Annapolis Personal Injury Law Blog
Car accidents in Maryland have the potential to cause a wide range of damages — from the minor fender benders all the way up to the devastating crashes that either seriously injury individuals or even claim lives. But when a car accident involves a motorcycle, the results are often grim. When an accident occurs between a motorcyclist and another vehicle, the rider — or, in the event of the rider’s death, his or her family or loved ones — may choose to file a legal claim against the other driver.
A recent two-vehicle accident in Montgomery County claimed the life of one individual. It occurred on a recent Tuesday in November, police said. As the result of the crash, a 21-year-old Burtonsville motorcyclist was killed.
Around 6 p.m., the motorcycle was reportedly headed southbound when — for reasons that are currently still unknown — a vehicle in the northbound lane initiated a left-hand turn onto a westbound road and into the path of the motorcycle. The motorcyclist died at the scene, while the other driver, a 64-year-old woman from Silver Spring, was uninjured. This accident is still under investigation.
When a fatal car accident like this occurs and a legal claim is filed against the other driver, this type of claim is governed by the law of negligence. Motorists must exercise “reasonable care under the circumstances.” A failure to do this may be considered negligence. This must be proved before any award of damages can occur. When loved ones lose someone in a similar accident, but are unsure whether their claim qualifies, they typically consult an experienced Maryland personal injury attorney to assess the validity of their claim.
Source: The Washington Post, “Motorcyclist dies in crash with car in Md.“, Victoria St. Martin, Nov. 15, 2016
