baltimore motorcycle accident lawyers

Baltimore Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Tough representation for motorcycle accident victims and families

Every day, drivers of cars, trucks, and motorcycles create risks that can lead to serious motorcycle accidents in Baltimore. Motorcycles can be more difficult to handle, and car and truck drivers often fail to respect the right of a motorcycle driver to be on the road. At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we have the experience and established relationships with investigators, traffic reconstruction experts, physicians, and other professionals to show the cause of your motorcycle accident, who is responsible, and how serious your injuries are. Our Baltimore motorcycle accident lawyers help drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and families pursue compensation for their personal and financial damages.

Whether you live or ride in any part of Maryland – including Canton, Fells Point, Federal Hill, Hampden, Inner Harbor, Little Italy, Mount Vernon, Old West Baltimore, Pigtown, and Downtown Baltimore – if you were in a motorcycle crash, we’re ready to help you now.

Our vehicle accident recoveries include many seven and six-figure results. We’ve obtained more than $500 million for our personal injury clients. While past results don’t guarantee future outcomes, they do show how hard we work for our clients.

How can we help?

Should you get a Baltimore motorcycle accident lawyer?

Motorcycles are dangerous because, unlike cars and other large vehicles, motorcycles do not have hoods, roofs, trunks, or doors to physically protect a rider. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the odds of dying in a motorcycle accident are 28 times higher than dying in a car accident. In 2023, 15 percent of all deaths due to traffic collisions were due to motorcycle accidents. These accidents killed 6,335 motorcycle riders. According to Zero Deaths Maryland, the state’s five year average (2019-2023) is 77 fatal crashes and 936 injury crashes.

If you find yourself in a motorcycle accident, consider reaching out to a Baltimore motorcycle accident lawyer. Motorcycle crashes can cause severe injuries and expensive medical costs. Plus, insurance companies may try to shift blame to the rider, minimize injuries, or make settlement offers that are too low.

An experienced motorcycle accident lawyer, like those at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., can investigate how the crash happened, identify everyone who may be responsible, preserve evidence, and handle communications with insurers. Having a lawyer allows you to focus on your recovery while your claim is pursued properly and on time.

What is the average payout for a motorcycle accident in Baltimore, MD?

There is no fixed or guaranteed average payout for motorcycle accident claims in Baltimore or elsewhere in Maryland. The value of a motorcycle accident case depends on the specific facts of each individual case. This includes the severity of the injuries, available evidence, and the amount of available insurance coverage. Settlement amounts and verdicts can vary widely.

What types of motorcycle accidents do you handle in Baltimore?

Our Baltimore motorcycle accident lawyers handle all types of motorcycle accidents. These include the following:

  • Head-on crashes
  • Rear-end accidents
  • Broadsides (the front of one vehicle strikes the side of a motorcycle)
  • Sideswipes (the sides of a motorcycle and another vehicle collide, such as when passing or splitting lanes)
  • Intersection accidents
  • Dooring accidents
  • Multiple-vehicle accidents
  • Turning accidents (left-turn motorcycle accidents are especially dangerous)

Why do motorcycle accidents happen in Baltimore?

We can work with the police, investigators, other liability professionals, and through the discovery process to determine the cause of your accident and why your motorcycle accident was preventable. Common causes of motorcycle crashes include:

  • Drivers of cars and other large vehicles fail to respect the rights of motorcycle drivers
  • Drivers of cars and other large vehicles fail to react properly when they see a motorcycle rider
  • Distracted driving
  • Speeding, failing to yield, and other Maryland traffic violations
  • Driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs
  • Dangerous road conditions, such as potholes, roadkill, and road construction
  • Rain, snow, fog, and other dangerous road conditions
  • Lack of motorcycle riding experience
  • Lane-splitting
  • Not riding in groups properly
  • Failing to inspect the motorcycle before operating it
  • Defective motorcycle parts, such as clutches, throttles, brakes, and electrical systems

What are common injuries from motorcycle crashes in Baltimore?

Motorcycles often cause catastrophic, permanent, chronic, or serious injuries. At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we can work with your doctors (and our own network of doctors, if necessary) to confirm what injuries you have, what treatments you’ll need, the cost of your medical care, and how your injuries are affecting every part of your life.

Our Baltimore motorcycle accident lawyers handle the following types of motorcycle injuries, among others:

One very common type of injury that is unique to motorcycle riding is road rash. This injury occurs when a rider slides along the hard ground after falling from the motorcycle. Road rash may cause infections. Victims may need skin grafts and plastic surgery.

Damages for motorcycle accidents in Baltimore

The payout depends on many factors, including the strength of your liability claim, what injuries you have, how much pain you have, whether you can work, and other factors. We can pursue compensation for all your past, current, and future damages, including:

  • Medical bills of every type by every health provider
  • Lost income, including wages, business income benefits, and long-term disability income
  • Daily physical pain and emotional suffering
  • The cost to fix or replace your motorcycle, depending on the extent of the damage
  • Loss of bodily function
  • Any scars or disfigurement
  • The inability to enjoy life’s pleasures
  • Loss of consortium (marital enjoyment)

If a loved one dies, we can file a wrongful death claim for the family members. Wrongful death damages in Baltimore, Maryland, include:

  • The loss of financial support
  • The loss of personal support (love, guidance, comfort, and companionship)
  • Emotional suffering

We can also file a survival action for the funeral and burial costs and any damages to your loved one (medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering) between the date of the accident and the date of death.

In both personal injury and wrongful death cases, we may also seek punitive damages. Punitive damages are rare in Maryland and generally require clear and convincing proof of actual malice.

Proving fault in a Baltimore motorcycle crash

To prove fault after a motorcycle accident in Baltimore, you must show that another party acted carelessly and caused your injuries. Drivers on Maryland roads have a duty to operate their vehicles safely and follow traffic laws. A driver can breach that duty in a number of ways, for example, speeding, driving distracted, or driving while impaired. You must show that this breached duty caused the motorcycle crash and that you suffered real harm as a result.

Because Maryland follows a contributory negligence rule (meaning a claimant may be barred from recovery if found even slightly at fault) proving fault is critical.

What laws govern motorcycle riding in Maryland?

Motorcycle owners and operators must meet many different requirements, including the following:

  • Operators must have a valid motorcycle driver’s license (a class M license).
  • If you are under 18, you must show a Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program completion certificate to obtain a Maryland motorcycle license.
  • All riders must wear approved headgear that meets standards established by the MVA Administrator.
  • Riders must wear protective eye gear.
  • Motorcycles must have specific equipment (and extra equipment for passengers), including a headlight, taillight, and brake-light, front and rear brakes, two mirrors, and a horn. Motorcycles manufactured after January 1, 1973, must have turn signals.
  • Lane splitting is illegal in Maryland.

Who can you sue in a motorcycle crash in Baltimore?

We can file personal injury and wrongful death claims against everyone responsible for your injuries or the death of a family member. The responsible parties may include:

  • A driver of a car, truck, bus, or other large vehicle
  • A motorcycle rider
  • The employer of a negligent driver
  • The owner of a vehicle, if the driver was operating it with permission
  • Manufacturers of defective vehicle parts
  • The Maryland Department of Transportation or other state or local government agencies/entities, subject to special notice requirements and legal limitations under Maryland law
  • Other defendants, depending on how the accident happens

Our Baltimore motorcycle accident attorneys can help

Our motorcycle accident lawyers can prepare formal demand letters stating the basis of your claim and all your damages. We can formally question defendants and witnesses. We can also pursue a just and fair settlement. If the settlement offers are too low, we can argue your case before a Baltimore judge and jury.

Throughout the process, we work to protect your rights.

Contact our Baltimore motorcycle accident lawyers now

We understand how upset you are. You’re in pain. The bills are mounting. In tragic cases, a loved one died. We can guide you through each step of the claims process. We’ve helped many personal injury victims and families obtain strong recoveries.

The Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. Baltimore office is located at 575 S Charles St., Suite 504, Baltimore, MD 21201. We can meet clients at their homes or other convenient locations if they are too injured to travel. We also discuss cases by phone and through online video platforms like Zoom. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

We have offices throughout Maryland.