Motorcycle Accidents in Waldorf, Maryland
Once warmer weather hits, you can expect to see more motorcycles on the road. That means, as a vehicle driver, you need to be even more aware of your surroundings on the road to ensure that you see any approaching motorcycles. For motorcycle riders, you have to practice more defensive driving techniques, as many cars fail to notice motorcycles. If you have been involved in an incident that was not your fault, having the assistance of a skilled Maryland motorcycle accident attorney, Robert Castro, can make all the difference in getting the compensation you deserve.
Motorcycle Helmet Law
Maryland requires that motorcycle riders wear helmets while riding on interstates, highways, roads, and streets. While helmets can not protect you from all injuries, they can protect you from some head trauma. If you are involved in a non-fault incident and you were not wearing a helmet, the defense attorney will claim you contributed to your own injuries. Maryland is a contributory negligence state, which means that if you are found to be even 1% at fault in an accident, you are barred from any damage compensation. If your injuries are confined to your leg for example, it may not come into play, but if you suffered any sort of head trauma, the defendant’s attorney will aggressively pursue the contributory negligence defense.
Other Motorcycle Related Laws and Safety
Maryland has several other motorcycle-related laws on the books which are important to note. Eye protection is required in conjunction with helmets that do not have a windscreen when you are on the highway. Dirt bikes and off-road motorcycles are exempt from this requirement.
Be cautious about using helmet speakers. They are legal in Maryland, as long as they are used in one ear only. However, a defense attorney will argue that the use of helmet speakers contributed to your inability to avoid the accident.
Maryland law also dictates that lane splitting, or driving along the line between two other vehicles, is illegal. Lane sharing, however, is legal, which involves two motorcycles riding alongside each other in the same lane.
Drivers and motorcycle riders need to take extra precautions when on the road. Vehicle drivers should pay extra attention at intersections and look carefully in blind spots as a motorcyclist may be approaching. Motorcyclists should assume the vehicles can not see them and proceed with caution when making a turn or changing lanes. In residential areas, watch for motorcycles pulling out of driveways or from between parked cars, where you may not necessarily expect a vehicle to be emerging.
Maryland Motorcycle Accident Statistics
According to the Maryland Department of Transportation, there were 73 fatal motorcycle accidents in 2017, with a five-year average of 67. Motorcycle injury collisions topped out at 1,125 in 2016 with a five-year average of 1,153. The total number of motorcycle crashes doubled, if not tripled, starting in March, and peaked during the warmest summer months.
Retaining a Maryland Motorcycle Accident Attorney
If you have been involved in an injury collision you believe was not your fault, you need a top Maryland personal injury lawyer to guide you through the claims and litigation processes. Please contact the Law Offices of Robert Castro to schedule an initial consultation.
This article has been provided by the Law Office of Robert Castro. For more information or questions contact our office to speak to an experienced lawyer at (301)870-1200.
Law Office of Robert Castro. 2670 Crain Highway #411, Waldorf, MD 20601. (301) 870-1200.
