward that could go a long way toward increasing the number of bicycling enthusiasts who choose Baltimore as their home. Of course, with an increase in bikes, there will also be an inevitable increase in cycling accidents, including car-bike collisions, severe truck-bicycle wrecks and even fatal traffic accidents involving bicycles, as well as bike-pedestrian crashes.

As a Maryland personal injury lawyer handling bicycle accident cases, I and my colleagues know the pain and suffering that can accompany a bike-auto traffic collision. Unfortunately, the laws of physics are on the side of the automobile, which means cyclists must be on their game 110 percent if they want to survive in an urban traffic setting.

According to news reports, Baltimore’s city counsel is looking to make Baltimore streets safer for cyclists, and in doing so encourage a whole new group of potential resident to make this city their home.

Maryland Injury Update: Bicycle Safety Means More than Just Wearing a Helmet

December 31, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Every year in Baltimore, Annapolis and other cities and towns across Maryland, dozens of bicycle riders are injured or killed by inattentive motorists on city boulevards, suburban streets and country roads. As Maryland bicycle accident lawyers and personal injury attorneys, our firm is aware of the dangers present on our public roadways.

Cyclists have next to no protection when it comes to a collision with an automobile, sport utility vehicle or pickup truck. Commercial vehicles pose even greater threats to bike riders; accidents involving semi tractor-trailers or urban delivery vehicles can many times be fatal. Minor cuts and bruises are nothing compared to broken bones, deep lacerations and other life-threatening injuries such as spine and brain trauma.

Avoiding injury on a bicycle is one of the key jobs of a cyclist, yet there are many other ways to protect oneself while peddling around town. It is important to remember that under Maryland law bicycles are considered road-going vehicles, which means bicycle riders have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of cars and trucks.

Maryland Motorcycle Accident News: Do Fewer Bikes on the Road Really Mean Less Fatalities?

December 24, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It may be hard for most riders to swallow, but summer is over. The recent blizzard that hit the East Coast made that abundantly clear. Still, when the snow melts and roads dry out for a day or so, there is always at least one diehard motorcycle enthusiast who cannot let a a single sunny day pass without firing up his Harley, Honda or Ducati — even with temperatures hovering just above freezing.

As a Maryland motorcycle accident lawyer, I have met some dyed-in-the-wool bikers and for them I suggest extreme caution when riding during what many consider the “off season” for motorcycles. But it isn’t just the weather that should concern motorcycle riders. I’ll pose the question here: Could fewer bikes on the road result in car, SUV and pickup truck drivers becoming less conscious of a motorcycle in their blind spot?

It is understood that automobile-motorcycle collisions can be one of the more deadly traffic accidents. Because of this, every rider should be watchful no matter what the season, but especially on those unusually pleasant winter days, not to mention when springtime comes to our state.

Maryland Bicycle Accident News: Hollywood, MD, Woman Cited in Fatal Car-bicycle Accident

December 16, 2009 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Maryland State Police last month charged a Hollywood woman with negligent driving in a fatal traffic accident that left a local bicycle rider dead. Police state that 20-year-old Kathy May Lee contributed to the October 5 accident that killed Curtis Andrew Leymeister, a 47-year-old resident of St. Mary’s County.

As a Maryland personal injury lawyer, I and my colleagues understand the extent of possible injuries that a bicycle rider can receive in a car-bike crash. More often than not, the result is fatal for the cyclist. In this particular case, the cyclist was struck and killed on Clarke’s Landing Road and was apparently riding in the middle of his lane.

According to police, Leymeister was riding his bike west in the westbound lane of the roadway just before 8am when he was struck from behind by a Honda Accord driven by Lee. Every driver is obliged to be aware of the situation around them, and this is especially important when bicycles or pedestrians are present. Reports indicate that the local prosecutor recommended that the motorist be charged with negligent driving, which includes fine of $280.