Earlier this month in York County, Pennsylvania, a Maryland man passed away from injuries he sustained as a result of a fatal bicycle accident. According to one local York County news source, the accident occurred just after three in the afternoon on June 9.
Evidently, the accident occurred on a Sunday afternoon in Littlestown, Pennsylvania, just a few miles from the Maryland-Pennsylvania border. According to the news report, the accident involved the bicyclist and a truck that was pulling a utility trailer. Police have not finished conducting their investigation into the accident, but they have told reporters that the bicyclist was not wearing a helmet.
Immediately after the accident, the bicyclist was taken to York Hospital, where he died a few hours later from multiple blunt-force wounds to the head.
Bicycle Accidents on Maryland Roads
The summer months are a great time to leave the car in the garage and travel by bicycle. However, bicyclists need to be aware that there can be great danger in riding and should take every precaution possible to ensure their safety.
It is also crucial that motorists understand that bicycles have the same rights that cars do on the road. In fact, in almost all instances, bicyclists are expected to follow the very same traffic laws that motorized vehicles do. This means that they should be treated with the same respect and caution as other drivers.
However, given the huge number of bicycle accidents each year in Maryland, it is clear that motorists are not always as careful as they should be around bicyclists. Some of the more common causes of bicycle accidents are:
- A driver’s failure to see the bicyclist;
- Failing to yield to a bicyclist as though it was another motor vehicle;
- Passing too closely to a bicyclist;
- Failing to properly judge the speed at which a cyclist is traveling; and
- Drivers opening their doors without checking to see if a bicyclist is approaching.
In each of these cases, the driver of the car or truck involved in the accident may be held legally and financially responsible for the accident. This means that the accident victim may be able to recover for their past medical bills, future medical expenses, and any pain and suffering that they may have experienced throughout the process.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Bicycle Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in any kind of Maryland bicycle accident, you may be entitled to monetary damages. However, the other party to the lawsuit will likely have retained their own attorneys to try and get you to settle the case for as little as possible. Don’t be afraid to tell the insurance company “no” and to seek legal counsel of your own. The skilled advocates at the Maryland personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience bringing all kinds of cases against negligent drivers, including those arising out of bicycle accidents. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with an attorney, call 410-654-3600 today.
More Blog Posts:
Virginia Man Killed in Motorcycle Accident Involving Two Motorcycles and One Truck in Fairfax County, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published May 27, 2015.
Motorcyclist Killed in I-795 Accident in Baltimore County, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published April 27, 2015.