5 Important Motorcycle Accident Statistics - Jones Law Group - Your Lawyers for Life

5 Important Motorcycle Accident Statistics

Motorcyclists have a reputation for being adrenaline junkies who don’t care about safety, but that’s not the case. Motorcyclists are required, just like passenger vehicle drivers, to learn how to operate their vehicles safely before they are allowed to get a license. Unfortunately, this bad reputation that motorcyclists get can hurt their accident lawsuit. This is why it’s so important to hire a motorcycle accident attorney.

A motorcycle accident attorney will help negate this unfair motorcycle bias while also getting you, the victim, the most compensation possible for your injuries.

How common are motorcycle accidents, and what can you do to avoid them? Here are the five most important motorcycle accident statistics that all motorcyclists should know.

1. How Many Motorcycle Accidents Occur Each Year?

According to the Insurance Information Institute (iii), three were 84,000 motorcycle accidents that caused injury in 2019. This number hasn’t fluctuated much over the last 10 years, with 82,000 accidents resulting in injury in 2010.

In 2016 104,000 accidents resulted in injury, but injuries have remained in the 80,000 range for the most part. With an average of 80,000 injuries each year, that means that there are approximately 219 accidents that cause injury every day in the United States.

2. Do Helmets Save Lives?

It’s a highly debated topic whether or not people should be required to wear helmets when they operate a motor vehicle. The law is different depending on the state. However, in Florida, you aren’t required to wear one if you’re over the age of 18. Whether or not you decide to wear a motorcycle, it’s undeniable that they do prevent severe injuries and even death.

In 2016, helmets saved an estimated 1,859 lives across the United States. Helmets are also said to reduce the risk of head injury by 69% and the risk of death by 37%.

However, you have the right to choose whether or not you want to wear a helmet, and this decision cannot be held against you, although insurance companies will often try to offer a lower settlement for this reason. Having an experienced and talented motorcycle accident attorney will help to ensure that you get the compensation you deserve even if you weren’t wearing a helmet.

3. How Often are Motorcycle Accidents Fatal?

In 2019, there were 5,014 motorcycle accident fatalities. Motorcycle accidents account for approximately 14% of all motor vehicle accidents. Motorcyclist deaths have been on the incline, with double the number of people dying in 2019 compared to 1997.

If someone you love has passed away in a motorcycle accident case, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit on their behalf in order to receive damages for their (and your own) losses. Filing a wrongful death case can also help provide justice and closure to the deceased’s family.

4. Are Motorcycle Accidents More Dangerous than Car Accidents?

Unfortunately, motorcycles lack the protection that cars have. This makes accidents more dangerous. So motorcycle accidents more often result in severe injury or death over car accidents. Motorcycle accidents often result in severe injuries such as amputations, crushing injuries, and road rash. By contrast, these types of injuries aren’t as common amongst car accident victims.

5. What are the Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?

There are many different reasons that motorcycle accidents occur, but most often, it’s because of negligent drivers. Drivers often don’t pay attention to motorists that aren’t in passenger vehicles or larger. There aren’t as many motorcyclists on the road, so drivers just aren’t trained well enough to pay attention to them. This means that they may cause accidents because of their lack of knowledge or experience.

These accidents are often caused by distracted driving, inexperience, drivers who aren’t paying attention, speeding drivers, aggressive drivers, or drivers who are under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Motorcycle accidents can occur anywhere on the road, such as passing, merging, changing lanes, or at an intersection or stop. An accident can even occur when a driver opens their door on the side of the road without first checking to see if anyone is coming.

What to Do if You’re Involved in a Motorcycle Accident

If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle accident, it’s important to contact an attorney right away to discuss your options. If you have medical debt, lost wages, or you’ve suffered a great change to your quality of life as a result of your accident. An experienced motorcycle accident attorney can ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve.

Our team of attorneys has years of experience working on motorcycle accident cases and the tools to help make sure that you get the highest settlement possible. We’ll do all the heavy lifting so you can focus on resting, relaxing, and recovering from your injuries.

For more information or to schedule a free case evaluation, please contact us online, using our chat box option, or by calling us at 727-571-1333.