Motorcyclists are more vulnerable on the road
As spring/summer approaches and the weather temperature rises, more and more motorcyclists will start hitting the roadways. With this seasonal increase of motorcyclists on the roadways, comes to an increased danger of those motorcyclists getting into serious accidents. It should come as no surprise that motorcyclists are more vulnerable on the road and statistically are more likely to be injured or killed in a car accident than occupants in a car, bus, or truck.
Back in the year 2015, motorcycle fatalities across the United States topped 5,000. Motorcycle accidents accounted for 1.1 percent of total crashes and 15.8 percent of all fatal crashes. All because motorcyclists aren’t that well seen on the road. One state has tried making a difference in decreasing motorcycle accidents; Illinois instituted a “Start Seeing Motorcycles” campaign and declared the month of May the Motorcycle Awareness Month. The campaign urges all drivers to stay vigilant when on the road and consciously look for motorcycles on the roadways.
There are three states in the nation that do not have a law that mandates motorcyclists and their passengers to wear helmets. Whether your state has this law or not, it is ludicrous to not want to wear a helmet when driving a motorcycle. Statistics show that wearing a helmet can reduce injuries and save lives effectively. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that wearing helmets saved 1,859 motorcyclists’ lives in 2016, and 802 more lives could have been saved if all motorcyclists had worn their helmets. The NHTSA estimates that helmets are 37% more effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcyclists and 41% more effective in preventing fatal injuries to their passengers.
Motorcycle accidents or no easy matter and can be terrifying for anyone involved in any shape, way, or form. Medical costs can of course quickly stack up and overwhelm. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact a professional accident lawyer to learn more about how you may be entitled to receive compensation for your injuries and get peace of mind.
