Carney, MD Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Many Americans use motorcycles as an alternative to a car or maintain them and ride as a hobby. Unfortunately, even when using all appropriate safety gear, riding a motorcycle can be dangerous and, and you could get in an accident and be seriously injured. Motorcycles can be more likely to get into accidents than cars, vans, trucks, and other automobiles because other drivers might fail to properly keep a lookout for smaller vehicles.

If you find yourself in a motorcycle accident near Carney, our lawyers can help. We are experienced attorneys who have assisted clients with motorcycle accident lawsuits, and now we are ready to assist you. We can collect evidence, talk to witnesses, negotiate with insurance companies, and fight for you in court to get you the compensation you deserve.

Call Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 for a free case review with our motorcycle accident lawyers.

Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Carney, MD

Motorcycle accidents can happen for a variety of reasons. While it might not seem like the exact cause of your motorcycle accident is important, it is actually critical information for our motorcycle accident lawyers to have because it helps us make sure we are bringing the right parties to court in your lawsuit.

Single Vehicle Accidents

Many motorcycle accidents do not involve another vehicle. The motorcycle could skid on the road or otherwise become unbalanced and crash into the road or a guardrail. You might think that this means that blame for the accident falls squarely on the motorcycle rider. However, that is not necessarily the case. Outside factors like road conditions or other drivers can lead to a motorcycle seemingly crashing all by itself. However, in cases where passengers are injured in a single-bike crash, they may be able to blame the driver for their crash.

Road Hazards

A common cause of motorcycle accidents is problems with the roadway that cause motorcycles to lose their balance and crash. Things like potholes, puddles of oil and other substances, and debris strewn about on a highway are much more dangerous for motorcycles than automobiles because it is easier for a two-wheeled bike to get thrown off balance than a four-wheeled vehicle.

Other Drivers

No one ever accused other drivers of being conscientious on the road. When other drivers drive their vehicles in a dangerous way, responsible car drivers and motorcyclists will try their best to get out of the way for their own safety. Unfortunately, sometimes another driver’s sudden actions happen too quickly for a motorcyclist to react, or the motorcycle driver can inadvertently get in an accident trying to avoid an aggressive or careless driver of another vehicle.

Injuries From Motorcycle Accidents in Carney, MD

Motorcycles are notorious for being dangerous to ride and likely to cause injuries. You could end up with enormous medical expenses after a motorcycle accident from initial treatment as well as long-term recovery from these injuries.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are the result of hard impacts to the head that hurt the brain. A minor TBI, like a concussion, can result in mood swings, memory loss, fatigue, and sensitivity to light and sound.

More serious traumatic brain injuries have dire consequences. You could lose the ability to do basic tasks, like walking or speaking. TBIs can also result in permanent memory loss or even death in the long term.

Broken Bones

Any highly forceful impact, like a motorcycle accident, has the potential to break bones. Virtually every broken bone injury will require a cast to heal. Injuries like compound fractures could require multiple surgeries to set the bones back in place. Moreover, after the bones have healed, you will likely have to retrain the body part covered in a cast and regain strength.

Bruises and Scrapes

Even with protective clothing and a helmet on, you can still get bruised from the impacts sustained in a motorcycle accident. You actually have two main impacts in a motorcycle accident. The first is when your motorcycle hits an object, be it a car or a pothole or something else, and the second is when you hit the ground.

Minor bruises can heal on their own, but more serious bruising could need immediate medical treatment. Scrapes, friction burns, and abrasions are also common in motorcycle accidents from sliding across the roadway.

Helmets in Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits in Carney, MD

While it is very strongly encouraged for motorcyclists to wear a helmet and other protective gear while on the road, not all of them heed that advice for varied reasons. If you were not wearing a helmet when you were in a motorcycle accident, you might be wondering whether that fact can hurt your case.

Fortunately, in Maryland, the fact that you were not wearing a helmet cannot be used against you most of the time. Md. Code, Transp. Art., § 21-1306 mandates that motorcyclists wear helmets while traveling within the state. However, § 1306(e) of the same makes it so that failure to wear a helmet cannot be used to establish negligence or contributory negligence on the plaintiff’s part. In fact, our lawyers and opposing counsel are not generally allowed to mention a helmet at any point during a motorcycle accident lawsuit.

The sole exception to that rule is when the lawsuit is centered around a helmet “alleged to be defectively designed, manufactured, or repaired” under Md. Code, Transp. Art., § 21-1306(e)(2). In other words, if the basis of your lawsuit is that you were injured because your helmet did not work, it is a material issue in the case and can be talked about.

Speak With Our Carney, MD Motorcycle Accident Lawyers About Your Case

Our motorcycle accident lawyers from Rice, Murtha & Psoras can be reached at (410) 694-7291 to discuss your case.