Rosedale, MD Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Many motorcycle crashes happen every day in the United States. Sadly, motorcyclists are often badly injured in these crashes, even if they are wearing appropriate safety gear, simply because motorcyclists are more exposed than people in cars, SUVs, and other traditional motor vehicles. To make things worse, the cost of treating injuries sustained in a motorcycle crash can get very high very quickly, so many motorcycle crash victims are left with anxiety-inducing medical bills on top of their physical injuries.

Fortunately, we can help. Our attorneys know how to handle motorcycle crash cases with the professionalism and determination they demand. We will not stop fighting until you get the compensation you are entitled to or all legal options are exhausted.

Get in touch with Rice, Murtha & Psoras’s motorcycle accident lawyers when you call us at (410) 694-7291.

Causes of Motorcycle Crashes in Rosedale, MD

Motorcycle crashes happen for many different reasons. Sometimes, the root cause is obvious, like if a car speeds through a red light and slams into an unfortunate motorcyclist. Other times, an accident may look like a “single vehicle” affair caused by the motorcyclist’s inexperience or recklessness. Of course, our motorcycle accident lawyers know that, more often than not, those single-vehicle accidents are the result of some other issue and not something the motorcyclist did. Some causes of motorcycle crashes that can lead to lawsuits include:

Driver Negligence

Other drivers acting unreasonably on the road is a common cause of motorcycle accidents. There are two main ways that drivers can be negligent and cause accidents. First, they can violate traffic rules and laws. This includes behavior like drunk driving, aggressive tailgating, speeding, and more. Second, drivers can do things that a reasonable motorist would not do under the circumstances. The jury determines whether a driver was acting reasonably or not, so our lawyers will work hard to help them understand your situation.

Defective Cars and Motorcycles

Sometimes, motorcycle accidents happen because one of the vehicles involved is defective. Vehicles are considered “defective” when they have some issue that will arise during their normal, intended use. For example, a car with brakes that do not work is defective.

If a defective vehicle caused your motorcycle accident, you can sue the company responsible for designing or manufacturing the vehicle – depending on where the defect came up. You may also be able to sue a repair shop that did a faulty repair job, resulting in a defective car or motorcycle.

Poor Road Conditions

If a pothole, uncleared road debris, or other problem with a roadway contributed to your motorcycle accident, you can sue the entity responsible for maintaining those roads. Usually, this is a state or local government entity, and there are special rules for suing those entities. However, you may also be able to sue a company contracted to work on the roads and not have to worry about those rules.

Damages in Motorcycle Accident Lawsuits in Rosedale, MD

If you successfully prove that the defendant in your case is liable for your injuries, the court will award you damages. Damages are financial payouts made to you by the defendant to try and get you back to where you were prior to your accident.

When you prepare and file your claim with the court, it is good practice to explain why you are requesting a particular amount of money in damages. Your damages can be based on several factors, including economic cost, pain and suffering, and more.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are based on things with actual monetary value. Things you might request compensation for that fall under this category include hospital bills and other medical expenses, property damage like the cost of fixing or replacing your motorcycle, and lost wages. “Lost wages” is a term that could mean a lot of different things. For example, If you have to take time off work to recover, you can get damages based on the pay you would have earned during that time had you not been injured. Alternatively, if you have to switch jobs to one that pays less because of the injuries you got in the accident, you can get damages based on that difference in pay. Finally, if your injuries are such that you are not able to return to the workforce at all, you can get damages based on estimates of what you would have earned for the rest of your career.

Non-Economic Damages

On the other hand, non-economic damages are based on things that are less immediately tangible. One of the most common forms of non-economic damages sought by plaintiffs is “pain and suffering,” which refers to the actual pain you experienced because of your motorcycle crash. You also can seek non-economic damages for mental anguish and emotional distress – the non-physical injuries that many victims of motorcycle crashes experience.

Proving non-economic damages can be more challenging than proving economic damages because there will not necessarily be a bill, invoice, or receipt you can show to the jury that displays their worth. Instead, you will have to calculate their worth and prove it in court.

Punitive Damages

Economic and non-economic damages are known as “compensatory damages” – they are meant to bring you back to where you were before the accident. Punitive damages are different. They are meant to punish defendants who acted especially badly. Not only do you need to request punitive damages in your initial filings, but you will also have to prove more than mere negligence on the part of the defendant. If you are considering seeking punitive damages, you should discuss it with our attorneys.

Call Our Motorcycle Accident Lawyers from Rosedale, MD Now

Rice, Murtha & Psoras can be reached at (410) 694-7291 and has motorcycle accident lawyers ready to analyze your claim.