Suburban Maryland can sometimes be a crowded place to drive. For motorcyclists, it can be tempting to maneuver between vehicles to avoid waiting in traffic. However, this can lead to often dangerous and even deadly motor vehicle or pedestrian accidents. If you or a loved one has been injured because of the reckless actions of a motorcycle rider, like lane splitting, you may be entitled to compensation. A personal injury lawyer from Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis, LLP, can fight on your behalf to get the help you need. Call us today for a free consultation.
What is lane splitting?
Lane splitting happens when a motorcyclist drives between the lanes on the road to get around slower-moving vehicles. This maneuver is often used in slow or stopped traffic to avoid delays. While this action is legal in some states, it is not legal in Maryland.
Is lane splitting safe?
Advocates for lane splitting say the practice helps decrease rear-end accidents. Since motorcyclists are more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident, advocates note a reduction in accidents where lane splitting is allowed.
Opponents of the maneuver say that it is reckless and can increase the chances of a motorcycle accident. Since car drivers are often not watching for motorcycles, their sudden appearance may lead to a crash when a driver is making a lane change. This can be particularly relevant when a motorcyclist is driving between different-sized vehicles.
Common Reasons a Rider Might Lane Split
There can be several reasons a motorcyclist would take on the dangers of lane splitting in suburban Maryland. These reasons include:
- Running late
- Frustration with the flow of traffic
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Inexperience driving a motorcycle
The motorcycle rider may think they have a good reason for splitting lanes to move between cars. However, it is a dangerous practice and should be avoided. If you were involved in a crash because a motorcyclist was lane splitting, talk to a motorcycle accident lawyer at Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis, LLP.
Seeking Compensation After a Motorcycle Accident
In the state of Maryland, lane splitting is an illegal driving practice. If a motorcyclist was executing this maneuver and caused a crash, you have the right to seek compensation for your injuries. An experienced injury lawyer can help you recover the damages that may rightfully be yours.
Conversely, there can be times when a car driver is crowding a motorcyclist’s lane. If there is a crash and the motorcycle rider is injured, it may be due to negligence on the part of the driver of the automobile.
The car driver may accuse the motorcyclist of lane splitting, but a personal injury attorney can defend the motorcyclist against the false accusation if they did nothing wrong.
Types of compensation available to motor vehicle accident victims include money for:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages or lost earning potential
- Physical therapy or long-term care
- Pain and suffering
- Wrongful death
Personal injury lawsuits are a means by which victims may be able to recover monetary damages to help them have the resources they need to recover and move on with their lives.
A personal injury lawyer at Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis, LLP, has the knowledge and experience and can help you put your life back together after a crash.
The Maryland Statute of Limitations
Statutes of limitations are laws that exist to limit the amount of time in which civil or criminal action can be taken against another person or entity. Under Maryland law, people injured in a crash have three years from the accident’s date to initiate their lawsuit.
If you lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident, you might be able to file a lawsuit and recover damages. The Maryland statute of limitations to file a wrongful death lawsuit is also three years.
Waiting until the statute of limitations has expired may result in you losing the right to pursue a legal remedy. You will lose your ability to recover compensation unless you take timely action to secure your rights.
Do you have a valid lane-splitting motorcycle claim?
A successful personal injury claim must show that the at-fault driver acted with negligence. To prove negligence on the part of the motorcyclist or other driver, a motorcycle accident attorney must show that:
- There was an expected duty of care, namely to drive safely
- There was a breach of that duty
- The breach of duty directly resulted in a crash that caused you harm
If you think that you were involved in a lane-splitting motorcycle accident because of someone else’s negligence, you should act now to protect your rights.
Call Today to Protect Your Rights
Protect your right to compensation by taking quick action after an accident. A Maryland motorcycle accident lawyer at Koonz McKenney Johnson & DePaolis, LLP, has the experience and resources you need and may be able to help you recover damages.
Why wouldn’t you choose a firm with more than 40 years of experience fighting for the rights of its clients? Contact us today to see how we can help.