Although bicycles are a popular form of transportation in Maryland, bike accidents can cause devastating injuries or even death. While many cyclists ride every day without getting in an accident, crashes with other negligent drivers can occur out of the blue and cause significant damage, especially since cyclists have minimal protection compared to drivers in cars or trucks. When these accidents occur, injured victims can file a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for the accident. This typically, although not always, is the other driver involved in the crash. To win these personal injury suits, plaintiffs usually must prove that the other driver was negligent and that their negligence led to the accident. However, sometimes defendants can be difficult and refuse to cooperate in the suit, further frustrating the plaintiff’s recovery efforts.
For example, take the recent tragic case of a 16-year-old boy who was struck and killed by a car when riding his bike in April of this year. According to local news reports covering the story, the boy was riding his bike and attempting to cross in the crosswalk when a car entered the intersection, hitting him with the front driver’s side. The cyclist hit the front of the car, rolling onto the windshield, and then fell onto the sidewalk. He died later that day.
The victim’s family seemingly wanted to file a personal injury suit against the driver, which would likely require information from the defendant stored electronically on his car—including the speed of the vehicle, brake application, seat belt use, airbag deployment, and the steering angle. Typically, in a civil lawsuit, there is a “discovery” phase where this information may come to light. However, the driver refused to allow investigators to inspect the car. Because of this refusal, the family, plaintiffs in this case, first had to file a different lawsuit demanding access to the vehicle. According to this initial suit, the information located on the car was critical to the plaintiffs’ claim and also was at risk of being destroyed or erased by the defendant. The plaintiffs also alleged that this information was especially important because there were no eyewitnesses to the accident who could testify as to what happened.
Cases such as this illustrate how complex the process of filing and winning a personal injury lawsuit can be. However, these suits can also be incredibly important and even necessary for those injured in a motorcycle or bicycle accident, because they can help them and their loved ones cover medical expenses, lost wages, and even funeral and burial costs if needed. As such, potential plaintiffs are advised to consult with a personal injury attorney who may be able to help them through the complex process and ensure they get the compensation they are entitled to.
Contact a Maryland Motorcycle and Bicycle Accident Attorney
If you’ve recently been injured in a Maryland bicycle accident, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation to help with your recovery. Contact the attorneys at Lebowitz & Mzhen, Personal Injury Lawyers, today to discuss your claim risk-free and free of charge. We have decades of experience handling even the most complex cases, including those involving uncooperative defendants and difficult insurance companies. Our attorneys can help you through every step of the process so you can focus on your recovery. Call today: 800-654-1949.