Have You Suffered A Serious Injury In A Motorcycle Accident?
Lacking the protection of an enclosed vehicle, motorcyclists are vulnerable to serious injuries in a crash. If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident that was someone else’s fault, call Rogers Sevastianos & Bante LLP. Our personal injury lawyers are tough advocates for injured riders.
Motorcycle Crash Statistics
In a recent study, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provided the following statistics about motorcycle accidents in the United States:
- 4,976 motorcyclists were killed in traffic crashes, representing an 8% increase over the previous year.
- 88,000 (estimated) motorcycle riders were injured in traffic accidents.
- 14% of all people injured killed and 4% of all people injured in traffic accidents were motorcyclists.
- 94% of all motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes were riders and 6% were passengers.
- 2,488 fatal two-vehicle crashes involved a motorcycle and another type of vehicle.
- 74% of all two-vehicle motorcycle accidents were frontal collisions.
- 41% of fatal two-vehicle motorcycle crashes involved another vehicle turning left while the motorcycle was going straight, passing or overtaking another vehicle.
What Makes Motorcycles More Risky Than Other Vehicles?
There is a higher risk of serious injury in a crash because motorcycles are:
- Much lighter than passenger vehicles and more susceptible to road hazards.
- Smaller and more difficult to see — drivers often fail to register a motorcycle in the roadway.
- Lacking the protection provided by an enclosed vehicle.
How Do Most Motorcycle Accidents Happen?
Motorcycle crashes are more likely to result in serious or fatal injuries than other types of accidents. These accidents frequently occur in the following ways:
- Head-on collisions: In the majority of accidents involving a car and a motorcycle, the car strikes the motorcycle in the front. Head-on collisions with a passenger vehicle are often fatal for the motorcyclist.
- Cars making left-hand turns: This is the single most dangerous traffic situation for motorcyclists, accounting for 41% of fatal two-vehicle motorcycle accidents in the recent year.
- Road hazards: Motorcycles are smaller and less stable than passenger vehicles. Hazardous road conditions such as potholes, slick pavement, uneven heights between lanes, and dead animals on the road can cause serious or fatal accidents.
- Speeding and alcohol use: NHTSA reports that 33% of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes in a recent year were speeding and 27% were alcohol-impaired. In Missouri alone, 17% of motorcyclist fatalities had blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or higher.
We Are Here For You After A Motorcycle Accident
If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident through the negligence of another, seek emergency medical attention for your injuries. To the extent you are able, document the accident with photos of the scene and collect contact information from the other driver and any eyewitnesses.
The next thing to do is to contact an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Call (314) 354-8484 today or reach out online to schedule your free consultation. Our St. Louis motorcycle accident attorneys at Rogers Sevastianos & Bante LLP have extensive experience and a history of success representing injured riders in motorcycle accident cases.