Baltimore Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Motorcycles are a common mode of transportation in Baltimore. With over 100,000 registered motorcycles throughout the state, riding is a great way to get around Baltimore and the surrounding DC metro area. However, every time a motorcyclist goes out for a ride, they are taking a risk. When a motorcycle accident does happen, the consequences are completely devastating for the motorcyclist. You will need an experienced Baltimore motorcycle accident lawyer by your side to help you get compensation for your injuries.

If you or your loved one were involved in a Baltimore motorcycle accident, call the Regan Zambri Long motorcycle accident lawyers right away. We offer a free consultation to accident victims. You will speak with a seasoned Baltimore personal injury attorney who will listen to your story and give you a reasonable assessment of your case.

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What Makes a Motorcycle Accident Different From a Car Accident?

Getting into any kind of accident can be dangerous. However, the protection a driver has on a motorcycle is significantly less than in a passenger car. Passengers in a car have the entire structure of the vehicle to help protect the driver and other passengers in the event of an accident. In fact, the majority of cars are made with a crumple zone. A crumple zone is usually located in the front of the car and is meant to absorb the impact of a crash.

Motorcycles leave the driver fully exposed to the impact of a motorcycle accident. The average motorcycle weighs about 500 pounds, while a regular sedan can weigh up to 3,500 pounds. That’s seven times the size of the motorcycle. The combination of the lack of protection in addition to the weight of the car can leave the motorcyclist with extremely severe injuries.

What Are the Costs of Living With Motorcycle Accident Injuries?

The cost of injuries goes way beyond physical pain. Severe injuries can completely alter someone’s way of life. A person who was once able-bodied may be partially or completely disabled following a motorcycle accident.

On top of learning to live with a new normal, motorcycle accident victims and their families also have to deal with the financial consequences of the crash. We need to face it, injuries cost money. The worse the injury, the more you’ll likely have to pay. A life-changing accident can put even the wealthiest individual or family in financial distress. After all, no one plans on getting into an accident.

Below are rough costs of living with injuries from a motorcycle accident:

  • A traumatic brain injury can cost the victim up to $2 million in their lifetime. The breakdown of the costs includes hospital stays, surgery, caregiving, rehabilitation, and loss of independence.
  • The average cost (per year) of living with a severe spinal cord injury is about $1 million. The survivor may pay over $4 million throughout their lifetime. These costs include emergency services, surgeries, and around-the-clock care.
  • Severe road rash and/or broken bones that require surgery can cost the accident victim tens of thousands of dollars. WTOP News reported the average cost for very basic surgeries throughout the state, which ranges from $2,500 all the way up to $45,000. Any surgery that is above and beyond will cost the patient even more.

In the aftermath of a motorcycle accident, it’s safe to say that the new medical costs will come in addition to the victim being unable to return to work (sometimes temporarily, and sometimes permanently). So, while medical bills are piling up on you and your family, you’re likely down at least one household income.

This is where the Regan Zambri Long motorcycle accident lawyers come in. When we file your motorcycle accident claim, we will build a case to ensure you receive the highest settlement possible. We will work to make sure your current and future medical expenses are completely covered.

The Common Types of Motorcycle Accidents

No two motorcycle accidents are alike. Every collision is a bit different with different causes behind the crash. However, there are common types of motorcycle accidents that can lead to serious injuries to the driver.

The most common type of motorcycle accidents are:

  • Rear end collision: A rear end collision with a motorcycle is when a car or truck fails to stop on time before hitting the motorcycle from behind.
  • Side swipe accidents: Side swipe motorcycle accidents happen when a car or truck, traveling in the same direction of the motorcycle, veers into the same lane as the motorcycle. The car can swipe the side of the bike or of the rider. These accidents can also be referred to as lane-switching accidents. If a motorcyclist is riding in a driver’s blind spot, when the driver goes to switch lanes, they can swipe the side of the motorcycle, causing a terrible accident.
  • T bone accident: T bone accidents are when the front of a car hits the side of a motorcycle (or vice versa) causing the accident to look like the letter T.
  • Left turn collisions: Left turn motorcycle accidents usually occur because the driver of a car or truck does not see the motorcyclist. If a motorcycle is in the other driver’s blind spot, the car or truck could hit the cyclist when making a left hand turn.
  • Head-on collisions: Head on collisions are the most fatal type of accident for any vehicle. However, it is particularly dangerous for the motorcyclist. A head-on motorcycle collision occurs when the front of a motorcycle and another vehicle, traveling in opposite directions, collide with one another. Head-on collisions usually happen when the vehicles are driving at high speeds.

What Causes a Motorcycle Accident in Baltimore?

Accidents can be caused by a wide range of reasons and some of them cannot be avoided. However, when a Baltimore motorcycle accident is caused by negligence, the victim and their family have a right to recover compensation.

The most common forms of negligent driving that lead to motorcycle accidents are:

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of all motor vehicle accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), distracted driving is doing any activity that takes the driver’s attention away from driving. There are three different types of distracted driving:

  • Visual distractions: taking your eyes off the road. This can include reading a text or an email while driving.
  • Manual distractions: taking your hands off the wheel. When a driver physically texts or sends an email, they are taking their hands and eyes off the road. Putting on makeup, eating, or reaching for something that fell in the car is also a manual distraction.
  • Cognitive distractions: taking your mind off driving. This can be as simple as speaking to another passenger in your car.

Distracted driving injures hundreds of thousands of people per year, including over 3,000 victims who lost their lives in 2019 alone.

Drowsy Driving

Drowsy driving is a dangerous combination of driving and feeling sleepy. Drowsy driving can be the result of lack of sleep, shift work, untreated sleep disorders, or driving under the influence. Drowsiness causes the driver to pay less attention to the road, slows down reaction time, and lessens the driver’s decision-making ability. In 2017, over 91,000 crashes involved drowsy driving.

Speeding

Going above the speed limit not only increases your chance of an accident but also increases the risk of more severe injuries. When a driver speeds, they are not able to stop their vehicle quickly. If a motorcycle is stopped in front of a speeding vehicle, it will likely not stop in time, causing a rear end motorcycle accident.

Speeding is particularly dangerous for commercial trucks. A tractor trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when it’s loaded with cargo. If a speeding tractor trailer hits a motorcyclist from behind, it can be fatal for the motorcyclist.

Driving Under the Influence

Driving under the influence is deadly. Every day, 32 people in the United States are killed by crashes involving drug or alcohol usage. Driving under the influence impairs the driver’s judgment, affects coordination, distorts perception, and slows down reaction time.

Poor Road Conditions

Many hazards on the road would not affect a passenger vehicle. However, on a motorcycle, even a small hazard could cause a collision. Local and state governments have the responsibility to ensure the roads in Baltimore are as safe as possible for residents and travelers. Hazardous road conditions include:

  • Uneven pavement
  • Deep potholes
  • Poor lighting
  • Construction debris
  • Non-functioning traffic signals
  • Lack of guardrails

Bad weather and poor maintenance can also play a role in a major motorcycle accident. If your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, call a Regan Zambri Long motorcycle accident lawyer as soon as possible. We will seek fair compensation for your injuries and property damage.

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How a Baltimore Motorcycle Accident Attorney Can Help

There are certain Baltimore laws, which we will go over below, that can complicate a motorcycle accident claim. It is in your best interest to consult with an experienced Baltimore motorcycle accident lawyer and to have a legal advocate by your side throughout the lawsuit.

At Regan Zambri Long, our motorcycle accident lawyers keep their clients informed during every step of their case. After all, it’s your accident, it’s your case, and it’s your financial future. You should be in the know. Below are the steps your motorcycle accident attorney will take to file and prove your claim successfully.

Determine Liability

The first thing your motorcycle accident attorney will do is determine which party or parties are liable for the motorcycle crash. The parties that may be held accountable are:

  • The other driver(s)
  • Motorcycle/car manufacturers
  • Commercial truck companies
  • Local or state governments

File the Motorcycle Accident Claim

Once your attorney determines who is liable for the accident, we will formally file a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent party or parties. In Maryland, the motorcycle accident victim has three years from the date of the accident to file a motorcycle accident claim.

Although this may seem like a long time, if the victim does not file within that time frame, he or she could forfeit all compensation. Your motorcycle accident lawyer will make sure your claim is filed correctly and in a timely manner.

Build the Case

Next, your attorney will collect all the evidence necessary to build a rock solid case that will win a settlement or verdict in your favor. Regan Zambri Long has the financial backing to hire medical consultants, accident reconstruction, expert witnesses, and other legal experts in order to prove your case. Our promise to you: this is on our dime, not yours. You will not pay a single penny until we win your case.

Negotiate with the Insurance Companies

After we build your case, we will begin negotiations with the liable party’s insurance company. If the insurance company offers a fair settlement, we will accept. If they refuse to pay you what is owed, we will take your case to court.

Determine Damages

At Regan Zambri Long, we firmly believe you should never pay for someone else’s mistake. We will make sure you recover the maximum damages possible for your case. The damages you may collect in a motorcycle accident claim are:

The Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries in Baltimore, MD

The lack of protection on a motorcycle leads to more severe injuries when a rider is involved in an accident. Many times, the rider can be ejected from the motorcycle, causing life-threatening injuries or death. Injuries can happen in any region of the body and range from mild to severe.

The most common motorcycle accident injuries include:

Road Rash

Road rash is a type of friction burn and skin abrasion that happens when you scrape your skin against a rough surface, like a road. Road rash is the most common type of injury a motorcyclist will sustain if involved in a crash. Road rash should be taken very seriously. If severe, it can lead to infection or even nerve damage.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

A traumatic brain injury is caused by a forceful bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body and affects how the brain works. The symptoms of a TBI can range from dizziness, fatigue, and temporary loss of consciousness all the way to debilitating personality changes, and decreased cognitive and motor skills.

Spinal Cord Injuries

A spinal cord injury is damage to the cells and nerves that send and receive signals from the brain to the rest of the body. A serious injury to a motorcycle accident victim’s spinal cord can lead to partial or complete paralysis. The four different types of paralysis are:

  • Monoplegia (paralysis of one limb or region of the body)
  • Hemiplegia (paralysis of one side of the body)
  • Paraplegia (paralysis of the lower half of the body)
  • Quadriplegia (paralysis of the entire body from the neck down)

Other types of motorcycle accident injuries a victim could suffer from are:

Call Regan Zambri Long for a Free Consultation

We know the last thing on your mind after a motorcycle crash is a lawsuit. We deeply understand you and your family never planned on being and never wanted to be a client of ours. The motorcycle accident lawyers at Regan Zambri Long usually meet our clients at some of the worst moments in their lives.

We can’t change what happened to you or your loved one. What we can do is bring justice to your family and help with the financial burdens from your accident. Call today for a free consultation with a compassionate Baltimore motorcycle accident attorney. Let our lawyers take on the burden of your claim, while you and your family focus on a full and complete recovery.

Contact Our Baltimore Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Today

Schedule a Free Consultation

Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.

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