According to data provided by the Insurance Information Institute, 4,688 people died and approximately 88,000 were injured in motorcycle accidents around the country during 2013. A 2012 study demonstrated that for every vehicle mile traveled in the U.S. that year, motorcyclists were far more likely to be involved in a fatal collision or to be seriously injured in a crash than were other occupants of passenger cars.
In many cases, drivers simply fail to see motorcyclists who have the right of way. In two-thirds of collisions, the fault lies with other motorists who are turning left onto a roadway, crossing the path of an oncoming motorcyclist they fail to see. Motorcyclists simply make a smaller visual target than do other vehicles. Other crashes are caused due to rider inexperience or road hazards that would be manageable in a car but can be hazardous to a person riding on a motorcycle.
Motorcyclists are more likely to suffer catastrophic personal injuries in vehicle accidents, including such things as head injuries, broken bones and road rash. Some of these injuries may result in lifelong disabilities from which the motorcyclist may never recover. A cyclist who is seriously injured by the actions of an inattentive or impaired motorist may be able to recover damages to compensate for the losses sustained. An attorney with experience in personal injury litigation can be of assistance in this type of situation.
Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Motorcycle Crashes”, January 2015
