The allure of experiencing the open road with the wind through your hair makes motorcycle riding an attractive form of transportation for many people. However, traveling on a vehicle that provides little exterior protection between you and the road means that an accident will almost always be a bigger deal when you are riding a motorcycle than what it would be if you were driving a car. If you are often found zipping through city streets or rural country roads on your bike, there are a few accident and crash statistics you should know about motorcycles.
In Comparison to Cars, Motorcycles Are a Much Bigger Threat - You may think that you would be just as much in danger of having a fatal accident if you were driving a car, but the statistics show that on a bike, you are about 37 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash, and nine percent more likely to be injured at all. Therefore, obeying the rules of the road and being on high alert every time you sit on your bike is crucial.
Other Drivers Are Often Not Watching for Motorcyclists - Distracted drivers greatly contribute to the increased rate of motorcycle crashes, but the fact is, drivers of regular vehicles just do not often give enough attention on the roadway to smaller vehicles, like motorcycles and bikes. In fact, about 60 percent of motorcycle crashes are actually caused by the driver of another type of vehicle, such as a car or a truck.
Your Helmet Could Be a Main Line of Defense In an Accident - Even though not all states mandate wearing a helmet when you are riding a motorcycle, this does not mean that not wearing one will make your travels safe by any means. The dangers of not wearing a helmet are obvious when you take a look at crash statistics. About two-thirds of accidents that were fatal in states where helmet laws are relaxed involved riders who were not wearing a helmet. So before you ride without a helmet, you should carefully assess the risks.
When it comes down to it, as a motorcycle driver, you do have a few more safety concerns when you are on the roadways than what you would in a car or truck. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, talk to a motorcycle accident attorney, such as Gelman Gelman Wiskow & McCarthy LLC, to find out if there is anything you can do.
