Hurt in a motorcycle crash anywhere in Maryland? Riders take the full force of a collision, and insurers lean hard on the idea that the rider was at fault.
Maryland’s contributory negligence rule makes that blame game dangerous, so the evidence has to be locked down early. There is no cost to talk to us, and you pay nothing unless we win.
My experience was fantastic, Charlotte was a big help and had the lawyer return my call within minutes. Jason was extremely knowledgeable and very helpful. I will have them represent me and my family.More
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At Pinder Plotkin, the initial consultation is free, whether by phone or in person. We represent clients on a contingency fee basis — we only charge you after we recover compensation on your behalf, typically 33% of your insurance settlement. Our fee is increased if a lawsuit is filed. There won't be any charges if we don't win.
Motorcyclists were 95 of the 578 people killed on Maryland roads in 2024 — 16% of all traffic deaths in the state. Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, from federal FARS data
Motorcycle accidents are quite rampant and might be caused by various issues, including the following.
Most motorcycle accidents are rear-end collisions. The driver is assumed to be at fault while the person at the front is assumed to be faultless. The person who hits from the back is found to be following too closely without enough space to stop and they will be at 100% fault for the accident.
If you can: get to safety, call 911, and get medical attention even if you feel fine — adrenaline hides injuries.
Photograph the scene, your bike, and your gear; get the other driver's information and any witnesses.
Do not admit fault or give a recorded statement to the other driver's insurer. Then call us before you deal with them.
After handling various types of motorcycle accidents in Maryland, Maryland, we know and understand the type of evidence that we need to prove your compensation claim. As you recuperate, let us take care of collecting evidence.
With our knowledge and experience, we will file everything accordingly to make sure your case is not rejected because of clerical errors.
We can trace witnesses to the motorcycle accident and make sure they give proper accounts of exactly what happened.
You can rely on our experienced negotiation skills to make sure you receive the right amount of compensation. We are ready to go head-to-head with the insurance adjusters to avoid any low and unrealistic offers.
If a settlement is not successful, we are ready to represent you at trial and present your case to the judge and jury to make sure they understand what you are going through before granting you the right compensation amount.
Statute of limitations: in most cases, three years from the date of the crash (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101). Miss that deadline and you usually lose the right to recover. If a government vehicle was involved, a much shorter written-notice deadline can apply, so tell us early.
This is the rule that hurts motorcyclists most. Maryland follows contributory negligence: if you are found even 1% at fault for the crash, you can be barred from recovering anything. Insurers know riders face bias, so they work hard to pin part of the blame on you.
Not before you talk to us. Early offers are almost always low and often arrive before anyone knows the full extent of your injuries. Once you sign a release, you cannot ask for more — even if you need more treatment later.
Often the at-fault driver, but not always only them. Depending on how the crash happened, a government agency responsible for a dangerous road, a mechanic or parts manufacturer behind a defect, or another third party may share the blame.
There is no flat number. It depends on your injuries, your medical costs, lost wages, how the crash affects your life going forward, and who was at fault. Because motorcycle injuries tend to be serious, these claims can be significant.
Every motorcycle accident case is unique, and the amount you recover depends on the circumstances — as determined by the insurance company or a jury. Factors that affect your settlement's value include:
Motorcycle injuries are usually worse than the same collision in a car, so the economic damages start higher — but the defense in a motorcycle case is almost always about the rider, not the crash. Speed, lane position, whether the headlight was on, whether the gear was reflective. Maryland requires a helmet, and if you were not wearing one the insurer will argue about it even where it had nothing to do with the injury.
That is the contributory negligence problem in its sharpest form. In most states a jury that finds the rider 20 percent responsible reduces the award by 20 percent. In Maryland it can end the case. Reconstructing the seconds before impact — from scene photographs, roadway evidence and any camera in range — is not a detail here; it is the case.
How Maryland personal injury settlements are calculated — the multiplier and per diem methods, the damages caps, the deadlines, and our settlement calculators.
No two cases are worth the same, but insurers lean on two common methods to estimate pain and suffering. Understanding them helps you spot a lowball offer. Try our free Maryland Car Accident Settlement Calculator for a personalized estimate.
We generally advise against it. Insurers will most likely make an immediate offer well below the true cost of your damages. If you work with us, we handle all discussions and negotiations so you're protected from being victimized in the claims process.
The adjuster's first offer is in most cases very low and doesn't represent what the case is actually worth. Negotiations typically go back and forth for a few months before settling — at which point we file a lawsuit based on the value of the case.
These injuries might affect your ability to continue with your life as you normally did before. It's a good idea to claim compensation to make your life a bit easier after a motorcycle accident in Maryland, Maryland.
Pinder Plotkin Legal Team holds a 4.9-star average across 900+ verified client reviews. Here’s what injured Marylanders say about working with us.
I have worked with Pinder Plotkin on a car accident and they were nothing but professional. The whole team were very caring and kept me informed through the whole process. I could not think of a better firm to represent me.More
Received support from Day 1. No question went unanswered and they worked to make sure I was comfortable and understood everything. Very patient in ensuring my needs are met. I am grateful.More
I been a client since 2017 and I had a good experience with them as far as getting results and being treated like family, I had a major injury and the whole team was very supportive and stayed on top of my case, I was able to maintain my bills due to being out of work for a year and had a favorable outcome with my settlement which helped me start my business ventures, so thanks again to the team and if need be I’ll have them represent me in the future.More
Jason, Charlotte, and Tony were absolutely amazing! I was in a car accident 4 years ago, they made sure I was taken care of and even though we had a lot of set backs due to Covid, they never made me feel like my case (or me) were not important. Tony knew my medical history better than I did, Charlotte was always an absolute delight to talk to and was so kind, and Jason was just great! I'm really sad that I won't be talking to them anymore, they became like family! I know that is something a lot of people say, but it is 100% true with this team.More
Great team took my cases when most wouldn’t did all the work fluently and worry free would not be any happier 😊. Highly recommend them for your legal servicesMore
I cannot thank the team at Pinder Plotkin enough for their compassion, patience, and relentless dedication throughout my car accident case. They went above and beyond — jumping through hoops, explaining every step with care, and standing by me when I felt overwhelmed or lost. The communication was incredible, and I always knew I was in good hands. I truly appreciate everything they did to help me get through such a stressful time. Highly recommend to anyone looking for people who genuinely care about their clients.More
Mr Jason, Mr Balsamo, Nancy and the team worked on my case meticulously until I got justice. Thanks Nancy for your assurance and patience. If you need a team of injury lawyers, Pinder Plotkin team should be your first call.More
To be honest, I wasn’t sure how this process would go since I usually let the auto insurance company handle accident. However, I would not hesitate to call upon the Pinder Plotkin legal team FIRST. They took on my case and exceeded expectations and removed any doubts I had. The folks at Pinder Plotkin fought through a long drawn out case, keeping my best interests in mind. A settlement was reached, more than what I would say, your insurance company would give. I’m extremely happy with the Pinder Plotkin team for their hard work, dedication to me as a client and as a veteran. I was treated with compassion, empathy and they communicated every step of the process. I high recommend the Pinder Plotkin legal team for your legal services. Thank you Pinder Plotkin, truely, thank you.More
Get a fast, free estimate of what your case could be worth.
The calculator below is a working tool, not a contact form. Nine questions, about three minutes, and you get an estimated settlement range for a Maryland motorcycle accident claim.
Free and no obligation. Your name, email, and phone number are required on the final step before the estimate is shown. The result is an estimated settlement range for information only — it is not a written case analysis, legal advice, or a promise of any outcome.
In most cases, three years from the date of the crash (Md. Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101). Miss that deadline and you usually lose the right to recover. If a government vehicle was involved, a much shorter written-notice deadline can apply, so tell us early.
We ride, and we know how differently riders get treated after a crash. Insurers and even other drivers often assume the motorcyclist was at fault — and in Maryland that assumption can cost you everything. From our three Maryland offices in Baltimore (Nottingham), Laurel and Bel Air, we push back with real investigation and represent riders across Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel, Howard, and Harford counties. The consultation is free, and there is no fee unless we win.
You must always wear a helmet when riding or operating a motorcycle in Maryland — a hard outer shell with a shock-absorbing liner, chinstrap, and comfort liner, plus eye protection unless your motorcycle has a windscreen. Motorcycles are prohibited from overtaking a vehicle in the same lane or passing between two lanes of traffic, and a motorcycle is entitled to use the full lane.
Economic damages cover the tangible costs after your motorcycle accident, including medical costs and lost wages. Non-economic damages cover emotional damage, pain and suffering, and other intangible losses. Punitive damages are only awarded when the defendant's actions showed ill will or an intent to harm — there's no cap on punitive awards in Maryland.
Maryland requires every rider and passenger to wear a helmet, but in a claim the helmet question is usually about damages rather than fault. An insurer will often argue a head injury would have been smaller with different gear. That argument goes to what the injuries are worth; it does not by itself decide who caused the crash. Tell us early if helmet use is in dispute so the medical evidence can be lined up.
No. Riding between lanes of moving traffic to pass is not permitted in Maryland. Two motorcycles riding side by side within a single lane is a different thing and is allowed. If an insurer claims you were splitting lanes, that becomes a contributory negligence argument, which in Maryland can end a claim outright, so it has to be answered with evidence rather than argument.
Maryland is one of a small group of states that still applies contributory negligence. If you are found even slightly at fault for the crash, you recover nothing. Maryland’s highest court reaffirmed the rule in Coleman v. Soccer Association of Columbia, 432 Md. 679 (2013), and left any change to the legislature. Riders feel this rule harder than anyone, because the reflex assumption is that the motorcycle must have been speeding or weaving.
Three years from the date of the crash for most injury claims, under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101, and generally three years from the date of death for a wrongful death claim. Those are outside limits, not targets. Scene photographs, vehicle damage and witness memory all degrade long before the deadline arrives.
Jake’s Law is Maryland Transportation Article section 21-1124.3. It makes it a crime to cause a crash that kills or seriously injures someone while texting or using a handheld phone behind the wheel. A conviction carries up to one year in jail, a fine of up to $5,000, or both, and that sentence is separate from any other charge brought over the same crash. The law is named for Jake Owen, a five-year-old boy killed when the family car was struck from behind by a driver on a cell phone, and it was signed in April 2014 after his parents campaigned for it. If a distracted driver hurt you, a Jake’s Law charge is a criminal matter handled by the State. Your civil claim for medical bills, lost income and pain is separate, and you can bring it whether or not the driver is charged.
Maryland is one of a small number of states that still follows contributory negligence. In most states, being found partly at fault reduces what you recover. In Maryland it can bar your claim entirely, even if the other side was far more to blame. Maryland’s highest court reaffirmed the rule in Coleman v. Soccer Association of Columbia, 432 Md. 679 (2013), over a strong dissent, and said any change to it is for the General Assembly rather than the courts. That is why an insurance adjuster’s first move is so often to suggest you did something wrong. Being blamed is not the same as being at fault, whether the rule actually bars a claim depends on the specific facts, and it is the reason to be careful about what you say and to get advice early.
Three Maryland offices — Baltimore (Nottingham), Laurel and Bel Air — and we travel statewide to meet clients who cannot travel to us. Call (888) 844-5373 to schedule a visit.
We handle motorcycle accident cases throughout Maryland.
We take cases anywhere in Maryland. The figure on each card counts helmet-wearing operators involved in crashes in 2023. Maryland’s crash reports record protective equipment rather than vehicle type, so these counts include bicyclists as well as motorcyclists and run roughly 11 to 14 percent above the state’s motorcycle-only figures. They also exclude any rider who was not wearing a helmet. Read them as an indicator of where crashes involving helmeted riders happen, not as a motorcycle crash count. Each name links to its official local government website.
Source: our tabulation of the MDOT Zero Deaths Maryland jurisdiction crash data summaries, 2023, protective-equipment tables. Across all 24 jurisdictions: 1,007 helmet-wearing operators, 728 injured and 73 killed. For comparison, the Zero Deaths Maryland Motorcycle Crash Summary reports 883 helmeted motorcycle operators, 648 injured and 66 killed statewide in 2023 — that gap is why these figures must not be read as a motorcycle-only count.
Jason Plotkin was born and raised here, and he has lived in six Maryland jurisdictions — Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Montgomery County, Howard County, Allegany County and Worcester County. Mountains to shore. That is not a marketing line; it is where he has actually lived.
Marc Hassan, Tony Balasamo and Joshua Fannon were born and raised in Maryland too, and Christian Miele served in the Maryland House of Delegates. When you work with our firm, you are working with people who know this state — its roads, its courts and its neighbors.
Free case review, no pressure, no fee unless we win. Reach out and one of our attorneys will walk you through your options.
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