In Maryland, an average of 73 motorcycle riders and passengers die in traffic crashes, and nearly 1,046 sustain injury each year. This is concerning for a few reasons. First, motorcycle riders have little protection. While some wear thicker leather, goggles, gloves, and a helmet, this is not enough to protect against a negligent driver. Our Baltimore motorcycle accident lawyers handle these cases regularly. You may have a compensation claim if you or someone you know is in a motorcycle accident.
Motorcyclists share the streets with cars, trucks, bicyclists, runners, and more. But while car and truck drivers may escape the scene of an accident with only minor injuries, motorcycle accident injuries can be deadly. Like a truck colliding with a car, any other type of motor vehicle colliding with a motorcycle spells trouble for the rider. The mere weight difference is a severe problem for the motorcycle’s and its passenger’s health and safety.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which is headquartered in Washington, D.C., reports that motorcycle riders are overrepresented mainly in fatal traffic crashes. Nationally, there were 5,932 reported motorcyclists killed in 2021. Miraculously, accidents in Maryland accounted for just 1.2% of these. Nonetheless, motorcycle riding continues to be highly dangerous—moreover, 14% of all traffic fatalities in 2021 involved motorcycle riders. Disproportionately, just 3% of all registered vehicles are motorcycles. Accordingly, not only is riding a bike more likely to end in a fatality, but you are also more likely to get into an accident if you are riding a motorcycle than some other motor vehicle.
To make matters worse for motorcycle riders, there is a noticeable upward trend from 1975 to now. NHTSA data show that the 2021 number of motorcyclists killed is the highest it has been in nearly 50 years. Some more valuable statistics include that 29% of motorcycle operators killed in 2021 were also drunk. Lastly, NHTSA reports that only 65% of motorcycle riders followed motorcycle helmet protocol.
The best time to hire a personal injury lawyer in Baltimore depends on the facts of your case. However, the best time to consult an attorney in Baltimore is as soon as possible. Before consulting your attorney, seek immediate medical attention if necessary. Even if you are unsure about the severity of your injury, pay attention to yourself. Once you have been to the hospital, try to call a motorcycle accident lawyer that same day. The sooner you consult with an experienced attorney, the sooner an aggressive legal team can protect your rights.
In some cases, each day that you wait matters. As a plaintiff, I would like to tell you that you must mitigate your damages. This means you have an affirmative duty to do certain things so that the defendant is not liable for unreasonable damages. Also, by calling us, you can consult with our Baltimore motorcycle accident lawyers for free. There is only a fee if we win. This is a massive benefit to you. To be abundantly clear, under no circumstances do you owe your Gelb & Gelb attorneys a fee unless we win your case. Our fee structure is set up this way so accident victims who do not otherwise have the means to afford an attorney may still protect their rights. Nonetheless, this fee structure is available to all clients we take.
The typical cause of action in a motorcycle case in Baltimore is negligence. Without getting into the technical legal definition, negligence deviates from the standard of care. In other words, the defendant driver must maintain control of his vehicle and has failed to do so, resulting in injury to the plaintiff. Additionally, you may be able to claim assault or battery with a motor vehicle. However, this is rare. It requires intentional conduct on the part of the defendant.
Roger Gelb and our legal team have handled thousands of cases in Maryland. Our firm has been practicing law in D.C. and Maryland since 1954, providing nearly 70 years of experience aggressively fighting for our clients. If you believe you have a case, give us a call today. We are available to talk 24/7.