Reckless, Aggressive, or Just Plain Negligent: It’s Not Always the Motorcycle Rider Who Causes the Crash

Never mind the old stereotype that motorcycle riders are reckless. As far as you’re concerned, it was the other driver who was acting like a menace behind the wheel. It’s frustrating when an unsafe driver walks away unscathed from the same wreck that lands you in the hospital. What can you do?

If you believe the driver who hit you was engaging in any unsafe behavior, you should report it to the police and discuss it with your lawyer. You may be able to prove that the driver was negligent, aggressive, or reckless—any of which could potentially increase your chances of getting a favorable settlement in a motorcycle personal injury claim in Maryland. Here’s what you need to know about each unsafe driving behavior:

Reckless Drivers Willfully Disregard Others

The at-fault driver may be charged with reckless driving if he was reportedly driving with “willful disregard” for the safety of others, including you. This is considered a very serious offense. Maryland law doesn’t have specific criteria for reckless driving, but actions that could possibly be considered reckless include any of the following unsafe maneuvers:

• Frequently weaving in and out of lanes
• Excessive speeding
• Excessive tailgating
• Cutting off another driver
• Slamming (or repeatedly tapping) on the brakes in front of another driver
• Failing to obey a traffic signal
• Causing a car accident due to purposefully unsafe driving actions

Get the Specifics on Aggressive Driving

Aggressive driving is more specific than reckless driving but is considered slightly less serious. To warrant an aggressive driving charge in Maryland, the at-fault driver must have done at least three of the following:

• Speeding
• Failing to yield right of way
• Tailgating
• Passing on the right
• Overtaking other vehicles
• Driving on the center line
• Ignoring a traffic signal

Just Plain Negligent

Even if the driver who hit you was not acting aggressively or recklessly, it’s quite possible that he was driving carelessly, which is legally referred to as negligent driving. The at-fault driver can be considered a negligent driver simply for any unsafe driving action that endangered another person. When you’ve been involved in a motorcycle wreck in Maryland with another vehicle, chances are high that the other driver may have been driving in a careless manner.

For more helpful information on motorcycle accidents and your rights as a victim, check out our library section.