The Importance of Conducting a Thorough Investigation Following a Maryland Motorcycle Accident

When it comes to determining who was at fault in a Maryland motorcycle accident, the task is not always a simple one. While some motorcycle accidents involve only two vehicles and what happened in the moments leading up to the collision can be readily determined by surveying the scene, other accidents present a more complex scenario.

Law enforcement gets the first crack at investigating an accident. For the most part, law enforcement officials are concerned with determining who was at fault and whether that party’s conduct that gave rise to the accident constituted criminal behavior. And while a law enforcement investigation is important in a subsequent personal injury lawsuit filed by the injured party, it may not be sufficient in some cases.

Law enforcement investigators can also make mistakes, or may change their opinion of what caused the accident as new information comes in. For example, investigators changed their theory of how an accident occurred while investigating a recent motorcycle accident. According to a local news report, a motorcyclist was killed when he struck a turning semi-truck. A semi-truck cut in front of the motorcyclist, and the motorcyclist was unable to avoid the collision. The motorcyclist struck the side of the semi-truck, causing the driver to be ejected from the bike. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.

Initially, investigators believed that the semi-truck was making a U-turn when the motorcyclist struck the truck. However, in a subsequent statement authorities announced that they later determined the truck driver was actually making a left turn into a parking lot at the time.

Of course, under either scenario, the motorcyclist would seem to have the right-of-way; however, the fact that the semi-truck driver was making a left turn rather than a U-turn may be relevant if there was also evidence that the motorcyclist was speeding at the time. This is because a U-turn takes significantly more time to complete, and thus, the driver would need to allow for the additional time when deciding to make the turn. A left turn, however, takes less time and the truck driver may have reasonably thought he had time to complete the turn.

The results of the investigation are still outstanding, and authorities may still change their theory on what caused the fatal accident. However, this accident exemplifies why a thorough post-accident investigation is critical in Maryland motorcycle cases. For example, an investigator may comb through cell phone records, maintenance logs, rest logs, and even medical records in an attempt to determine the cause of an accident.

Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Motorcycle Accident?

If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Maryland motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. The dedicated Maryland personal injury lawyers at the law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC have decades of experience representing injury victims and their families in a wide range of Maryland personal injury matters, including motorcycle accidents. To learn more, call 410-654-3600 to schedule your free consultation today.

More Blog Posts:

George Clooney Injured in a Serious Scooter Accident, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published July 19, 2018.

Maryland Motorcycle Accidents Caused by Improper Passing and Lane Changes, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published August 7, 2018.

 

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