Earlier this month in Bishopville, Maryland, one man was killed in a motorcycle accident involving three other vehicles. According to one local news source, the accident occurred on Friday, July 3, at around 11:30 in the morning near the intersection of Route 113 and Bishopville Road.
Evidently, the man was riding on his Suzuki motorcycle and heading northbound on Route 113 when he struck a Lexus that had made an abrupt turn in front of him. The motorcyclist fell off of his bike. After colliding with the motorcycle, the Lexus continued to strike two other cars before ultimately coming to a stop in the roadway.
The rider of the motorcycle was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. The other drivers involved all sustained minor injuries and are expected to make full recoveries. Police are currently conducting an investigation into the fatal motorcycle accident, hoping to learn more about its causes. No citations have been issued yet, but that may change as the investigation concludes.
Fatal Motorcycle Accidents in Maryland
Each year, there are hundreds of motorcycle accidents that result in some kind of bodily injury across the State of Maryland. Of those serious motorcycle accidents, roughly 100 of them result in at least one fatality. Unfortunately, people like to point fingers at the riders themselves, saying that they are the ones responsible for the high number of accidents and fatalities. However, the statistics don’t support this theory.
For example, many motorcycle accidents involve another motorist that fails to see a motorcyclist. While motorists may like to believe that it is the fault of the motorcyclists for not being seen, that is not how the law sees such accidents. In fact, the law allows for innocent victims of motorcycle accidents to recover financially in certain circumstances.
Moreover, over 85% of all fatal motorcycle accidents involve a rider that was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. This number continues to increase as helmet-awareness and mandatory helmet laws are enacted across the country.
Proving Liability in a Motorcycle Accident
As noted above, an innocent victim of a motorcycle accident may be permitted to recover for their injuries. The word innocent is key, since Maryland law prevents an accident victim from recovering at all if they are found to be even the slightest bit at fault. This very strict rule, called contributory negligence, is rare among states, but Maryland does strongly adhere to the doctrine. Therefore, it is critical that an accident victim consult with an experienced attorney prior to filing their lawsuit to do everything possible to prevent the defendant from shifting even the slightest amount of blame onto the plaintiff.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Motorcycle Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a serious Maryland motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for all that you have been put through. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with an experienced attorney at the Maryland personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers, call 410-654-3600 today. The skilled advocates at Lebowitz & Mzhen have decades of combined experience successfully bringing cases on behalf of injured Marylanders. Calling is free, and there is no obligation.
More Blog Posts:
Chain-Reaction Crash in Prince Frederick Injures Several, Including Motorcyclist, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published July 3, 2015.
Maryland Man Dies in Bicycle Accident, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published June 19, 2015.