Deadly Motorcycle Accidents on the Upswing with Warmer Weather
The warm weather of springtime is driving more motorcycles onto streets and highways across the United States. Although many people might be happy to get out of the house, this increase in motorcycles on the road brings with it an associated increase in motorcycle accidents.
The number of motorcyclist deaths in the United States is approximately five thousand annually, with thousands more injured. The majority of these deaths and injuries are to motorcyclists themselves, rather than drivers or passengers in automobiles involved in collisions with bikes.
In addition, the largest percentage of these deaths and injuries happen between late spring and into the fall due to better weather conditions.
News Reports Illustrate the Primary Causes of Motorcycle – Automobile Accidents
There are a number of more commonplace causes of motorcycle accidents in the United States. Single vehicle motorcycle accidents, while not common, do occur. Mechanical failure is usually the cause of such an accident.
Motorcycle-automobile accidents are a common occurrence on the roads today. They can be caused by many factors, such as:
- Distracted automobile driver
- Inebriated or intoxicated automobile driver
- Improper and change by automobile driver
- Failure of car driver to properly yield right of way at an intersection
- Automobile driver operating vehicle at an excessive speed
Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) presents statistics every year on motorcycle accidents. The reality is that motorcycle riders are 26-times more likely to die in traffic collisions than a passenger in a car, truck, or SUV. They are 5-times more likely to be injured (many times seriously so) than a passenger in an enclosed vehicle.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that in most cases, when a motorcycle is involved in a collision with a car, truck, or SUV, the rider sustains injuries of the following types:
- Head trauma
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Facial injury
- Injury to appendages
- Broken bones
- Emotional trauma
- Permanent physical disability
- Permanent disfigurement
In most motorcycle accidents, a rider suffers more than one of the injuries listed on this list. Since a rider is entitled to fair compensation for the injury when it’s the fault of another driver, they are also entitled to appropriate compensation if they’re injured in this way.
Motorcycle Accident Wrongful Death Cases
An average of 13 people are killed every day in motorcycle accidents. There is no justice when a family member is killed while on a motorcycle as the result of another motorist’s negligence.
In some circumstances, the family members of a person who has died due to the negligence of another party may be able to pursue what is known as a wrongful death claim or wrongful death case against the negligent motorist.
The laws governing wrongful death claims vary from one state to another, and a motorcycle accident injury lawyer being able to assist you in understanding your legal rights in such
Conclusion
As we’ve mentioned, the best way to avoid being involved in a fatal motorcycle accident is by not taking your bike out when it’s too warm. It’s important that you keep your engine cooled down and take frequent breaks from driving so you can have a safe ride this summer.
Be sure to follow all state laws regarding helmets, protective gear, and other safety equipment for motorcycles. You should also always check the conditions of your tires and make sure they are
Source: thedoanlawfirm