Earlier this month in Darlington, a motorcyclist and his passenger were both flown to Maryland Shock Trauma Center after they were rear-ended while waiting to make a left-turn. According to a report by the Baltimore Sun, the accident occurred around 3 p.m. on the 3800 block of Conowingo Rd.
Evidently, the couple were in the southbound lane of Route 1 waiting to make a turn onto Arena Road when they were hit from behind by a black SUV that was heading south on Conowingo Road.
Both the driver and his passenger were ejected from the motorcycle upon impact. They sustained serious injuries and were immediately flown to the hospital. Their condition is not known at the moment.
Police are not sure what caused the accident. However, after a preliminary investigation, it seems as though the driver of the SUV did not see the motorcycle, since there were no brake marks indicating that he tried to stop before the collision.
What Caused the Accident?
While the exact cause of this accident is not known, it is clear that the driver of the black SUV should have seen the motorcycle that was stopped directly in his path. Perhaps the driver was paying attention but didn’t see the bike, or perhaps the driver was distracted by something else going on in the car. Either way, two people were seriously injured as a result of the driver’s carelessness.
Serious and Fatal Motorcycle Accidents in Maryland
Unfortunately, these kinds of serious motorcycle accidents occur all the time in Maryland, especially in the summer months when bikers are out in droves. While it is true that motorcycles are harder to spot than larger cars and trucks, that is no excuse for a driver to not see one.
All drivers have a duty while operating a vehicle on public roads to operate their vehicle in a safe, attentive, and responsible manner. When a driver violates this duty by driving while distracted and causes an accident as a result, he or she may be held liable for that conduct in a Maryland court of law.
While it may be impossible to prove exactly what was going through a driver’s mind at the time of the accident, it is possible to determine if the driver’s conduct was negligent.
Have You Been Involved in a Serious Motorcycle Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a serious motorcycle accident, you may be entitled to compensation based on the negligence of the other driver. The first step towards determining whether you have a case is to contact a dedicated Maryland motorcycle attorney and discuss your situation. Often, even accident victims who did not originally believe they had a case realize that they do after an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident. To learn more about Maryland accident law, and to speak to an attorney about your case, click here, or call 410-654-3600 to schedule a free consultation with an attorney today.
More Blog Posts:
Another Maryland Motorcyclist Dead After Fatal Left-Turn Accident, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published August 21, 2014.
Off-Duty Police Officer Killed in Motorcycle Accident, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published July 24, 2014.