Motorcycle Accidents Can Be Deadly
The vision of driving down a country road with the wind in your hair atop a large motorcycle is an attractive one for many people. That is one reason the number of motorcycles on America's highways is growing. Although motorcycles share the road with cars and trucks, motorcycle accidents are different and often more serious than automobile accidents.
Motorcycles are Collision Prone
Motorcycles (on average) are involved in more accidents than other vehicles. In addition to all of the usual things that cause automobile accidents (speeding, bad weather, driving under the influence), motorcyclists face certain other hazards. Motorcycles are smaller than cars and trucks and they are sometimes harder to see. In over half of the motorcycle accidents studied, the drivers of cars involved in an accident with a motorcycle said that they did not see the motorcyclist coming. The smaller size of a motorcycle also makes it more vulnerable to road hazards, causing accidents. And, because motorcycles are more maneuverable than cars, they are sometimes put into unsafe positions that could cause accidents.
Motorcyclists are also much more likely to be injured or killed in an accident than someone riding in a car or truck. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a motorcycle rider is 18 times more likely to die in a collision than someone in a car. Motorcycle riders also are far more likely to suffer serious injuries in an accident.
Head Injury from Motorcycle Accidents
A common kind of serious personal injury associated with motorcycle accidents is a head injury. Because a motorcyclist is often thrown off of the bike in a collision, a traumatic brain injury is 10 times more common in a motorcycle accident than in other vehicle accidents. Studies have shown that the number one way to prevent these serious injuries caused by motorcycle accidents is the most obvious one--WEAR A HELMET! Heavy riding boots, gloves, vests, and long pants can also protect riders if they do have an accident.
Take Extra Care on a Motorcycle
Because of the added danger a motorcycle presents, motorcyclists need to take extra care when driving. They should drive safely (as should all drivers), and they should wear the appropriate protective gear. Motorcyclists need to understand the special problems that their motorcycles present for other drivers, and drive very defensively. However, motorcycle safety is a two-way street. Drivers of other vehicles need to "drive aware" and should keep a careful eye out for motorcycles. Although motorcycles are more maneuverable than other vehicles, motorcyclists have the same right to use the road that cars do, and this right should be respected. Other vehicles should give motorcycles a wide berth--an accident such as a small tap with the bumper likely will not hurt an SUV, but it can be fatal to a motorcyclist.
If everyone obeys these simple rules, they can make riding motorcycles less dangerous and more like the "open-road" ideal.
What To Do After A Motorcycle Accident
Motorcycle accidents will happen despite our best efforts. In the event you are involved in a motorcycle accident, it is important to know what to do. The following is a small checklist of what you should do if you are in a motorcycle accident:
Call the police and an ambulance, if necessary.
Get the name, address, and insurance information of the parties involved and any witnesses.
Write down the make, model, year, and license number of the vehicles involved.
Take pictures of the damage to your motorcycle before it is repaired.
Do not make any statement about the motorcycle accident to anyone but the police.
Do not apologize or admit fault.
Do not argue with the other driver.
Contact our office to discuss or submit your case.
Remember, if you need a personal injury lawyer or a wrongful death lawyer, the lawyers at Dallas law firm Street and Ragsdale are here for you. Contact our lawyers if you'd like free no-obligation assistance with your motorcycle accident questions.
Motorcycle Statistics Alarming
According to statistics of the U.S. Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 1999, motorcycle accident fatalities in single vehicle crashes accounted for almost half (46 percent) of the fatalities from all fatal motorcycle crashes. These motorcycle accident statistics are based on 1990-1999 data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), a census of all fatal motor vehicle accidents.
The statistics go on to show more than 38,000 motorcyclists died in single vehicle motorcycle crashes between 1975 and 1999. Motorcyclist fatalities in single vehicle crashes decreased each year from 1990 to 1996, reaching a low of 937 in 1996 and again in 1997. However, in 1998 and again in 1999 the fatalities in single vehicle motorcycle crashes increased to 1,042 (11.2%) in 1998 and to 1,140 (9.4%) in 1999. The overall increase in motorcyclist fatalities from single vehicle crashes from 1997 to 1999 was 203 (21.7%).
NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) motorcycle accident statistics show that motorcycle accident fatalities increased for the fourth year in a row following years of steady improvement. With 3,181 killed in 2001, it was the highest number of motorcycle accident fatalities since 1990. For the first time since 1997, younger motorcyclists, that is, riders under the age of 40, posted the highest percentage increases in motorcycle accident fatalities.
Motorcycle Accident Resources:
National Agenda for Motorcycle Safety
Motorcyclist Attitudes
Rider Education & Training
Licensing
Crash Avoidance Skills
Motorcyclist Alcohol & Other Impairment
Personal Protective Equipment
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