Bicycle Injury Accidents

Baltimore Personal Injury Update: For Active Riders a Bicycle Accident is not “If,” but “When” Event

January 6, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

When we talk about traffic-related personal injury accidents in Baltimore, Gaithersburg, Rockville or the District, it’s a good guess that most readers’ thoughts shift to that of an automobile, motorcycle or trucking-related roadway collision; however, these are just the most common types of traffic accident, not the only ones.

As Maryland personal injury attorneys, I and my legal staff are constantly hearing and reading about pedestrian and bicycle accidents thought the state. While these kinds of traffic collisions are, perhaps, less common than truck or car accidents, they nonetheless can be very serious and many times fatal.

We’ve covered numerous pedestrian-versus-car crashes over the years, but cyclists are even more at risk than pedestrians in some respects due to the fact that bike riders tend to share the road with motor vehicles much larger and more massive than themselves and their relatively flimsy aluminum and steel bicycles. Helmets and other protective gear can only help reduce injuries, because when it comes to a very serious collision with a car, truck or bus, the bicyclist is more often the loser.

Baltimore Traffic Injury Update: Steps to Reduce the Risk of Injury When Cycling in Maryland

September 30, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As most parents will attest, seeing one’s child become old enough to ride a bike can be both satisfying and nerve-racking at the same time. Especially these days in cities like Rockville, Annapolis and Washington, D.C., that are densely packed and fraught with potential dangers, parents would be justified in their worry. As Maryland personal injury lawyers and auto accident attorneys, we understand these fears; and if something does go wrong, we try to help the victims and their families recover loses following an accident caused by a negligent driver.

Naturally, as we’ve stated many times, prevention is a much more proactive way to avoid an injury or save a life than trying to put the pieces back together after a severe traffic collision. Especially in the case of cycling and pedestrian accidents, protecting oneself and preparing for the worst beats reacting once the damage is done.

For bikers, there are a number of preventative measures that can make a difference if and when a traffic wreck does happen to a cyclist. Some may argue that if a person rides long enough it is only a matter of time before a rider is hit by a car or commercial truck. In the city, delivery vehicles and large box trucks can be the enemies of the commuting cyclist.

Of course, there is still a relatively large segment of the cycling community that maintains that riding a bike next to other vehicular traffic, such as passenger cars, SUVs and commercial trucks, is not as death-defying as some might make it out to be. These folks will argue, with a fair amount of statistical evidence to back them up, that cyclists are not injured by motor vehicles as often as they are injured through inattention to roadway conditions or other factors that might cause a solo crash.

These safety advocates maintain that bikers are much less likely to be killed by a car or truck hitting them from behind; rather they are more likely to be injured by events involving distracted pedestrians, people walking their dogs, kids and adults on inline skates, or an encounter with another cyclist having lesser riding skills.

Regardless, there are steps that every cyclist should take to avoid the worst-case scenario, that of being injured or killed on their bike. Perhaps the following tips might help better prepare riders for that unforeseen accident in the future, be it a solo bike crash, a pedestrian-related collision or a motor vehicle collision.

Baltimore Injury Accident News: Maryland Woman Sent to Shock Trauma after Crash on Bicycle

September 26, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It’s a good guess that here in Baltimore almost many people know somebody who owns or rides a bicycle in the city from time to time. Of those people, there is a pretty good chance that someone knows a cyclist who has either had a close call with a motor vehicle in traffic, or who has actually had an accident on a bike.

As Maryland personal injury lawyers, my firm specializes in representing individuals who have been injured in car, truck or motorcycle crashes, as well as pedestrians and bikers who may have been severely injured or killed as a result of the negligent actions of a motor vehicle driver.

Some may joke about bicycle riders being hurt in traffic, but the lack of protection that cyclists must deal with as part of their hobby can literally expose them to greater personal danger, even at low speeds. The same can be said for motorcyclists involved in roadway collisions; both groups face greater risk of injury than the occupant of a typical passenger car given similar circumstances.

Naturally, every car, bike and commercial trucking accident is unique to that particular situation; and while the variables range from driver distraction to faulty safety equipment, the results can be painful, costly and even life-threatening.

Living and working in Rockville, Owens Mills, Gaithersburg, or Washington, D.C., bicyclists must be constantly aware of the traffic hazards that are ever present on the street. While biking accidents cannot be totally eliminated, safety should always be foremost in the rider’s mind at all times when sharing the road with larger vehicles.

Traffic Injuries and Fatalities in Anne Arundel County taking Toll on Maryland Pedestrians and Cyclists

August 8, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Aside from the heat, it would appear that this is particularly bad summer for persons on foot and riding bikes in Anne Arundel County, according to news reports of late. In fact the month of July started out very badly for a number of people who were either hit by passenger cars or commercial trucks while walking or cycling.

As Maryland personal injury attorneys, I and my staff have represented many individuals injured in car, truck and motorcycle crashes over the years. Pedestrian and bicycle-related traffic accidents can be some of the more deadly for the unprotected walker, runner or rider; more so, in some cases, than those individuals involved in a high-speed interstate collision or other car-to-car roadway wreck.

Based on various news reports, there were more than a half-dozen bicycle- and pedestrian-related traffic injuries and fatalities within ten days alone in Anne Arundel Co. As Maryland and Washington, D.C., injury attorneys and occasional pedestrians ourselves, we know all too well that persons on foot can sustain serious and sometimes life-threatening injuries if struck by a passenger automobile or commercial delivery truck. In fact, pedestrians have been know to be killed by speeding bicycles on sidewalks and though marked crosswalks.

Traumatic brain injury is one of the common injuries for pedestrians and bicycle riders, since most people fall down when hit by a car or truck, striking their head on the hard tarmac, curb or other roadway surface. A blow to the head can cause loss of motor function or coordination, trouble with memory, even forgetting how to eat or do the simple things we all take for granted everyday of our lives. Helmets help, of course, but not every time.

Not long ago, an article mentioned the rather marked increase in motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists. According to the news, official in Anne Arundel County noted the increase in these kinds of accidents, noting that there were seven incidents in just two weeks. These included the following:

Maryland Injury Accident News: Prince George’s County Man Charged with Running over Bicyclist with Truck

July 26, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It has already been firmly established that bicycles and motorcycles offer little protection for the riders in the event of a traffic accident. Whether a rider is struck by a passenger car, SUV, minivan or commercial delivery truck, the results can be catastrophic for the bicyclist or motorcycle rider. As Maryland personal injury lawyers and automobile accident attorneys, we have seen enough serious injury and fatal car, bike and truck crashes to know that surviving such a violent collision is just the beginning of a long road to recovery.

Sadly, many people injured in bicycle and motorcycle wrecks do not recover fully from their many injuries. Although the cuts and bruises may heal on the outside, more serious injuries such as spinal cord damage or a closed-head injury (also known as traumatic brain injury) may never heal sufficiently to allow an individual to carry on with a normal life ever again.

For this reason alone, we always recommend that people use caution when enjoying any two-wheel hobby where bicycles, motorcycles, cars and large trucks all share the same road. In addition to being mindful of the dangers lurking around every curve, we also suggest that riders wear protective clothing and that all-important piece of protective gear, a proper helmet.

While no amount of forethought can eliminate every chance of injury on the roadway, these items could provide the needed margin of safety that just might make the difference between life and death in the even of a bad collision on a public road. Of course, no one can really predict when and where a traffic accident will happen, as most readers of news reports will likely agree.

Baltimore Personal Injury News: D.C. Cyclists Should Worry the Quality of Roadway AND Cars, Trucks

June 15, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

It only takes a while before one realizes that bicyclists and pedestrians run a greater risk of injury here in Baltimore or over in the District thanks to our highly dense urban conditions and other factors that pit motor vehicles against lightweight bicycles and relatively defenseless foot traffic. As Maryland automobile accident lawyers and personal injury attorneys, we not only read the stories of bicycle and pedestrian accidents, but we also meet people who have been hurt in roadway collisions.

With more and more bikes on the road, it appears that riders in Maryland cities and the District have more worries: Cars, commercial trucks and the roadway itself. According to news articles, bike safety advocates are looking for an increase in cycling-related injury accidents now that warmer weather is here to stay for a while. Closed-head injuries, broken bones, road rash, cuts and bruises are all part and parcel of the dangers facing bicyclists.

Based on information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) there were 11 fatal bicycle-related accidents in Maryland in 2009. Although some would argue that cars, trucks and SUVs may be to blame for the majority of those deaths, experts advise that our roadways are also a major factor in these statistics.

Because of our more and more crowded streets and byways, the risks associated with cycling have grown over time, according to the news. Roads that are teeming with cars and pedestrians might occasionally appear to present the bulk of the problem, but according to many bicycling enthusiasts much of the concern lies with the road itself.

Lack of cycling lanes, like that one Maryland’s River Road just north of the beltway is one example. An inviting sinuous local roadway, River Road only has two lanes — one in each direction — yet no shoulder to speak off and certainly no designated bicycle lane. Cars passing at upward of 50mph can be unnerving even for a seasoned rider. The opportunities for injury or death are numerous.

One thing in cyclists’ favor in Washington, D.C., and Maryland is the law that permits a bicycle rider to use the travel lane at times when the rider can match the “normal speed” of motor vehicle traffic. This can allow a cyclist to ride more predictably within the traffic flow and also avoid shoulder obstacles, like drainage grates and suddenly opening doors of cars parked on the roadside.

Maryland Personal Injury News: Elderly Driver Cited for Accident that Critically Injured Johns Hopkins Cyclist

May 31, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Pedestrians and bicycle riders in Baltimore, Annapolis, D.C., and Rockville will likely all agree that brushes with motor vehicles are some of the more harrowing experiences in these urban areas. Even on suburban and rural roads the potential for serious injury accidents is quite high. Lucky individuals may only receive bumps and bruises, but those who don’t escape injury can be sent to the hospital with head or neck injuries, broken bones and internal bleeding.

As Maryland personal injury attorneys and auto accident lawyers, we commiserate with the families of those who have been hurt, permanently injured or killed in traffic collisions around the state. Naturally, everyone needs to follow the rules of the road and obey state laws, but the size and weight disparity between motor vehicle such as passenger cars, delivery trucks and commercial tractor-trailers, and people on foot or riding a bike certainly leaves the latter group at a disadvantage.

A little while back, prosecutors cited an elderly woman in connection with a car-bicycle collision that left a Johns Hopkins student Nathan Krasnopoler critically injured and in a coma. According to news reports, the State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore City and the Baltimore City PD issued two traffic citations against 83-year-old Jeannette Walke for her part in a February 26 accident near Johns Hopkins University.

Baltimore Personal Injury News: Maryland Cyclist Critically Injured following Car-Bicycle Accident

April 23, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

We’ve already written numerous times about the inherent dangers of being a pedestrian or bicycle rider in cities like Baltimore, Annapolis, Frederick and Washington, D.C. In fact, most anyone who has lived and worked in the more densely populated urban areas will likely attest to the tremendous opportunity for personal injury as a result of a traffic accident.

As Maryland automobile injury lawyers, I and my colleagues are keenly aware of the potential for serious injury that persons on foot or riding a bike can be exposed to. Too many people in this state are killed in senseless car and trucking accidents and the statistic bear this out. Even those people who are “lucky” enough to survive a brush with death can be hurt enough to require multiple surgeries for broken bones, internal injuries and spinal cord damage.

Medial costs for these kinds of injuries can run into the tens of thousands of dollars, hundreds even, and that doesn’t include the possible long-term physical therapy that a man, woman or child might need over the course of their life as a result of chronic head, neck or back pain. A lifetime in a wheelchair is a terrible thing to face when caused by another person’s negligence.

Maryland Bicycle Injury News: Traumatic Brain Injuries Can Mean a Lifetime of Struggle and Pain

April 15, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

For most people, reading the words “closed-head injury,” or “traumatic brain injury” may conjure up scenes of traffic wrecks or other serious injury accidents, but what do those simple words really mean? To you, me or a family trying to deal with a loved one recovering from such a life-changing event? Unless you’ve lived it yourself, the reality of such an experience — not to mention its aftermath — is far from most people’s imaginations.

As a Baltimore automobile injury attorney and personal injury lawyer, I’ve seen the results of traumatic head injury up close and personal. As a firm that represents victims of car, truck and motorcycle accidents, I and my colleagues understand that the challenges faced by individuals who have survived terrible traffic accidents do not always end when they leave the hospital.

Unless a person is one of the lucky few who can pick up their life where they left it after a severe car or commercial trucking accident, weeks, months or even years of intensive rehabilitation may loom ahead. And not just for that one person, but for his or her family as well. The costs can be staggering, all because of a moment’s loss of concentration or negligence actions of another individual.

In Frederick, Hagerstown, Annapolis and College Park, as well as towns and cities all across Maryland, motor vehicle accidents happen on a daily basis. Some crashes are fatal and take the lives of one or all occupants of a vehicle; others are less severe, yet leave scars that take years or even decades to heal. A recent story caught our eye regarding a seven-year-old boy, now a 49-year-old man who has struggled all his life since a childhood bicycle accident put him in a wheelchair and stole he youth.

According to the article, Kevin Detwiler is one of the lucky few who has a life now, but who went through hell along with his family following a tragic accident in the late ‘70s when he was struck by a car on an early spring day in St. Mary’s County. He was reportedly out for a ride with the rest of his family when the crash happened. The accident landed the second grader in the hospital with what is now known as traumatic brain injury.

Maryland Personal Injury News: Bicycle Safety Promoted by Mother of Fatal Car-Bike Accident Victim

March 27, 2011 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

We wrote last year about the tragic death of Natasha Pettigrew, a candidate for U.S. Senate who was struck by a sport utility vehicle during an early morning ride on her bike in Prince George’s County last fall. According to news stories at the time, the 30-year-old woman was training for a triathlon when she was killed in an alleged hit-and-run traffic accident in Maryland’s Prince George’s County.

Recently, Pettigrew’s mother, Kenniss Henry, has taken up crusade to make the streets of Maryland, Washington, D.C., and other areas safer for bicycle riders. According to news article, Henry has lobbied the Maryland legislature in Annapolis to try and get a new bill introduced — the Vehicular Manslaughter Act. Along with advocacy groups like Bike Maryland, Henry is reportedly pushing to close a major loophole in Maryland state law.

According to news reports, the current law essentially says that if a flagrantly reckless, yet sober driver causes a traffic death in Maryland, he or she will pay no more than $1,000 in fines through traffic court. The only other option is for the driver to be charged with a felony (however this typically never happens because the standards of proof are so very high).