Upper Marlboro Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Motorcycle accidents are dangerous, occur often, and can cause devastating damage. If you are injured in a motorcycle crash caused by a reckless automobile driver, an Upper Marlboro motorcycle accident lawyer could fight for you and help you get the compensation you are owed. Roger Gelb has years of experience helping injured victims seek justice.
Advice for Motorcyclists in Upper Marlboro
There are many reasons why a motorbike collision could occur. Four out of ten motorcyclists killed in crashes had been drinking, which affects reaction time, balance, and coordination, all essential skills needed to ride. Additionally, not all motorcyclists wear a helmet, which can affect the chances of fatality in an accident. Other common causes of motorcycle crashes include:
Motorcyclists who follow all the rules can still be injured in an accident when motorists are not paying attention, driving too fast, or tailgating. An Upper Marlboro motorcycle accident attorney could review the information regarding a motorcycle crash and help a victim seek compensation from the driver who caused it.
Damages Available in a Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents are notoriously devastating. Motorcyclists could face catastrophic injuries or even death in a collision. Critical injuries take a lot of time to heal, and a victim may be unable to work, pay extensive hospital and rehabilitation bills, and may be in excruciating pain. An Upper Marlboro injury attorney seeks enough money from people who negligently cause accidents to tide victims over until they are well. Victims who are disfigured or paralyzed should be compensated for a lifetime of diminished capabilities.
Compensatory Damages
Compensatory damages are divided into economic and non-economic. Economic damages cover what the victim must pay for medical treatment and the wages the victim loses by not working. The damaged motorcycle and any other personal property involved in the wreck would also be repaired or replaced. Non-economic damages are subjective because the jury must put a price on the pain and suffering, including emotional suffering, victims encounter after a tragic wreck, and their loss of enjoyment of life.
Punitive Damages
Although Maryland allows a victim to recover punitive damages meant to punish the defendant instead of compensating the victim, they are not usually awarded. The defendant must act with malice, with evil intent, for the plaintiff to prevail. For instance, if a drunk driver slams into a motorcyclist, punitive damages would probably not be awarded because the driver’s actions were negligent, reckless, and careless, but not malicious.
Statute of Limitations
According to Maryland Statute §5–101, plaintiffs filing a civil lawsuit against defendants whose negligence caused a personal injury to the plaintiff have three years from the accident date to do so. If the lawsuit is filed after three years, the injured claimant may be unable to recover compensation for damages.
An Upper Marlboro Motorcycle Accident Lawyer is Your Advocate
Hopefully, your motorcycle adventures will always be safe and exciting. But if you are the victim in a crash, you have an advocate to stand by you.
If a reckless motorist injures you, an Upper Marlboro motorcycle accident lawyer at Gelb & Gelb, P.C. is ready to help tell your story and get you the compensation you need. Call today to schedule your initial consultation.