Motorcycle Accident Statistics

Motorcyclists are at a greater risk for suffering a serious or fatal injury than drivers or passengers in a car are. This is largely because the rider is almost entirely exposed, and the motorcycle itself cannot shield the driver from harm.

If you were in a motorcycle accident, knowing the motorcycle accident statistics for Massachusetts can help you determine who may have been at fault for your accident. Alternatively, they may help you avoid an accident altogether.

More Riders Are Being Injured

The Insurance Information Institute reported that while motorcycle accident fatalities are down, injuries have risen from 88,000 in 2013 to 92,000 in 2014.

The number of crashes increased in Massachusetts from 2011 to 2012, along with the number of motorcycle accident victims.

Helmet Use Is Increasing

Helmet use is on the rise, which can reduce the severity of head, brain, and facial injuries suffered by accident victims.

Virginia Tech and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation conducted research on rider behaviors and found that 78 percent of participants wore a helmet.

The Number of Fatalities Is Lower in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, there were forty-three motorcyclists killed in accidents in 2014 per 125,000 registered motorcycles. Nationally, there are approximately fifty-six motorcycle fatalities per 100,000 registered bikes every year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that the percentage of intoxicated motorcyclists killed in crashes is higher than the overall percentage of drunk drivers killed in accidents.

Motorcycle Accident Statistics That You Should Know

Motorcyclists are at a greater risk for dying in a crash than people riding in a car are (twenty-six times greater according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety).
Ninety-four percent of motorcyclists that are killed are drivers rather than passengers.
When a motorcycle is hit by another vehicle, it is a frontal collision 74 percent of the time.
A greater percentage of motorcyclists were speeding before an accident compared with drivers of cars and other vehicles.
Weekends are the most dangerous time for motorcycle riders.
Riders most likely to be killed in a motorcycle crash are those over the age of forty.

Your Options After a Crash

If you have been in a motorcycle accident, you have the right to file a lawsuit and hold the other driver responsible for his or her actions. In Massachusetts, you need to file your lawsuit within three years of the crash so that you do not reach the statute of limitations. At that point, your case could be thrown out without a verdict being rendered.

The best way to protect your right to sue is to speak with a motorcycle accident lawyer right away.

Consult with a Boston Attorney

Regardless of what caused your motorcycle accident, contact our office and schedule a consultation. One of our attorneys can work with you to determine the cause of your accident, who was responsible, and make certain the responsible party is held accountable.

Take the necessary steps to ensure that your rights are protected, and that you receive the compensation you need for your injuries. Call the Law Offices of Joel H. Schwartz at 617-742-1170 so we can get started on your case immediately.