Motorcycle Crash Statistics
Motorcycle owners are not are not necessarily in accidents more often than car owners. But according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcycle owners are actually 35 times more likely than car owners to be involved in a fatal accident. While someone in a passenger car has airbags and is protected by the car itself, a motorcycle rider does not, and being thrown from a bike puts you at deadly risk. Things that would have little effect on a car or a truck can mean major danger for a motorcycle operator. Motorcyclists should understand these hazards and take proper precaution to avoid them, and potentially fatal injuries.
Facts About Motorcycle Accidents in New Jersey
Here are some facts about motorcycle accidents that you should be aware of.
- About 75% of motorcycle accidents are with other vehicles. These are usually passenger vehicles
- Less than 25% of motorcycle crashes are solo accidents, as in the bike colliding with an object or something else on the roadway with no other vehicles involved
- Less than 3% of motorcycle accidents involve mechanical failure and the few that do occur are usually caused by a flat tire or tire puncture
- In the few accidents that are single vehicle incidents, most are caused by motorcyclist error that results in a slide-out and fall due to overbraking or running wide on a curve due to speeding or under-cornering
- Potholes and other road defects are responsible for approximately 2% of all motorcycle accidents; animal encounters account for only about 1%
- In accidents with more than one vehicle, over 50% of the time, the motorcycle accident is caused by another vehicle violating a bike’s right of way
- The failure of a passenger vehicle’s driver to see a motorcyclist is the most common cause of these multi-vehicle accidents. The smaller size and maneuverability of a bike combined with a car ’s blind spots makes it more difficult to detect
- Intersections are the most likely place for these types of accidents to occur
- Visibility of the motorcycle is a critical factor in multi-vehicle accidents. The likelihood of an accident can be significantly reduced by the use of motorcycle headlamps (on in daylight) and drivers wearing clothing with high visibility such as bright red, orange and yellow
- Fuel leaks are common after a motorcycle crash, increasing the possibility of a fire
- Lower speed accidents (around 30 mph) are more common than high speed accidents
- Motorcycle riders between the ages of 16 and 24 are most likely to be in an accidents. Although the majority of the accident-involved motorcycle drivers are male (96%), female motorcycle passengers are significantly overrepresented in the accident data
- Nearly HALF of all fatal motorcycle accidents involve alcohol
- Data shows that crash bars are not an effective injury preventative measure. The reduction of injury to the ankle-foot is balanced by increase of injury to the thigh-upper leg, knee, and lower leg.
- In nearly 75% of all motorcycle accidents, the driver wasn’t wearing eye protection, which may have contributed to the accident
- Helmet use caused NO reduction of critical traffic sounds, no limitation of pre-crash visual field, and no fatigue or loss of attention in a rider. WEAR YOUR HELMET!
- Less than 10% of motorcycle riders involved in accidents have insurance of any kind to provide medical care or replace property
Take appropriate safety measures, obey road signs and traffic laws, and always be at attention when you are on the road! If you are riding a motorcycle, attention to detail may save your life.
Contact a Linwood Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Motorcycle Crash Case in New Jersey Today
Did you or a loved one sustain catastrophic injuries due to a motorcycle accident in New Jersey]? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The Law Offices of Richard A. Stoloff represents clients injured due to motorcycle accidents throughout New Jersey. Call 609-957-6810 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 605 New Road, Linwood, NJ 08221, as well as an office in Philadelphia 500 JFK Blvd, Suite 520, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.