Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog
Oftentimes, the Maryland motorcycle crashes that we write about in this blog are crashes that involve both a motorcycle and a car, usually with the car making a careless error and hitting the motorcycle, causing the crash. But it is important to recognize that sometimes, Maryland motorcycle accidents can occur solely because of a rider’s careless error—sometimes not even involving another vehicle at all. In these situations, anyone injured as a passenger on the motorcycle may have a claim against the motorcyclist.
For an example of this second type of accident, take a recent incident from last month. According to a news report covering the incident, the motorcyclist, a 42-year-old man, was riding east on the highway with one passenger on his motorcycle, a 41-year-old woman. According to state police officers, the cyclist failed to negotiate a left-hand curve in the roadway and lost control of his vehicle. Both he and his passenger were thrown from the motorcycle off the shoulder of the roadway, sustaining serious injuries. Tragically, the passenger’s injuries were fatal, and she passed away. The cyclist was flown to a nearby hospital and treated for life-threatening injuries, ultimately surviving the accident. The crash remains under investigation.
Can Motorcyclist Passengers Sue the Driver of a Motorcycle After an Accident?
This tragic accident serves as a reminder that Maryland motorcycle accidents are not always caused by a car crashing into a motorcycle, or even by another vehicle at all. Sometimes, they can just be caused by the motorcyclist themselves. In these cases, it is important to remember that there could still be liability—if a motorcyclist is negligent and gets into an accident while they have a passenger on their motorcycle, and their passenger is subsequently injured, they can then be held liable for their passenger’s injury in a personal injury lawsuit.
All motorcyclists owe their passengers a duty of care to drive carefully and reasonably, so if they breach that duty and cause harm, they may end up paying the medical bills. In some cases, like the one discussed above, the passenger or the motorcyclist may die in the accident. Even in these tragic cases, personal injury lawsuits can be brought on behalf of the victim’s family or estate, and the negligent cyclist’s estate can be the defendant in a case if the negligent cyclist passes away.
Learn More About the Paths to Recovery After a Maryland Motorcycle Accident
Have you recently been injured in a Maryland motorcycle accident? Or have you recently lost a loved one in one? If so, Maryland state law may provide you with an avenue to relief and entitle you to monetary compensation. Contact the personal injury attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC to learn more about your case and your options. Our office offers free, no-risk, and no-obligation consultations with our attorneys, so you can discuss your case, learn about your options, and decide whether or not pursuing a lawsuit is the right path for you. If you do decide to file a claim, our attorneys can help you through every step of the process, from drafting the complaint all the way through trial. To learn more, call us today at 800-654-1949, or fill out our online form.