Summer is prime motorcycle riding time. Riding may seem especially appealing right now in light of current social distancing requirements, because it is an opportunity to get out of the house and enjoy the fresh air. While riding a motorcycle is a pleasure for those who choose to do so, it is also a dangerous activity.
National motorcycle fatality statistics
The freedom of riding a motorcycle in the open air is precisely what makes the activity so treacherous.
Motorcyclists are 29 times more likely to die in an accident than individuals in passenger vehicles because they are exposed, unrestrained, and not protected by the steel cage of a car. In fact, motorcyclists make up 14% of all traffic deaths while accounting for just 3% of registered vehicles. In 2018, an astounding 4,985 motorcyclists died of their injuries in the United States.
What causes motorcycle accidents?
· A shocking 1 out of 3 motorcycle deaths are related to drunk driving.
· About 25% of motorcycle accidents are attributed to a collision with a fixed object, like a pole or sign.
· Approximately 67% of motorcycle accidents occur when the other vehicle violates the motorcyclist’s right of way.
· The number of motorcycle deaths involving a rider not wearing a helmet is 10 times higher in states like Texas, which does not require riders above the age of 21 to wear a helmet.
What should Texan motorcyclists take away from these statistics?
Every rider must do what they can to prevent motorcycle collisions by taking safety precautions, abiding by the speed limit, and remaining vigilant on the roads. However, accidents can happen regardless of vigilance. Taking all the safety precautions in the world cannot prevent all accidents involving drunk, careless, or reckless motorists.
If you or someone you love has been injured or lost their life in a motorcycle collision in Texas, call Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner at (713) 222-7211 for a complimentary consultation.