Columbia Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Columbia Motorcycle Accident Lawyers

Columbia attorneys advocating for Maryland motorcycle riders since 1985

When serious accidents happen, or an accident tragically takes the life of a loved one, you need the experienced Columbia motorcycle accident lawyers at Plaxen Adler Muncy on your side. For more than 40 years, our personal injury lawyers have advocated for clients against insurance companies and defense attorneys. We’ve helped thousands of clients obtain just settlements and verdicts that protect their future while holding negligent drivers and others accountable for the harm they cause.

How can we help?

How dangerous are motorcycle accidents in Columbia?

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that in 2020, more than 5,500 motorcycle riders died in road crashes and more than 180,000 riders required treatment at an emergency department. According to the MDOT MVA Highway Safety Office’s motorcycle crash summary, crashes involving a motorcycle killed an average of 79 people and injured an average of 1,095 people a year in Maryland from 2019 through 2023.

It’s clear why motorcycle crashes in Columbia cause so many injuries and fatalities. A motorcycle does not have any of the protection that even the smallest passenger car provides – a hood, roof, trunk, and doors. Often, when a motorcycle collides with a car, the riders suffer two impacts: one with the car and then another with the hard asphalt.

Riding on any of the highways that connect Columbia to Washington DC or Baltimore, the Patuxent Freeway, Rouse Parkway, or other local roads can be treacherous if the weather is bad, there’s construction work, or traffic is congested.

Who is liable for a motorcycle wreck in Maryland?

At Plaxen Adler Muncy, we file personal injury claims, product liability claims, and wrongful death claims against everyone responsible for your Columbia motorcycle accident. The defendants may include:

  • Another driver
  • An employer of the driver
  • The owner of the car if different than the driver
  • A manufacturer, distributor, or seller of a defective motorcycle part
  • The Maryland Department of Transportation (or other state agencies/entities) if poor road design or maintenance caused an accident

Other motorcycle operators may be responsible for any injuries you and/or your passengers sustain in a crash if they:

  • Don’t obtain the proper training and experience to ride a motorcycle
  • Don’t operate their motorcycle safely in inclement weather
  • Fail to understand how to share the road with other motorcycle riders
  • Ride while drunk or impaired
  • Disobey traffic laws

Other defendants may also be liable depending on how the accident happened, such as trucking companies and repair companies.

What types of injuries do Columbia motorcycle riders suffer?

Some of the many types of injuries that our Columbia motorcycle accident lawyers are skilled at handling include:

  • Traumatic brain injuries and head trauma
  • Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
  • Traumatic amputation/loss of limb
  • Complex, compound, simple, and multiple fractures
  • Lung, kidney, and other types of internal organ damage
  • Broken ribs
  • Burn injuries
  • Nerve, muscle, ligament, tissue, and tendon damage
  • Shoulder, neck, and back pain
  • Road rash which can cause scarring
  • Facial disfigurement

We work with your doctors and our network of doctors to explain what injuries you have, the treatments you’ll need, the complications that may arise, the cost of your medical care, and all the ways your injuries are making your life unbearable.

Tragically, as the data confirms, many motorcycle accidents are deadly. We represent the close relatives of the victim including parents, children, and spouses.

What are the causes of motorcycle crashes in Columbia?

Most motorcycle accidents are caused by the negligence of drivers. Motorcycle riders can be seriously injured when car or truck drivers:

  • Fail to respect the rights of the motorcycle operator
  • Drive while distracted by texting, talking on a smartphone, GPS usage, eating, or anything that takes a driver’s focus off of traffic
  • Drive while intoxicated or while impaired by drugs
  • Speed, fail to yield the right of way, and commit other traffic violations
  • Drive too fast for traffic conditions or weather conditions
  • Turn left in front of the path of a motorcycle rider

Manufacturers may also cause motorcycle accidents if the motorcycle parts are defective due to poor design, workmanship, instructions, or failure to warn about known dangers. Defective parts may include brakes, tires, handlebars, clutches, fuel lines, and electrical systems.

What laws regulate riding a motorcycle in Maryland?

According to Zero Deaths Maryland, motorcycle owners and riders need to comply with the following laws:

  • Operators need to have a Class M license.
  • Riders must wear a motorcycle helmet that is US Department of Transportation (US DOT) compliant.
  • Riders must protect their eyes by using windscreens, goggles, face shields, or other FDA-approved eye protection.
  • Obey all Maryland traffic laws.
  • Passengers can only ride on motorcycles with separate passenger seats.
  • Operators must keep both hands on the motorcycle.
  • Motorcycle riders are entitled to the full width of their road lane.
  • Two (but no more than two) riders can share a simple lane.
  • Riders can only pass in separate lanes.

All motorcycle operators should obtain training based on their current skill levels.

Columbia Motorcycle Accident Resources

After a motorcycle crash in Columbia or elsewhere in Howard County, these official agencies and facilities can help you get records, understand Maryland's riding laws and find care. If anyone is hurt, call 911 first.

Local Crash Data

In 2023, 50 crashes in Howard County involved a motorcycle, and 6 of them were fatal, according to the MDOT MVA Highway Safety Office's motorcycle crash summary.

Maryland Motorcycle Laws and Rider Resources

  • Helmets and eye protection (Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1306): motorcycle operators and passengers must wear protective headgear that meets the MVA's standards (the section does not apply to people riding in an enclosed cab). Operators must also wear approved eye protection unless the motorcycle has a windscreen.
  • Lanes (Md. Code, Transp. § 21-1303): every motorcycle is entitled to the full use of a lane, and other drivers may not take that away. Motorcyclists may not ride between lanes of traffic or between rows of vehicles, and may not ride more than two abreast in a single lane.
  • MVA motorcycle license: you need a Class M license or endorsement. Riders under 18 must complete the Maryland Motorcycle Safety Program's Basic Rider Course before applying. See the MVA motorcycle license page and Motorcycle Safety Program.
  • NHTSA recall lookup: check motorcycles, tires and equipment for open safety recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Police and Crash Reports

The crash report comes from the police agency that responded to your crash.

  • Howard County Police Department. Crash reports are requested online through CrashDocs, which is linked from the department's online resources page. Records Section: 3410 Court House Dr., Ellicott City, MD 21043, 410-313-2250. Non-emergency: 410-313-2200. District stations: Northern District, 3410 Court House Dr., Ellicott City, MD 21043, and Southern District, 11226 Scaggsville Rd., Laurel, MD 20723.
  • Maryland State Police (if a state trooper handled your crash). Wait at least 10 days after the crash, then request the report from the barrack that took it or from the Central Records Division, 410-281-2700. There is a $4.00 non-refundable search fee. See how to request an MSP crash report.

Hospitals and Trauma Centers

Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center is at 5755 Cedar Lane, Columbia, MD 21044, 410-740-7890. It is not on the MIEMSS list of designated trauma centers. MIEMSS designates these Baltimore hospitals as trauma centers (see the MIEMSS list):

  • R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland Medical Center (Primary Adult Resource Center): 22 S. Greene St., Baltimore, MD 21201
  • The Johns Hopkins Hospital (Level I adult trauma center): 1800 Orleans St., Baltimore, MD 21287
  • The Johns Hopkins Children's Center (Level I pediatric trauma center)
  • Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center (Level II adult trauma center): 4940 Eastern Ave., Baltimore, MD 21224
  • Sinai Hospital of Baltimore (Level II adult trauma center): 2401 W. Belvedere Ave., Baltimore, MD 21215

Courts

  • Circuit Court for Howard County: 9250 Judicial Way, Ellicott City, MD 21043, 410-313-2111. See the court's page.
  • District Court of Maryland, Howard County: 3451 Courthouse Dr., Ellicott City, MD 21043, 410-480-7700. See the court directory.

In civil cases, the District Court of Maryland has exclusive jurisdiction over claims of $5,000 or less and shares jurisdiction with the circuit courts over claims above $5,000 up to $30,000 (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-401 and § 4-402(d)). The District Court does not hold jury trials (Maryland Judiciary). You can look up a case on Maryland Judiciary Case Search.

State and Local Agencies

  • Howard County State's Attorney's Office, Victim/Witness Assistance Unit (if the crash leads to criminal charges): 9250 Judicial Way, Suite 2200, Ellicott City, MD 21043, 410-313-3153. See victim and witness information.
  • Maryland Insurance Administration (complaints about how an auto insurer handled your claim): 200 St. Paul Place, Suite 2700, Baltimore, MD 21202. Consumer hotline for auto and other property and casualty insurance: 410-468-2340. File a complaint.
  • Maryland Auto Insurance, Uninsured Division (if you have no insurance available to you). It helps eligible Maryland residents hurt in Maryland who have no available insurance, were not at fault, and do not own a vehicle or live with someone who does, and had a valid driver's license if they were driving. Claims must be filed within 180 days of the accident, or 30 days from an insurer's disclaimer. 800-492-7120, ext. 5301. See Uninsured Division claims.
  • Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (help for crime victims). Maryland law lets the Board consider injuries from certain driving crimes, including impaired driving and leaving the scene of a crash that injured someone (Md. Code, Crim. Proc. § 11-801). 6776 Reisterstown Rd., Suite 209, Baltimore, MD 21215, 410-697-9338. See CICB.

Disclaimer: We list these agencies, hospitals, courts and offices for general information only. Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. is not affiliated with any of them. Listing them is not an endorsement, recommendation or referral, and none of them endorse our firm. We last verified the contact details in October 2026. They can change, so please confirm with the agency or facility before you visit. In an emergency, call 911.

Do you have a motorcycle accident lawyer near me?

Plaxen Adler Muncy lawyers meet with motorcycle accident victims and families at our Columbia office located at 10211 Wincopin Cir, Suite 620 – just steps away from both The Mall in Columbia and Merriweather Post Pavilion. Our Columbia motorcycle accident attorneys will meet clients at a hospital or home if they are not healthy enough to come to our office. We also conduct consultations by phone and via video conference.

Our lawyers will answer all your questions and guide you through each step of the claims process.

Speak with an experienced Columbia motorcycle accident attorney

Living with motorcycle injuries can be extremely challenging. You’re in constant pain. You worry about how you’ll pay your bills, if you’ll be able to work, and your quality of life. At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we fight to restore your life. We demand full compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost income, property damage, scarring and disfigurement, loss of bodily function, and all your losses. To assert your rights after a Columbia motorcycle accident, please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation. We also meet clients in Baltimore, Towson, and throughout the state.