Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog
With the increased prevalence of smartphones, distracted driving has become a major cause of Maryland traffic accidents over the past decades. Indeed, according to one government report, over the past few years there have been about 48,000 Maryland car accidents caused by distracted driving each year. Most of these accidents occur in the urban areas around Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
The report acknowledges that determining the actual number of Maryland distracted driving accidents is difficult because verifying that a driver was distracted before causing an accident is difficult. However, the most recent report issued by the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that distracted driving is involved in about half of all Maryland motor vehicle accidents.
In 2016 alone, Maryland law enforcement officers issued over 34,000 citations for cell phone use while driving and another 1,800 for texting while driving. While these numbers have gone down over the past few years as government efforts to educate drivers on the dangers of distracted driving have increased, distracted driving is still a significant concern, especially for Maryland bicyclists.
Recovering After a Distracted Driving Accident
Anyone who has been injured as a result of a Maryland distracted driving accident may be eligible for financial compensation for the injuries they have sustained. To prove a case against a distracted driver, a Maryland accident victim must be able to establish that the other motorist’s actions or inaction resulted in their injuries. A plaintiff may be able to establish the standard of care can by showing that the other driver violated a criminal or traffic law in causing the accident.
Distracted Driver Collides with Group of Bicyclists
Earlier this month, one woman was killed and several others injured when the driver of an SUV drove into a pack of cyclists who were out enjoying a morning ride. According to a local news report covering the tragic accident, the driver approached the pack of cyclists from the rear in an area where the was no bike lane, requiring motorists to share the road with cyclists. Evidently, the driver collided with several of the bikers before feeling the impact and then swerving off the road.
Law enforcement officials responding to the scene were told by the motorist that she could not see the bicyclists as she approached them due to the glare from the sun. She also told police that she was distracted by something inside her car in the moments before the fatal accident. Police do not believe that drugs or alcohol were involved in the fatal accident, and believe that the distraction was not caused by the driver’s cell phone.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Bike Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been injured in a Maryland distracted driving accident, consider contacting the dedicated Maryland personal injury law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen, LLC to discuss your situation. At Lebowitz & Mzhen, we have extensive experience bringing claims on behalf of our clients who have been injured in all types of Maryland traffic accidents. We also provide free consultations to accident victims and their families to discuss their situation and explain how we may be able to help. To learn more, call 410-654-3600 to schedule your free consultation today.
More Blog Posts:
Pursuing a Claim of Negligence Following a Maryland Motorcycle Accident, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published November 13, 2018.
Cyclists Beware, “Counterfeit” Bicycle Helmets Are Becoming More Common in Maryland and Nationwide, Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog, published November 28, 2018.