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  • This Month is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month

    motorcycle safety awareness monthMotorcycles may be fun, exciting and fast – but they are also quite dangerous to ride. In fact, although only representing 3% of registered motor vehicles on the road, motorcycles account for 14% of all traffic-related fatalities. Each May, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) sponsors Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month to remind all motorists how they can help reduce preventable injuries and deaths on our nation’s roadways. To commemorate this year’s Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, keep reading to learn some life-saving tips.

    Motorcycle Crash Statistics

    The NHTSA collected data and reports on motorcycle accidents that occurred in 2022. Here are some of the agency’s key findings:

    • 6,218 motorcyclists lost their lives in crashes that year, representing 15% of total traffic-related fatalities
    • Motorcyclists are 22 times more likely to die in a crash than passenger car occupants (per every 100 million vehicle miles traveled)
    • 2,254 of the fatalities that year were single-vehicle crashes. Of those, 42% of the motorcyclists were impaired by alcohol
    • Speed is also a factor in many motorcycle accidents. 35% of motorcyclists who were killed in crashes in 2022 were speeding at the time of the incident. The agency also found that motorcycle riders between the ages of 21 and 24-years-old who sustained fatal injuries had the highest speeding involvement at 51%

    Motorcycle Safety

    Protective gear like helmets, thick pants, boots, gloves, jackets, and body armor are crucial for motorcyclists because their bodies are almost completely exposed to other vehicles, the road, and the elements. While most of the NHTSA’s data about crashes is concerning, there is good news: helmet use seems to be increasing among motorcyclists and their passengers. As part of this year’s campaign, the NHTSA has a safety checklist for motorcyclists to refer to before going on a ride. Here are a few examples from the agency’s list:

    • Check that your tires and wheels have proper inflation and safe rotation
    • Ensure that chains and cables are intact with appropriate lubrication and are crack and chip-free
    • Make sure fluids are at proper levels and are not leaking
    • Check that functions like controls, horn and lights are working correctly

    To read more of the NHTSA’s checklist, visit: https://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/safety-topics/motorcycle-safety#2761.

    Motorcycle crashes regularly lead to serious injuries like whiplash, facial disfigurement, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), organ damage, spinal injuries (including partial or complete paralysis), lacerations, internal bleeding and broken and/or amputated limbs. This is why it is so important to take precautions that help keep everyone safe. Here are some other life-saving tips from the NHTSA to promote motorcycle safety:

    • Obey all posted speed limits and other roadway signage
    • Wear high-visibility personal protective gear and a DOT-compliant helmet
    • Always yield to people on motorcycles, especially when making a turn at an intersection
    • Avoid all distractions while operating any kind of motor vehicle
    • Do not operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
    • All motorcyclists should complete a rider education class in addition to a training course to best ensure having as safe a riding experience as possible

    If you ride a motorcycle, you can observe National Motorcycle Safety Month by inspecting your vehicle, brushing up on your riding skills, and making sure all your protective gear is undamaged. Non-motorcyclists, too, should remind themselves of the steps they can take to promote roadway safety. When a person is in a motorcycle crash, their life can change in the blink of an eye. At Galfand Berger, our attorneys have decades of experience representing victims of motor vehicle crashes. If you would like to learn more about filing a claim, contact a representative online now who can assist you.

    Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyers at Galfand Berger, LLP, Representing Injured Victims Since 1947

    If you have questions about filing a claim for injuries you sustained, contact the Philadelphia personal injury attorneys at Galfand Berger LLP today. Call us at 800-222-USWA (8792) or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.

    ALLENTOWN/BETHLEHEM
    1-800-222-USWA (8792)

    LANCASTER
    717-824-3376

    READING
    610-376-1696