Carroll County Bicyclist Killed When Struck by Tractor Trailer

On Tuesday, August 24, 2010, Arthur John Martin, Jr., 51, a retired police officer, was riding his bicycle on Maryland 75 in Carroll County when he was struck by a tractor trailer.  The tractor trailer driver, Anthony Edward Woodie, 37, was operating his 1985 Peterbuilt on Shepherds Mill Road and was turning right on Maryland 75 when he failed to yield the right of way and struck Mr. Martin.  It was reported that Mr. Martin was thrown from his bicycle and then struck by the tractor-trailer.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.



The Maryland State Police crash team are still investigating this accident and charges are currently pending against the tractor trailer driver.  There is no evidence to suggest that alcohol or speed contributed to this accident. This is yet another example of why the question keeps being raised, "Whether motorists should share the roads with bicyclists?"  Clearly, a 25-pound bicycle is no match for a 10,000-pound truck.  Bicyclists should be lobbying for designated bike lanes for bicycle safety.  Recently, advocates for the League of American Bicyclists were at the Capitol expressing their excitement over the bike lane extending between the Capitol and the White House.  If they can have them in Washington, D.C., why not everywhere?

If you, a family member, or someone you know has been involved in a bicycle accident, truck accident or automobile accident, please contact one of our Maryland Accident Lawyers for a free consultation or visit us on the web at http://www.portnerandshure.com.

$5 Million Lawsuit Filed in Fatal Bicycle Accident

Mr. John Yates, a 67-year-old bicyclist, was riding his bicycle on Maryland Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland on August 4, 2009 when he was struck in the rear by a truck owned by Potts & Callahan. The collision caused the bike to get stuck under the wheels of the truck when the truck made a right hand turn onto Lafayette Avenue. Yates were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck failed to stop after the accident. The truck was found two days later in the Potts & Callahan service yard with a blood and hair still on the front tires. DNA testing confirmed that the truck was involved in this collision.

On March 3, 2010, the family of Yates filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against Potts & Callahan for wrongful death. The lawsuit accuses the driver of the truck and Potts & Callahan of negligence. The dispute in this matter is whether or not Yates was in full compliance with Maryland law.

According to the law in Maryland, the operator of a bicycle must stay as close to the right side of the roadway as practicable except when turning left. There are exceptions to this rule, a bicyclist must use a bike lane or smooth shoulder whenever one is available and may not ride on a controlled road with a speed in excess of 50 miles per hour. It is important to note that the violation of any of these rules does not constitute negligence as a matter of law unless the violation is the proximate cause of the injury. If the bike rider was found to have contributed to accident, his estate is completely barred from any recovery.

If you, a family member, or someone you know was injured in a bicycle accident or if you would like more information on car accidents or personal injury claims, please contact Portner & Shure for a free consultation.