Baltimore Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Dedicated Law Firm Fighting for Motorcycle Accident Victims

Without the protective shell of a car, motorcyclists are directly exposed to the force of impact in any kind of collision, which can result in catastrophic injuries or even death. These injuries may lead to overwhelming medical expenses, lost income, an inability to work, and other life-altering consequences. 

If you suffered harm in a motorcycle accident that wasn’t your fault, you shouldn’t have to worry about how you will cover these losses. You may be entitled to financial compensation, and our team at United Attorney Group can help you understand and enforce your rights.

Our skilled and experienced personal injury attorneys can take legal action against the party whose negligence caused the collision and fight to recover the compensation you deserve. We understand how to successfully navigate complex motorcycle accident cases and are prepared to make every effort to secure the best possible result, even if that means going to trial. Our advocacy puts your needs first, and you can expect compassionate, professional support from beginning to end. Our case results speak for themselves. 

You can explore your legal options in a no-fee, no-obligation consultation. We take these cases on contingency, meaning you owe our firm no legal fees unless we help you recover damages. Our team is also available to speak 24/7, so don’t wait to get in touch.

Call (888) 447-4962 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with our Baltimore motorcycle accident lawyers. Se habla español.

How Long Do I Have to File a Motorcycle Accident Lawsuit in Maryland?

In Maryland, the statute of limitations for a personal injury claim stemming from a motorcycle accident is generally three years from the date of the collision. This means you typically have three years from the date the accident occurred to file a lawsuit. If a motorcycle crash causes fatal injuries, the statute of limitations for a wrongful death claim is three years from the date the victim passed away, which isn’t always the date of the collision.

If you wait too long to pursue a claim, you will generally lose your right to recover damages. Keep in mind that evidence can disappear quickly, and witnesses’ memories can fade. Reaching out to our team at United Attorney Group as soon as possible after a motorcycle accident gives us more of an opportunity to thoroughly investigate, preserve important evidence, and build the strongest possible case. 

Maryland Motorcycle Laws That Could Impact Your Claim

Maryland follows a harsh contributory negligence law. If you are found to be even 1% at fault for the accident, you could be completely barred from recovering any compensation. 

This is where Maryland’s motorcycle laws can become very important. Violating any rules surrounding the operation of motorcycles could be leveraged by insurance companies and defense attorneys to argue that you share some of the blame for your injuries and are thus not entitled to any compensation. 

Here are some key Maryland motorcycle laws and how they could affect your ability to recover compensation:

• All motorcyclists must wear a helmet. Maryland has a universal helmet law, meaning all motorcyclists and passengers are required to wear a helmet that meets U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) standards. Eye protection is also required unless the motorcycle has a windshield. However, while failing to wear a helmet is a traffic violation, Maryland law explicitly states that the lack of a helmet cannot be used as evidence of contributory negligence and cannot diminish your ability to recover damages.
• Lane splitting is illegal. In Maryland, it is illegal for motorcyclists to "lane split," which means riding between lanes of moving or stopped traffic. If you were lane splitting at the time of an accident, even if another driver was negligent, the defense could argue that your illegal lane splitting contributed to the collision. Given Maryland's contributory negligence rule, this could potentially bar you from recovering any compensation.
• An M Class license is required to operate a motorcycle. To legally operate a motorcycle in Maryland, you must have a valid Class M driver's license endorsement. If you were riding a motorcycle without this endorsement, the defense may argue that your violation of the law contributed to the collision, even if you were otherwise driving safely. At the very least, driving without the appropriate license can make presenting your case more challenging.
• Certain types of motorcycle equipment are required. Maryland law specifies various equipment requirements for motorcycles, including working headlights (at least one but no more than two with specific visibility requirements), two footrests for the rider, and two footrests for a passenger if carrying one. If your motorcycle was not equipped as required by law, or if any safety equipment was not functioning properly (such as a non-working headlight at night), the defense could potentially argue that this contributed to the accident or to the severity of your injuries, which could invoke the contributory negligence rule. 

Our team at United Attorney Group is familiar with the strategies insurance companies use to try to escape liability, including presenting groundless allegations of contributory negligence. We know how Maryland law applies to motorcycle collision cases and can fight to hold the responsible party accountable. 

Never assume you do not have a motorcycle accident claim, even if you are concerned you may be partially responsible for the crash. We can carefully assess your circumstances and review your options. 

If you suffered serious injuries in a motorcycle wreck caused by another driver’s negligence, we encourage you to call (888) 447-4962 or contact us online to learn more about how we may be able to help. We offer virtual consultations if you cannot travel to our office.