Were you recently injured in a motorcycle accident in St. Mary’s County, Maryland? Don’t hesitate to contact the skilled legal team at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers at (301) 932-9997 for a free consultation. Working with our trusted St. Mary’s County motorcycle accident lawyers can help you achieve the best possible case results.
Don’t let a negligent driver, their insurance company, or another responsible party off the hook. Force them to make things right by putting our top-rated litigators in your corner. There’s no charge for your initial case review, so contact our St. Mary’s County law office today.
Why Trust Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers After a Motorcycle Crash in St. Mary’s County, MD?
Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers is known for going above and beyond to protect the rights and best interests of motorcycle accident victims and grieving families throughout Maryland. With more than 125 years of combined legal experience, our award-winning trial attorneys understand the unique risks motorcyclists face and the serious injuries these crashes often cause.
We have a proven track record of standing up to powerful insurance companies and large corporations that try to minimize or deny rightful claims. Our firm has successfully recovered over $100 million in compensation for injured clients, helping them cover medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs.
When you choose our St. Mary’s County personal injury lawyers, you get personalized attention, strategic advocacy, and a legal team that prepares every case as if it’s going to trial. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.
What Are the Leading Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Between 2019 and 2023, a total of 7,016 motorcyclists and motorcycle passengers were involved in traffic accidents across the state of Maryland. More than 28 percent of riders and their passengers suffered a serious injury or died as a result.
The truth is that most of Maryland’s motorcycle accidents – including those causing catastrophic injuries and fatalities – don’t have to happen. Many can be traced to avoidable human errors, defective equipment, and road hazards.
Some of the most commonly cited causes of accidents involving motorcycles in Maryland include:
- Speeding
- Drug or alcohol use
- Unsafe lane changes
- Distracted driving
- Illegal turns
- Lane splitting
- Braking errors
- Following too closely
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Blind spot errors
- Road rage
- Potholes and other dangerous road conditions
- Bad weather conditions
- Limited visibility
- Auto defects
When you suffer injuries or experience the death of a family member in a motorcycle accident in Maryland because someone else is negligent or reckless, you reserve the right to hold them accountable in a court of law. Knowing precisely why and how the motorcycle accident happened will be critical when determining liability.
Who Could Be Liable for My Motorcycle Accident Injuries?
Depending on the particular circumstances of your motorcycle crash in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, one or more of the following parties may bear responsibility for your injuries:
- The driver of a passenger car
- A commercial vehicle driver
- A transportation service
- Another motorcyclist
- A vehicle passenger
- The manufacturer of a defective vehicle or auto component
- A bicyclist or pedestrian
- The owner of the property where the motorcycle accident took place
- The negligent party’s employer (if that party was working at the time of the motorcycle wreck)
- A government agency responsible for maintaining safe roads for motorists and motorcycle riders
Choosing us to handle your motorcycle accident lawsuit means having the tools, resources, and knowledge required to establish liability and hold at-fault parties accountable when it matters most.
What is My Motorcycle Injury Claim Worth?
More serious injuries typically dictate higher payouts to motorcyclists. There are a lot of reasons for this.
The more seriously you’re injured in a motorcycle accident, the more you’re likely to experience financial stress from:
- Medical bills
- Long-term therapy and rehabilitation
- Time away from work, causing lost wages and job benefits
- Permanent impairment or disability
You also deserve to be compensated for the harder-to-value struggles you experience because of your motorcycle crash and physical injuries, including emotional distress and pain and suffering. The more the motorcycle crash affects your quality of life, the more money you should be able to receive from the responsible party.
However, there are limiting factors when it comes to valuation. An insurance company might argue that you failed to take steps to mitigate your damages or have overstated the severity of your injuries. If you don’t dispute these things, they can potentially limit your financial recovery. You could even be blamed for the motorcycle wreck, which, undisputed, could void your right to damages altogether.
What Damages Can Be Paid to Injured Riders After a Crash in St. Mary’s County?
When you suffer injuries in a motorcycle accident in St. Mary’s County, MD, due to someone else’s negligence, you’ll have the right to seek compensatory damages from a responsible party.
Compensatory damages can include economic awards and non-economic awards.
Economic damages help to cover your crash-related financial costs, which can include:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages and disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Property damage, such as repair costs for your motorcycle
- Out-of-pocket expenses, such as a rental vehicle while yours is in the shop
- Rehabilitation and therapy
- Nursing assistance
Non-economic damages can be awarded to help you deal with more personal and harder-to-value life changes you experience as an injured motorcyclist, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Physical disfigurement
- Chronic pain
- Embarrassment
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
A jury can also decide that punitive damages should be awarded to punish a defendant for conduct that was carried out with actual malice.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
Compared to occupants of passenger vehicles, motorcyclists in Maryland tend to suffer injuries twice as often in traffic accidents.
Even when a rider wears a motorcycle helmet, they’re still susceptible to painful and debilitating physical injuries, including:
- Burn injuries
- Road rash
- Degloving injuries
- Amputation injuries
- Chest injuries
- Crushing injuries
- Nerve damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Eye injuries
- Head injuries
- Concussions
- Brain injuries
- Back injuries
- Herniated disc injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Quadriplegia injuries
- Leg injuries
- Knee injuries
- Catastrophic injuries
- Wrongful death
Because these injuries can be life-altering and require extensive medical care, it’s critical for injured motorcyclists and their families to understand their legal options and seek experienced representation as soon as possible.
How Does Maryland’s Contributory Negligence Rule Impact Motorcycle Accident Claims?
Maryland is one of a few states that have adopted a pure contributory negligence standard for personal injury cases. Under the state’s rule, damages can be prohibited when a plaintiff bears any responsibility for an accident in which they’re injured.
If you’re blamed for the motorcycle crash – even in part – you have to take swift action to protect yourself. These allegations can shut down a motorcycle accident claim before it can even start.
There are exceptions to the rule, and claims of contributory fault aren’t always backed by evidence or facts. Speak with a knowledgeable and experienced trial attorney at Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers right away.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Motorcycle Accident Attorney in St. Mary’s County, MD?
We represent injured motorcycle riders on a contingency fee basis. You won’t pay a fee for our representation until we’ve won compensation for your motorcycle accident case.
When we win a settlement or verdict at trial, our fees are deducted from your financial recovery. This means there’s no out-of-pocket expense or financial hardship to hire top-tier legal representation.
If we don’t win, you pay nothing.
How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit After a Crash in Maryland?
While there can be some exceptions, there’s typically a three-year statute of limitations that applies to motorcycle accident lawsuits in Maryland. This gives you up to three years from the date of a motorcycle collision or the victim’s passing to seek damages in a personal injury claim.
If the statute of limitations expires, you lose the ability to demand compensation from those responsible for your potentially life-changing accident.
Schedule a Free Case Review With a Skilled St. Mary’s County Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Call Alpert Schreyer Personal Injury Lawyers for help after a motorcycle accident in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. We can offer the experienced, honest legal representation you need during this trying time in your life.
Our St. Mary’s County motorcycle accident attorneys have over a century of combined experience and a demonstrated ability to win life-changing sums for clients like you. Now, we can take on the insurance company to make sure that you’re justly compensated for your motorcycle accident that someone else’s negligence caused.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
