Regan Zambri Long has a record of success representing plaintiffs in all catastrophic injury matters – from class actions and premises liability to medical malpractice.
However, the firm noted an increasing volume of bicycle claims in recent years, which were commensurate with data reported in the greater D.C. metropolitan area. The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) indicated that 4,926 cyclists were involved in crashes with motor vehicles, pedestrians and other bicycles in the District of Columbia alone between 2013 and 2022; 73% of the cyclists involved in the recorded crashes were injured and there were 13 bicyclist deaths.
One victim was Sarah Debbink Langenkamp, a United States foreign service officer and mother of two who, in August 2022, was riding her bicycle in a bike lane in Bethesda when she was run over and killed by a flatbed truck. She had just left a back-to-school event for her two elementary school-aged children.
When Sarah’s family came to Regan Zambri Long following the tragic accident, firm President and Senior Partner Patrick Regan set out to secure justice on their behalf. Furthermore, he wanted to ensure Langenkamp’s legacy and memory would be honored.
“This was a case that became a cause,” says Regan, who was named Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” in 2020 and 2014 for Medical Malpractice Law—Plaintiffs and in 2022 and 2024 for Mass Torts—Plaintiffs in Washington, D.C. A longtime local resident and bicyclist, Patrick Regan had already spent years advocating for better safety laws on the road. “Sarah’s case resonated with me on a profound level because it was avoidable and mirrored what too many in the greater D.C. had experienced. We wanted part of her legacy to be connected to protecting bicyclists.”
The firm represented Langenkamp’s family in a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver and the corporate entities that employed the driver and owned the truck. The case was settled for a confidential amount. But Sarah’s tragic story reflected a larger, dangerous theme Regan says had been gaining prominence – the destructiveness of trucks and other commercial vehicles. Because of their size difference, when trucks strike cyclists, they are frequently very severely hurt or even killed.
“Inattentive truck drivers, combined with corporate fleet operators and transit systems that do not prioritize safety, result in life-altering injuries – and deaths – that are wholly preventable,” Regan notes. The firm has handled many such cases over the years, including recovering $6.9 million for a cyclist who was severely injured by a garbage truck, $5.5 million for a cyclist struck by an 18-wheeler, and $3 million in a claim against the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). In the latter case, the firm represented a bicyclist who suffered severe leg injuries when he was struck by a Metrobus.
“I ride my bike around the DC Metro area all the time,” Regan adds, “and have seen how reasonable upgrades to the law and bike lane system can improve safety and visibility for riders and drivers. Our local governments are learning that they need to do more than simply paint lines on the street and call them ‘bike lanes’ without consulting traffic safety engineers.”
The firm’s advocacy shined a powerful light on the value of cyclists’ lives and, coupled with the aforementioned traffic data, demonstrated the urgency for more meaningful change and consequences on local roads. In May 2024, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed the Sarah Debbink Langenkamp Memorial Act, which amends existing Maryland law 21-209, requiring drivers to leave a “three-foot buffer” between the vehicle and the cyclist or pedestrian.
“This amendment represents a monumental step forward in improving road safety and protecting cyclists’ lives in Maryland,” Regan says. “It was an honor to represent Sarah’s family and to have meaningful change enacted as a result of our representation. Sarah Debbink Langenkamp’s legacy will save lives in our community long into the future.”
