We have a lot of bicycle riders in Baltimore. Regrettably, we also have a fair share of bicycle crash injury cases in Baltimore. Too frequently, motorists, including trucks and buses, cause bicycle accidents by failing to share the road, forcing cyclists off the road or into a collision.
We all know the problem. Most motorists are on the lookout for other drivers and overlook smaller two-wheel vehicles.
Most of the injury cases that we see involve a motor vehicle that fails to yield the right of way, usually left hand turn cases at an intersection. The other type of bike accident case we see a lot is the passing motorist who simply misjudges the space needed to navigate around the bike.
Our law firm also sees a lot of bike accident cases where the injuries occurred that are specific to bike riders. We have handled dog attacks and defective road cases. Particularly in Baltimore City, there are a lot of “motorist opened his door right on the beastliest” cases.
Obviously, these cases can be very serious injury claims because because someone riding a bicycle stands little chance of coming out unscathed against a much larger and heavier motor vehicle.
This article will address:
- How Dangerous and Common Are Bicycle Accidents?
- Example Baltimore Case
- Examples of Settlements and Verdicts in Bike Crash Injury Cases
- Getting a Lawyer for Your Claim
How Dangerous Are Bicycle Accidents?
Bicycle/motor vehicle accidents are both common and deadly. Given the speed and weight of moving motor vehicles, a bicyclist stands little chance of walking away from an accident unharmed. Every year, approximately 50,000 cyclists are injured in bicycle/motor vehicle collisions. Annually, nearly 700 cyclists die in bicycle accidents.
A huge driving force in serious injury and death cases is the lighting conditions. Almost 75% of serious bicycle/motor vehicle accidents occur between 5:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. when the sun is usually down and visibility is poor.
Real Life Scenario of a Bicycle/Motor Vehicle Crash
At the same time, however, Dale is racing up the street to pick up his friend. Dale is driving 50 mph in a 30 mph zone, because he is in a rush. As he cruises down residential streets blowing stop signs, he is totally oblivious to the team of 5th grade cyclers led by Jonny. As he turns around a bend, he clips the back of Jonny’s back, sending him face first into a concrete wall. Thankfully, Jonny comes out with only whiplash and some facial lacerations. He is taken to the hospital and released later that night.
Jonny has a claim against Dale for negligent driving. Dale failed to look or obey the rules of the road when he struck Jonny from behind. Jonny therefore can sue Dale and recover for his medical expenses and pain and suffering damges.
Example Settlements and Verdicts in Bike Accident Cases
Below are a few sample bike accident cases in the Baltimore-Washington area. These tell you a little something about the settlement and trial value of these cases. But absorb this information keeping in mind that no two cases are alike and the outcome of one case does not mean that a very similar case will have the same result. Why? There are so many variables in looking at the value of a personal injury case. Many times the driving force behind why the jury found as they did is more complicated then what you find in a verdict summary. Sometimes the facts that drove the case are not properly understood even by the lawyers who tried the case.
With those caveats, here are some bicycle crash settlements and verdicts:
- Maryland: $898,098 Settlement. Plaintiff was riding a bicycle with her four-year old daughter in a child seat when she was struck by a Jaguar automobile operated by Defendant Green (and owned by a professional basketball player with deep Baltimore ties). Plaintiff was taken to shock trauma at University of Maryland Hospital with multiple fractures of the leg, ankle and collarbone. She underwent 13 surgeries and may eventually require amputation of her leg. Thankfully, her daughter sustained only minor injuries. Plaintiff alleged that defendant driver was negligent in leaving the roadway and in striking her.
Maryland: $700,000 Settlement. The 14 year-old Plaintiff was riding his bicycle along a narrow two-lane roadway (each lane was 10′ wide) and was traveling with the flow of traffic. Defendant was driving a 1997 F800 truck in the same direction as the plaintiff bicyclist. As Defendant was attempting to pass the plaintiff, there was contact between the truck’s outrigger and the bicycle, causing plaintiff to fall. Plaintiff alleged that the accident occurred when Defendant moved the truck toward the side of the road to avoid a possible collision with a Jeep heading in the opposite direction. According to Plaintiff, the outrigger on the truck hit the back axle of the bicycle. Plaintiff maintained that Defendant should have slowed to allow the Jeep to pass before attempting to pass plaintiff bicyclist. - District of Columbia: $175,000 Verdict. Plaintiff sustained multiple fractures of the pelvis, a sacral fracture, a labral tear of the right hip and a disk protrusion as a result of the bicycle she was riding being struck when the Defedndant opened his car door into oncoming traffic. The plaintiff contended that the defendant failed to maintain a proper lookout to ensure there was no oncoming traffic before opening his car door, and failed to obey the rules of the road.
- More bike accident settlements and verdicts
The Team of Attorneys at Miller & Zois Are Experienced in Bicycle Accident Cases
If you or one of your loved ones was involved in bicycle crash, contact Miller & Zois for a complimentary case evaluation. We have successfully filed lawsuits for a wide variety of motor vehicle accident cases, including bicycle/motor vehicle crashes. We are here to guide you through the legal process as we do everything in our power to achieve compensation for your ordeal. You can either call us at 800-553-8082 or get a free case evaluation online.