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Dangers to Motorcyclists

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A young man was killed one early morning in October 2019 while riding his motorcycle along Veterans Highway in Minersville. The motorcyclist was not speeding; he wasn’t flipping wheelies or zigzagging through traffic. The sad truth is, Brandon Haney was minding his own business when a motorist failed to yield the right of way as the driver executed a left turn.  Haney had no time to react, and collided directly with the sedan.  He was pronounced dead within minutes.  If you or a loved one has suffered the consequences of a serious auto-motorcycle collision, it may behoove you to seek the advice of a local personal injury attorney moving forward.

Deadly Factors 

It goes without saying that motorcyclists are at significantly more peril on the road than their sedan-driving counterparts.  Cars, trucks, and SUV’s provide obvious protections such as seatbelts, air-bags, and other structural defenses that motorcycles simply do not have, meaning that in the event of a collision, a motorcyclist is at a severe disadvantage.  In fact, roughly 80 percent of motorcycle collisions result in injuries or fatalities. These statistics make it ever more critical that motorcyclists drive defensively, and become keenly aware of the contributing factors in typical crashes:

  • Motorists don’t see motorcyclists: Because motorcycles are less visible on the road, motorists often are completely unaware of their presence until it is too late.  The vast majority of accidents involving motorcycles occur in intersections as vehicles attempt left-turn maneuvers, causing the biker to collide into the vehicle. In other situations, drivers make lane changes without checking blind spots, running motorcyclists off the road.
  • Drivers who are impaired: Whether due to alcohol, drugs, or sleep deprivation, impaired driving can be calamitous when such drivers interact with motorcycles. If a driver’s coordination, reaction time, or reasoning is sub par, it creates a dangerous situation on the road.  One study finds that 40 percent of motorcycle fatalities involve alcohol consumption by one or both drivers.
  • Driver Error: Motorists who succumb to distractions, who exceed posted speed limits, who become enraged while driving, or who simply take a cavalier attitude about safety when behind the wheel put everyone, motorcyclists in particular, at risk.
  • Weather conditions: Inclement weather makes driving more difficult for everyone, most especially for motorcyclists. Icy roads, pooled precipitation, or extreme fog can make safe navigation a perilous bet, requiring drivers to be extra cautious.

After a Motorcycle Accident 

Have you or a loved one been seriously impacted in a motorcycle accident that was a result of another motorist’s negligence or recklessness?  Are you facing a lengthy physical or emotional recovery, along with financial devastation due to the accident?  At the Law Office of Hasson D. Barnes, LLC, our Baltimore motorcycle accident attorneys understand your plight, and will fight for a fair settlement to address your pain. Allow us to help.  Contact our office today to schedule a confidential consultation.

Resource:

baltimore.cbslocal.com/2019/08/27/motorcyclist-dies-in-millersville-crash/

https://www.hbarneslaw.com/avoiding-deadly-motorcycle-accidents/

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