Motorcycle accidents involving impaired drivers can leave victims and families grappling with devastating consequences. In Maryland, these crashes often result in serious injuries or fatalities, making it essential to seek accountability through the legal system. Driving under the influence is both a criminal act and a form of negligence, and it places all road users, particularly motorcyclists, at heightened risk.
If you or someone you care about has been harmed in a motorcycle accident caused by a DUI driver, pursuing compensation may help you recover from the financial and emotional toll. Maryland personal injury attorneys can help you understand how the state’s laws, including negligence per se, apply to your case and how to establish fault to hold the responsible driver accountable.
DUI and Maryland’s Negligence Per Se Laws
Under Maryland law, driving under the influence violates public safety statutes and can serve as automatic evidence of negligence in a civil lawsuit. This principle, known as negligence per se, removes the need to prove that the driver acted unreasonably—breaking the law establishes that. However, to win a claim, you must still demonstrate a direct connection between the DUI driver’s actions and the harm caused.
For instance, if an impaired driver’s actions cause their vehicle to stall in an active traffic lane and a motorcyclist later collides with it, proving negligence per se requires showing how the driver’s illegal behavior created the hazardous conditions that caused the crash. Evidence such as police reports, sobriety test refusals, and eyewitness testimony often plays a critical role in making this connection.
Recent DUI-Related Motorcycle Accident Causes Fatality
A recent DUI-related crash highlights the devastating consequences of impaired driving and its impact on motorcyclists. Earlier this month, a driver suspected of driving under the influence caused a collision that resulted in fatal consequences. According to reports, the crash occurred around 3:30 a.m. on the northbound 15 freeway.
The chain of events began when one car slammed into the back of another, sending the second car onto the shoulder of the road. The first black car lost power and stalled in an active traffic lane with its lights off. Tragically, a motorcyclist collided with a stalled black vehicle, resulting in the rider’s death. While one occupant of the second car was injured and transported to the hospital, the driver of the black vehicle refused a field sobriety test and was taken into custody on suspicion of DUI.
This incident underscores how impaired drivers create hazards that reverberate far beyond the initial collision. The stalled vehicle in the traffic lane became a deadly obstacle, leaving the motorcyclist with little chance to avoid the crash. These details demonstrate the importance of holding DUI drivers accountable for the full extent of the harm they cause.
The Importance of Proving Causation
Even when negligence per se applies, Maryland law requires proof that the driver’s actions directly caused the accident. Establishing this connection can be complicated in cases involving multiple vehicles or factors, such as reduced visibility or poor road conditions.
For example, when a motorcyclist crashes into a disabled vehicle left in a roadway after a DUI-related collision, an attorney must demonstrate that the impaired driver’s negligence set off the chain of events leading to the fatal crash. Accident reconstruction experts, traffic camera footage, and detailed witness accounts can all provide valuable evidence to support this claim.
Why Do Motorcyclists Face Heightened Risks?
Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable on Maryland’s roadways because they lack the physical protection that passenger vehicles provide. Collisions that might result in minor injuries for car occupants can lead to catastrophic consequences for motorcyclists. The risks are even greater when impaired drivers are involved, as their reflexes and judgment are severely compromised.
Accidents involving impaired drivers often leave motorcyclists with no time to react, especially when the crash occurs in dark or high-speed conditions. A disabled vehicle in a traffic lane can become a deadly obstacle for a motorcyclist, highlighting the dire consequences of DUI-related negligence.
Recovering Compensation in Maryland DUI Motorcycle Accidents
Victims and their families may seek compensation for various damages, including medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering. However, Maryland’s strict contributory negligence rule presents a significant challenge. This rule bars recovery entirely if the victim is found even partially at fault for the crash, making it crucial to build a case that establishes the DUI driver as solely responsible.
Attorneys play a vital role in collecting and presenting evidence to counter claims of shared fault. Physical evidence from the crash, expert analyses, and witness statements can all be used to show that the motorcyclist’s actions were reasonable under the circumstances and that the impaired driver’s negligence was the sole cause of the accident.
Contact the Dedicated Maryland Injury Lawyers at Lebowitz & Mzhen to Learn More
If you or a loved one was recently injured due to another’s negligence, it’s important you take a few minutes to learn about your rights and what you can do to hold the at-fault party accountable. At Lebowitz & Mzhen, we have decades of combined experience handling all types of personal injury, wrongful death, and medical malpractice lawsuits on behalf of clients throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. To learn more and to schedule a free consultation today, give us a call at 800-654-1949. You can also connect with us through our secure online contact form.