With summer finally on the way, many a man and a woman are pulling out their motorcycles for a long drive on a hot, sunny day. Motorcycle enthusiasts understand the exhilaration of cruising the open road on a vehicle open to the elements. But, riding a motorbike on Maryland’s roads also can be dangerous. Accidents can happen.
Recently, an off-duty policeman was killed as he rode his motorcycle on a Maryland road. According to news reports, another vehicle swerved into his lane, causing the officer’s motorcycle to topple. The man was also struck by an incoming car. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries at a Maryland hospital.
Motorcyclists are 27 times more likely to die in a motor vehicle accident than are passengers in automobiles and six times as likely to be severely injured, based on 2014 fatal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Many people assume that motor vehicles have the right of way – this is not true. A lot of people are also unaware that motorcycles have the same rights as the cars and trucks that use Maryland’s roads and highways.
In the instance of the man who did not survive his Maryland motorcycle injuries, there may be several avenues for recovery for the man’s family. Surviving family members may exercise their right to file a wrongful death claim in connection with the Baltimore County motorcycle accident against those believed responsible for his death. Proving negligence in a civil court could result in a money judgment that could help the family cover some of the financial losses the family faces as a result of the man’s death.
Bikers who survive the injuries they suffer in motorcycle accidents in Maryland are often left with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, paralysis, broken bones and lacerations. A Maryland motorcycle accident attorney can explain the options available and how best to proceed when confronted with a motorbike accident and injuries in Baltimore City and the surrounding Maryland counties.
Of course, there are common sense safety tips that should be exercised by Maryland’s motor bike riders. NHTSA has urged motorcyclists to make themselves visible, to use DOT-compliant motorcycle helmets, and to always ride sober. Don’t leave your helmet behind on short trips because it could be a deadly mistake, NHTSA says. Some motorcycle helmets, in addition to offering protection to your head in a crash, include plastic face shields that offer protection from wind, rain, insects, dust, and stones thrown up from cars. If your helmet doesn’t have a face shield, be sure you wear goggles because eyeglasses won’t keep your eyes from watering and can easily fall off, NHTSA suggests.
If you have suffered injuries in a motorcycle accident in Maryland or Baltimore City or a loved one has been seriously injured or killed as a result of a Maryland motorcycle collision, you may be able to recover the money needed to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and other damages by making a claim against the other party involved in the accident or your insurance company. You can contact Thomas Maronick on his cellphone at 410-402-5571, the law office at 410-402-5571 or via our website for a free consultation.