Maryland Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

Motorcyclist Killed After Losing Control in Construction Zone

September 9, 2014 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier last month in Alexandria, Virginia, a motorcyclist was killed after he was ejected from his bike and then hit by a passing car. According to a report by WUSA 9, the accident occurred at 11:30 in the evening on Interstate 495 just before the exit to Van Dorn Street.

The motorcyclist was traveling in an area of the highway that was under construction. The right three lanes were closed to through traffic, leaving motorists no choice but to use the left three lanes that had recently been milled. The freshly milled pavement had a 2-3 inch lip at the start and the end of the milled section.

Evidently, the motorcyclist lost control of his bike when he drove over the lip from the milled surface to the regular road surface. He was tossed from his bike and landed in the next lane, where another motorist hit him. Emergency responders pronounced the man dead at the scene.

Fourth-Year GW Medical Student Killed in Motorcycle Accident

September 4, 2014 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this week in Potomac, Maryland, a fourth-year medical student was killed when he was struck by another vehicle while riding his motorcycle. According to a report by one local news source, the man was riding his motorcycle on River’s Edge Drive when a BMW sedan attempted to make a left turn in front of the motorcyclist, cutting him off.

The motorcyclist flew off his bike as a result of the collision. Nearby witnesses attempted to perform first aid on him until emergency crews arrived, but the young man was pronounced dead later that day.

The driver of the BMW was also taken to the hospital, although only with non-life-threatening injuries, and he is expected to fully recover. Police are currently conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal motorcycle accident, hoping to gain additional insight as to the cause of the tragic event. It is not clear if the other driver is facing any charges related to his role in the accident at this time.

Two Riders Seriously Injured After Being Rear-Ended By SUV

August 28, 2014 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

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.

Another Maryland Motorcyclist Dead After Fatal Left-Turn Accident

August 21, 2014 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

In the latest of a string of fatal motorcycle accidents that have plagued Maryland, one man is dead after he ran into a car that was making a left turn in front of him. According to a report by one local news source, the accident occurred on Route 29 in Nelson County last Saturday morning.

Evidently, a man on a Harley Davidson was heading north on Route 29 when a southbound driver attempted to make a left-hand turn in front of the biker. Unfortunately, the driver was mistaken in his judgment, and the motorcyclist had no time to react and hit the side of the car.

The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident by emergency responders. The driver of the car was not injured in the accident at all. However, he was charged with reckless driving for his role in causing the fatal motorcycle accident.

20-Year-Old DC Man Killed in Motorcycle Accident

August 14, 2014 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this week, a tragic motorcycle accident took the life of a young man from Southeastern DC. According to a report by ABC 7, the accident occurred last Thursday in the late morning near the intersection of Good Hope Road and 16th Street SE.

Evidently, the motorcyclist was heading east on Good Hope Road when an SUV traveling west on the same road attempted to make a left turn in front of the biker. However, the SUV apparently cut off the biker, leaving him with little choice but to run into the side of the SUV.

The young motorcyclist was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Unfortunately, he did not survive and was pronounced dead shortly after he was admitted. Good Hope Road was closed for several hours while investigators tried to piece together the accident and determine who may have been at fault.

Three Injured in Anne Arundel Motorcycle Accident

August 7, 2014 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this week in Anne Arundel County, three people were injured in a motorcycle accident involving a Toyota Avalon and a Harley Davidson motorcycle. According to a report by WUSA 9, the accident occurred just after two in the afternoon at the intersection of Davidsonville Road and Governor Bridge Road.

Evidently, the motorcyclist was heading south on Davidsonville Road when the driver of the Toyota pulled out in front of him. The driver was waiting at a flashing red signal to turn left onto Davidsonville Road. However, since the driver pulled out right in front of the motorcycle, the motorcyclist had no time to stop and collided with the Toyota.

The motorcyclist was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Both the driver and the passenger of the Toyota were also taken to the hospital. However, they were admitted with only minor injuries.

Off-Duty Police Officer Killed in Motorcycle Accident

July 24, 2014 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this week in Chicago, a man was issued a citation for his involvement in the death of an off-duty police officer who was killed in a motorcycle accident. According to a report by the Chicago Tribune, the officer was riding on the highway when the driver of a Pontiac attempted to make an abrupt lane change to avoid missing an approaching exit.

As the driver shifted into the off-duty officer’s lane, he left the officer with no way to avoid a collision. The Pontiac crashed into the officer’s motorcycle, sending the officer off the bike and severely injuring him. The officer was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The driver of the Pontiac, who remained on the scene after the accident, was issued a citation for improper lane usage as well as for having no valid insurance.

Police Make Arrest in Fatal Motorcycle Crash Near Maryland-Pennsylvania Border

July 17, 2014 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Earlier this year near the Maryland-Pennsylvania border, a motorcyclist was killed when another vehicle crossed the center line on a highway and crashed into him. According to a recent report, police have apprehended the driver of the vehicle and charged him with homicide by vehicle, causing an accident involving death while not properly licensed, driving while operating privileges are suspended, driving without a valid license, reckless driving, careless driving causing death, and failure to drive on the right side of the road.

Evidently, the accident occurred on Barrett Pike near Garrett Road when the driver of a

mini-van that was heading south crossed over into northbound traffic. As the van entered the lanes of opposing traffic, the driver collide with the motorcyclist, fatally injuring him.

As it turns out, the driver of the van was from Mexico, and was not legally in the country. The judge denied the man bail and he currently awaits his trial date.

Two Maryland Motorcyclists Lose Their Lives in Recent Motorcycle Crashes

July 10, 2014 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Over the holiday weekend last week, two motorcyclists were killed in two different motorcycle accidents across Maryland. According to a report by WUSA 9, the first accident took place in Silver Spring, at the intersection of University Avenue and Dennis Avenue. Evidently, the motorcyclist was thrown from his bike when he hit a curb. The biker died from the injuries he sustained in the accident.

The second accident occurred in Burtonsville, and it involved an SUV as well as a motorcycle. Apparently, the SUV was making a left turn and collided with the motorcycle. The rider was thrown from the bike and suffered only minor injuries. However, his passenger suffered much more serious injuries and was pronounced dead later that day. The driver of the SUV suffered only minor injuries.

Determining Fault is Not As Easy As it May Seem

In Maryland motorcycle accidents, the fault determination is critical not just to decide who is issued a traffic citation for the accident, but also for the purposes of upcoming civil litigation. Indeed, the victim of the accident will likely be able to recover for their injuries from the person or people who are determined to be at fault. Thus, who is the “victim” in a motorcycle accident is of critical importance.

Two Bicyclists Injured in Annapolis Area Accidents Over the Weekend

July 3, 2014 | Lebowitz & Mzhen

Two bicyclists were seriously injured in an accident over the weekend when a car crossed onto the shoulder, striking them. According to a report by the Washington Post, the bicyclists were driving on an area of the Baltimore-Annapolis Trail that uses the shoulder of the road as the trail when a car crossed over the shoulder and struck both riders. Evidently the accident occurred around 2:30 p.m. on Route 450 near Brice Road when the riders were heading south on Route 450.

The bikers were properly using the right shoulder as they traveled south when a car traveling in the same direction veered over into the shoulder and crashed into the bikers. The two bicyclists were flown to Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, where one was admitted with serious injuries and the other with life-threatening, critical injuries.

Police told reporters that the cause of the accident was driver error, and that alcohol was involved in the serious accident. The driver of the car will likely face criminal charges for his role in the accident.