Baltimore Motorcycle Accident Attorney
According to Statista, there were approximately 113,200 registered motorcyclists in Maryland as of 2019. While that number is significantly lower than states that have year-round warmth for riding, there are still a fair number of Maryland residents who either recreate or commute by motorcycle. While motorcycles offer a sense of freedom and excitement, they can also be hazardous because they lack the same safety features that other vehicles provide. If involved in a crash, a motorcyclist risks serious injury that can result in time away from work, extensive hospital bills, and even permanent disability or death. If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a motorcycle crash caused by another driver, it is important to speak with a Baltimore motorcycle accident attorney at Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP. We can assist you with holding the responsible party accountable by filing a personal injury claim.
Common Motorcycle Injuries
According to Maryland’s Motorcycle Operators Manual, one out of every five motorcycle crashes involves a head or neck injury. To help prevent such injuries, it is mandatory in Maryland for motorcyclists to wear a helmet that is certified by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Other common injuries for motorcyclist include:
- Fractures;
- Penetrating injuries;
- Soft tissue injuries;
- Internal injuries;
- Road rash; and
- Burns.
It is common for a motorcyclist to get pinned underneath the motorcycle during a collision which makes lower extremity injuries more common.
What If I Wasn’t Wearing a Helmet When I Crashed?
While it is Maryland law to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle, if you crash without one you can still seek compensation through a personal injury claim. Maryland law follows “contributory negligence”, which means that normally if a person is even the smallest bit at fault for their own injuries they cannot recover damages. However, Maryland also has a specific law that prohibits a driver from bringing up helmet use as evidence in a personal injury case. If you have any doubt about whether or not you can seek compensation in your case, it is worth consulting a knowledgeable personal injury attorney.
Types of Motorcycle Crashes
Motorcycles are smaller vehicles and if a driver is not paying attention to their surroundings, they may change lanes into a motorcyclist or cut them off while merging. Other behaviors that can lead to collisions include when another driver is speeding, driving distracted, following too closely behind, or even opens their car door without looking for oncoming traffic first.
Contact a Baltimore Motorcycle Injury Attorney Today
If your motorcycle injuries were caused by another negligent road user, it is critical you hold them accountable. However, recovery from a motorcycle injury can be lengthy and emotionally exhausting. Let the Baltimore motorcycle injury attorneys at Berman | Sobin | Gross LLP take on your legal battle while you focus on getting healthy again. We can help collect evidence to prove liability and advocate on your behalf for the best compensation possible. Contact our offices at 800-248-3352 to schedule a free consultation today.
