Fatal Motorcycle Accidents

Baltimore Auto-Bike Accident News: Motorcycle Injuries or Fatalities Can Happen to Any Maryland Rider

November 8, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Mothers, fathers and siblings all worry about family members and friends who ride motorcycles. Why? The answer is simple: Motorcyclists are statistically more likely to be killed or injured in traffic collisions than drivers or passengers in cars, minivans, SUVs or pickup trucks that are caught up in serious roadway crashes. Of course, we are probably preaching to the choir when it comes to any biker who is reading this, but understanding as we do the downside to motorcycle accidents, we feel compelled to reiterate our message of caution.

As Maryland personal injury attorneys, I and my staff of legal professionals have seen riders who have been mildly to severely hurt in car-bike wrecks, as well as bikers involved in collisions with commercial trucks. Although most every motorcycle enthusiast understands the risks involved with traveling in dense traffic or along a high-speed interstate, the fact remains fatal and near-fatal injuries can easily result when a bike is hit by a larger vehicle or, worse, if the rider collides with a stationary object.

Traumatic brain injury is common, even for those who wear a certified helmet and other protective riding gear, as are broken bones and compound fractures, internal injuries and debilitating back and neck injuries. Never mind the potential for severe burns in crashes that ignite a gasoline-fueled fire. For anyone who chooses not to acknowledge the ever-present risk of injury or death while riding a motorcycle, consider the following news items.

Man Killed on Motorcycle in High-Speed Bike Accident in Saint Mary’s County, MD

October 26, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Just like any machine, Motorcycles can suffer from mechanical problems. But unlike many machines, motorcycles are capable of propelling a rider from 0 to 60mph in a matter of seconds. With the ability to travel at highway speeds and above, a motorcycle is one machine that needs to be in tip-top condition. That’s “perfect” condition from the factory, as well as years later. Especially if one rides a sport bike, but even for those who simply cruise around town, there should be no margin for error when it comes to the design, maintenance and use of a powerful Harley, Honda, Ducati or Yamaha.

As Maryland personal injury attorneys, I and my legal staff have seen enough victims of automobile, motorcycle and commercial trucking wrecks to know that people can suffer greatly if safety is placed on the back burner. The old adage, “Safety First” is not just a quaint slogan for old timers to toss around when someone gets seriously hurt. Safety First should be a way of life, especially for individuals who live and work in risky circumstances. Bikers should consider themselves as part of this group.

When we talk of safety, at least in this instance today, we talk about the safe design and maintenance of motor vehicles. While it may seem a little over dramatic to say that we stake our lives on the safety aspects of our family sedan or municipal bus, it is true that the safe operation of these vehicles does go a long way to keeping us all alive. If the brakes on a passenger sedan fail while approaching a red light at a busy intersection, this is an instance where some or all of the people in that car could be placed in jeopardy.

Motorcycle Accident Update: Riders Beware the Deadly Results of Colliding with Maryland Wildlife

October 18, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Motorcycle riders have a tough job. Not only must they pilot a powerful, two-wheeled machine around traffic, over varying road surfaces and through poor weather, they must also be prepared for the unexpected. For most bikers, this often comes in the form of distracted parents in minivans filled to the gunwales with screaming kids, teenage drivers with one eye on their smartphone screen and the other on their friends, or the random drunken driver who rolls through a stop sign at just the wrong moment.

With all the dangers on the road conspiring to kill or seriously injure Maryland motorcyclists, it’s amazing riders don’t die simply from fright. Of course, we’re being sarcastic, but the fact remains that many riders, even experienced bikers, are hurt every month in traffic accidents in places like Bowie, the Disctrict, Gaithersburg and Annapolis. As Baltimore personal injury lawyers, we have spoken to riders who have sustained terrible injuries resulting from roadway collisions caused by negligent or thoughtless motorists.

Being hit by a passenger car, or worse, colliding with a commercial delivery truck is something that every motorcycle rider must prepare himself for. It may never happen, but if the situation arises, being ready for the unexpected could help to save that riders life. And while passenger car drivers may have the same worries about being involved in a bad trucking-related traffic wreck or having a drunk driver make a left-hand turn directly in front of one’s vehicle, keep in mind that bikers also have to watch out for things that a four-wheel driver hardly considers a danger.

Baltimore Traffic Injury News: Maryland Biker Dies after Crash with Calvert County Sheriff’s Vehicle

October 9, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Over the last few years, what with the shift in many individual’s employment circumstances and financial condition, many people have traded their four-wheeled transportation for the two-wheeled variety. For dyed-in-the-wool enthusiasts, the motorcycle is a passport to freedom on the open road. Yet that freedom does come at a cost. The opportunity for severe injuries is ever-present when riding a bike, as opposed to driving an automobile.

Since one doesn’t need to be in love with riding to own a motorcycle, many people who choose the own a scooter or small-displacement bike may not have the same deep-seated desire to be one with the road. For those individuals, people who may ride mainly to save gas money or avoid the cost of expensive auto loan payments, the innate safety mindset of the typical lifetime biker may not have fully developed. It is these individuals who can sometimes be caught off guard by an emergency traffic situation. What’s worse, riding a lower-powered motor vehicle means the bike will have less get-up-and-go to get a rider out of a tight spot.

As Baltimore personal injury attorneys, I and my colleagues know that motorcycle accidents happen on a fairly regular basis. And while they may be routine, the injuries sustained by riders involved in a serious motorcycle-automobile accident can be anything but routine. Head and back injuries are common, as are broken bones and spinal cord damage. These accidents can happen spontaneously and without any warning in rural areas as well as urban areas like Rockville, Gaithersburg and Washington, D.C.

Texting While Driving Case Settled; Appeal Pending on Texter’s Role in Double Injury Traffic Accident

September 30, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

First off, we will remind everyone that teenager drivers are disproportionately represented in traffic accident statistics all across the United States. In fact, as a group, teenagers are the most likely to die in a roadway collision than any other segment of the driving population. That said, it should be remembered that while teens are very often killed in a traffic accident, their actions also can cause injuries and deaths to others as well.

As Maryland automobile accident lawyers, we want to say that this is not an indictment of young drivers, but it is an illustration of how youth and inexperience can conspire to cause serious accidents that injure not only the young motorist, but also others in his or her path. Granted, everyone needs time to learn, and learning to drive in a vacuum is not a viable solution. This is why Maryland’s tiered licensing system, like that of other states, is designed to save the lives of the learners as well as those of the public at large.

In Washington, D.C., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that roadway wrecks kill about eight teens (ages 16 to 19) every single day. That’s a sobering number to anyone who has a young driver in the household and it also explains why parent’s typically see their auto insurance premiums jump once a teenager gets his license and starts driving the family car. Further to the CDC’s information, that agency also found that more than 800,000 teenagers are injured in car accidents every year. That’s more than one youngster hurt every minute across the nation; every hour, every day, week in and week out.

Two Maryland Riders Killed in Separate, Single-Vehicle Motorcycle Wrecks; Excessive Speed Blamed in Each

August 31, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As Baltimore motorcycle and automobile accident attorneys, I and my colleagues are familiar with the dangers that bikers face every time they hit the road here in Maryland, as well as in the District of Columbia. Whether one rides out of necessity, such as to save money, or if motorcycling is just an enjoyable pastime, the potential for bodily injury and even death are much higher for riders of two-wheel vehicles then for the rest of the motor public.

By its very nature, a motorcycle offers much less protection than a car, SUV or minivan. So, when a bike rider tangles with a slightly larger and much more massive passenger vehicle the results can be catastrophic. Moreover, pitting oneself as a motorcyclist against a commercial delivery truck or over-the-road semi tractor-trailer rig is far from a wise choice. With just a fraction of the mass and next to no protection from personal injury, a biker has little chance of avoiding severe or debilitating injuries should he or she collide with, or be hit by a larger motor vehicle on the highway or even in town.

Knowing the dangers is, of course, just the first step toward a long and successful career of defensive riding with few if any bad accidents. As many a motorcyclist will attest, being ready for the unexpected is one of the hallmarks of a good rider. Not that any of us can predict the future, however the safest motorcycle riders know innately the kinds of traffic or riding situations that can spell potential trouble for them.

Motorcyclists Beware: Unexpected Events Can Cause Serious Injury or Worse

July 6, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

If there is one thing that motorcyclists, as well as other drivers, cannot completely avoid it would be random occurrences that affect the safety of that particular rider, driver or vehicle occupant. Traffic accidents by their very nature are random, whether they happen here in the Baltimore area, over in Bowie, Annapolis or Washington, D.C. What is more important to understand is that preparation can only help one to be ready for the unexpected.

As a Maryland personal injury lawyer, I know that nobody can fully prepare themselves for any contingency. This is why insurance companies exist and why people buy life, health and automobile insurance policies; there are just some events that cannot be predicted. Certainly, the timing of catastrophic events is very difficult to pin own, and again, this is why people all over the world purchase insurance to protect themselves and their loved ones.

Taking random events as a given, and as haphazard as they may seem, unexpected car and trucking accidents can turn out to be very deadly. More than one motorist, biker, cyclist, pedestrian or bystander has been killed or maimed by the random and deadly events sometimes precipitated by a negligent individual. And more than one wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in a Maryland court following what the plaintiffs have deemed gross negligence or even extreme indifference on the part of the defendant.

Speed May Kill, But Other Factors Can Also Conspire Against Maryland Motorcycle Riders

June 30, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Here in the Baltimore area, we see many bikers out and about on their motorcycles during the summer months. As automobile injury attorneys, we know that a certain percentage of these motorcyclists may be hurt or killed before the year is out. Is this a reason in and of itself to swear off bikes? For those “dyed in the wool” bikers, probably not. As for the rest of you, well, let your conscience be your guide.

Being Maryland personal injury lawyers, I and my colleagues know that human nature is difficult force to reckon with when it comes to dangerous or, at the very least, somewhat risky pastimes. We know that with so many individuals on this planet it is hard to use a cookie-cutter approach to pigeonholing any one person or group as practicing this or that lifestyle or recreational hobby. As long as the law doesn’t prohibit a pastime, then people should be free to pursue whichever activity they choose.

Again, motorcycling certainly cannot be placed in the same category with fishing or tennis. Injuries in those sports do occur, but they are rarely life-threatening. But when a motorcyclist gets into an accident of his own making or through no fault of his own, the ante is much higher than most any other leisure pursuit. In fact, when a rider (and likely his passenger as well) is lying in a hospital room and more than likely physically compromised, the driver of the passenger car or commercial delivery truck who may have actually caused the traffic accident in the first place might be perfectly fine and walking around.

Summer in Maryland: Hoping Bikers Avoid Fatalities and Reduce their chances of Injury in Car-Bike Crashes

May 31, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

With the Memorial Day holiday now behind us and summer fast on its way, we feel compelled to advise caution to those who will be riding their motorcycles around the state this coming season and on into fall. As with any discussion of biking safety, one must certainly remind those riders who venture out on hot summer weekends (and especially warm-weather holidays) that some drivers will not be paying strict attention to the road; accidents can and will occur in the coming weeks and months — and there is little anyone can do about it.

Of course, the dangers posed by summer traffic are nothing new to most motorcycle riders, since every motorcyclist worth his or her salt understands the intrinsic risk associated with such a dynamic and exhilarating sport. It always seems that the number of riders on Maryland roadways increases in direct proportion to the rise in average temperature. With those increased numbers comes, hopefully, a greater awareness on the part of car and truck drivers as to the existence of bikes sharing the traffic lanes. One can always hope, at least.

Still, as with most aspects of life, not everyone is paying the best attention to traffic conditions as they should be. This has always been the case, but over recent years with the increasing availability and use of cell phones, smartphones, mobile email and other hand-held apps, the fight for a driver’s attention is being lost by the task at hand, namely operating a motor vehicle safely and thoughtfully.

Baltimore Injury Accident News: Three Motorcycle Accidents across Maryland; One Fatality and Two Serious Injuries

April 30, 2012 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

As evidenced by the huge number of motorcycling fans and riders throughout our state and the nation, motorcycle riding is a fairly popular sport, and way of life, for many individuals. Without the enthusiasm of full-time riders and hobbyists, one could say motorcycles would be just another form of transportation. But as most anyone can tell, especially after speaking with some dyed-in-the-wool motorcycle fanatics, bikes are not simply a way to get from point A to point B, they are the only way to truly enjoy a getting anywhere.

Whether you live or work in Gaithersburg, Rockville Annapolis or the District, even if you’re not a biker, you see motorcycles of all types on the road — Honda’s, Harleys, Ducattis and Kawasaki’s, among others. Most automobile drivers who are not bikers may not understand the draw that these machines have on some people, yet the passion is unmistakable once one has had a chance to talk with a motorcycle owner.

What most non-riders may not understand is the apparently easy acceptance of the high risk and serious dangers that motorcycle riding presents on a daily basis to these enthusiasts. Despite the numerous stories of bike accidents and fatal traffic crashes involving motorcycles, to an outsider it would appear that none of these individuals cares about their safety. Of course, this couldn’t be farther from the truth, at least for most consummate riders.