Motorcycle Accident Deaths Increase as Motorcycle Ownership Increases

Motorcycle riding has become extremely popular in the United States. According to a report released by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) this month, dealerships sold a million more two-wheelers in 2008 compared to the previous year. The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that there were 7.1 million motorcycles on the road in 2007. However, in the United States, the number of motorcycle accident fatalities has also been increasing at a consistent rate. In 2008, motorcycle accident deaths were at an all-time high – 5,290 – in the United States.

Motorcycles are inherently more dangerous than other passenger vehicles, which have an enclosure for its drivers and occupants. Motorcycles are also less visible to other drivers and pedestrians and far less stable or crashworthy than other vehicles. Also, operating a motorcycle requires a different set of physical and mental skills than those used in driving four-wheel vehicles. Motorcyclists and their passengers are more vulnerable to road conditions and weather conditions than other drivers in closed vehicles. According to 2007 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, motorcyclists are 37 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash per vehicle mile traveled and nine times more likely to be injured. In 2008, motorcyclists accounted for 14 percent of all traffic fatalities, 17 percent of all occupant fatalities, and 4 percent of all occupants injured.

Motorcycle accidents may sometimes be caused by alcohol or drug use, speeding or the rider’s lack of training. But very often, these accidents occur because drivers of other vehicles are not paying attention to motorcyclists on the roadway. Many times, motorists forget that they share the roadway with motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians. And invariably, when a motorcycle collides with another passenger vehicle, it is the people on the motorcycle who sustain serious or fatal injuries.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident as a result of a distracted driver, please contact the skilled Seattle personal injury lawyers with The Bernard Law Firm for a free and comprehensive consultation. Call us at 1-800-418-8282 or e-mail info@bernardlawgroup.com for our FREE informational brochure with useful educational information about Washington motorcycle accident cases, which will help you understand your legal rights and options. Get in touch with Kirk Bernard and his experienced legal team today.

Source:http://www.iii.org/media/hottopics/insurance/motorcycle/