Earlier this month, one man and one woman lost their lives when the motorcycle they were riding was struck by another vehicle attempting to make a left turn in front of the motorcycle. According to one local news source, the accident took place at the intersection of Maryland Route 4 and Rousby Hall Road and involved one Harley Davidson motorcycle and two cars.
Evidently, the motorcyclists were heading north on Maryland Route 4, approaching the intersection with Rousby Hall Road. As the two approached the intersection, a Jeep coming from the opposite direction attempted to make a left hand turn onto Rousby Hall Road in front of the motorcycle. However, the driver of the Jeep misjudged the speed at which the motorcycle was traveling and struck the motorcycle, causing both riders to be ejected.
After that initial collision, the motorcycle continued westward until it struck a Mercedes that was stopped, also waiting to make a turn onto Rousby Hall Road. The motorcycle and Mercedes then both caught fire.
The two motorcyclists were both pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. The drivers of the Jeep and Mercedes were treated for minor injuries at the scene and then released. As of the time of the article’s publication, police are still investigating the fatal motorcycle accident and have yet to determine who was legally at fault.
Left-Turn Motorcycle Accidents
Each year, there are hundreds of Maryland motorcycle accidents involving a vehicle making a left-hand turn in front of a motorcycle. In many of these cases, the motorist making the left turn is violating the motorcyclist’s right-of-way and is legally at fault for the accident. This can give rise to civil liability on the motorist’s part and can result in a significant monetary award for the injured rider. However, that may not always be the case, even in left-turn accident cases.
While the general rule in Maryland is that a left-turning vehicle must yield to any oncoming vehicle, there are exceptions. In situations when a driver is able to show that the motorcyclist was speeding at the time of the accident, the driver can argue that the motorcyclist waived his right-of-way by traveling in excess of the posted speed limit. In such instances, the driver then may not be held liable for the damages caused to the motorcyclist, since the accident would not be considered the driver’s fault.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Motorcycle Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Maryland motorcycle accident, it is imperative that you discuss your case with a skilled attorney to prevent a clever defense attorney from shifting liability away from his or her client and onto you. In Maryland, an accident victim is not able to recover for their injuries if they are shown to be even the slightest bit at fault for their own injuries. This frames how an attorney approaches and handles your case throughout the pre-trial and trial process. To make sure that you are treated fairly and are well-represented through the entire proceeding, speak with a dedicated attorney at the Maryland personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers. The skilled advocates at Lebowitz & Mzhen have decades of experience bringing cases on behalf on injured Marylanders and know the tricks defense attorneys use to try and shift blame away from their clients. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation.
More Blog Posts:
22-Year-Old Dies in Left-Turn Motorcycle Accident in Timonium, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published August 12, 2015.
Maryland Motorcyclist Killed in Gaithersburg U-Turn Accident, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published July 24, 2015.