As per National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report number DOT HS-812-848, motorcyclists are 26 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than other motorists. Motorcycles present smaller profiles in traffic and they don’t have the stability of other vehicles. There’s no protective enclosure for motorcycle riders either. Head injuries are a common cause of death in motorcycle crashes. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, wearing a helmet while on a motorcycle is about 67 percent effective in preventing brain injuries and 37 percent effective in preventing fatalities.
Motorcycle accidents can result in fatalities due to various factors and types of accidents. Some common types of motorcycle accidents that can lead to death include:
-
Collision with another vehicle: Motorcycles are more vulnerable on the road compared to larger vehicles, and collisions with cars, trucks, or other motorcycles can result in fatal injuries.
-
Single-vehicle accidents: These can occur when a motorcycle loses control due to factors like speeding, road hazards, or adverse weather conditions, leading to a fatal crash.
-
Lane-splitting accidents: Lane-splitting, where a motorcycle maneuvers between lanes of slower-moving or stopped traffic, can be risky and lead to accidents, including fatal ones.
-
Head-on collisions: Collisions with another vehicle coming from the opposite direction can be particularly deadly for motorcyclists.
-
Intersection accidents: Crashes at intersections, where motorcycles may not be as visible to other drivers, can result in severe injuries or fatalities.
-
Running off the road: If a motorcycle runs off the road and crashes into obstacles, such as trees, guardrails, or ditches, it can result in fatal injuries.
-
Distracted driving: Both motorcyclists and other drivers being distracted by phones, navigation systems, or other factors can contribute to accidents that lead to fatalities.
-
Impaired driving: Riding a motorcycle under the influence of alcohol or drugs can impair judgment and reaction time, increasing the risk of a fatal accident.
-
Speeding: Excessive speed can reduce a motorcyclist’s ability to react to sudden changes in road conditions or obstacles, increasing the likelihood of fatal accidents.
-
Not wearing protective gear: Failing to wear proper safety gear, such as helmets, gloves, jackets, and pants, can result in more severe injuries or fatalities in the event of an accident.
To reduce the risk of motorcycle accidents and fatalities, it’s essential for motorcyclists to practice safe riding habits, obey traffic laws, and wear appropriate safety gear. Other road users should also be vigilant and aware of motorcyclists to help prevent accidents. If you have any specific questions or need more information about motorcycle safety or accident prevention, feel free to ask.
The 2014 fatalities
The NHTSA reports that in 2014, 4,586 people died in motorcycle crashes. More than 92,000 were injured. They totaled 13 percent of all total motor vehicle fatalities. The startling fact is that the number of motorcycle fatalities in 2014 was double that of 1997. Reading the projo obituaries today will not help a reader discern any fatal accident stats.
The fatal months and days
June and July of 2014 had the highest number of motorcycle deaths with 571 in June and 556 in July. Those months accounted for about 26 percent of all 2014 motorcycle fatalities. For the year, 52 percent of the deaths occurred on weekends between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Where most deaths occurred
Of course, deaths were reported more often on urban roads than rural roads. About 57 percent of the 2014 deaths occurred on major roads and not interstate highways or freeways. About 27 percent occurred on minor roads.
Rhode Island wrongful death attorneys
The number of drunk driving motorcycle deaths in 2014 was stunning. About 55 percent of the motorcycle drivers who died after sundown had blood alcohol levels above the .08 legal limit.
The most common reason for fatal motorcycle accidents is that other motorists just don’t see them. The most frequent scenario is a motorist making a left turn in front of a motorcycle. This occurs more often at intersections than straight stretches of road.
Fatal motorcycle accident
After a fatal motorcycle accident, the victim’s family might want to bring a wrongful death action against the party who was responsible for the collision. They need to speak with an experienced Rhode Island motorcycle wrongful death attorney. A Providence motorcycle accident lawyer will help you get the bike crash compensation that you are entitled to. They should do that as soon as possible since both evidence and witnesses can disappear. There are also time limitations on when they can bring an action. Depending on what types of actions they might bring and who caused the accident, different limitations periods might apply.
Motorcycle involved in a fatal crash
The Insurance Information Institute stated” “In 2014 motorcycle fatalities fell 2.3 percent to 4,586 from 4,692 in 2013. This was the second decrease in motorcyclist fatalities since 2009. In 2013, 56 out of every 100,000 registered motorcycles was involved in a fatal crash, compared with only 9 out of every 100,000 passenger cars, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In 2013 motorcyclists were about 26 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled and five times more likely to be injured, according to NHTSA.” iii