Motorcyclist Fatalities Continue to Soar

According to recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 6,218 motorcyclists were killed in traffic accidents in 2022 – this is the highest number of deadly crashes since at least 1975. Despite accounting for less than 5% of all registered vehicles on our nation’s roadways, the NHTSA says that motorcycle riders continue to be overrepresented in fatal accidents. Although motorcyclists are especially vulnerable to sustaining bodily injury resulting from physical exposure and proximity to other, often much larger, vehicles on the road, there are steps that drivers and motorcyclists can take to prevent accidents from happening.

Data on Crashes

Motorcyclists accounted for 15% of fatal crashes in 2022. Here are a few of the NHTSA’s other key findings on the motorcycle crashes that occurred that same year:

• Motorcyclists are 22 times more likely to be killed in a crash than passenger car occupants.
• Of the 6,218 fatal crashes, 2,254 were single-vehicle crashes. Out of the 2,254 killed, 42% were impaired by alcohol.
• In addition to impairment, speed is also a primary factor in deadly collisions involving motorcycles. 35% of motorcyclists killed that year were speeding when the crash occurred.
• Riding without a valid motorcycle license is another primary risk factor; 35% of motorcyclists who lost their lives were riding without a valid license. While licensing regulations vary state by state, each state requires a motorcycle license endorsement to supplement your automobile driver‘s license.
• Other common factors in deadly crashes involving motorcycle riders include a lack of riding skills, weather, traffic congestion, left-turning cars, and reckless riding or driving.

Safety Tips for Motorcyclists and Drivers

Because of how vulnerable motorcyclists are, even when a crash isn’t deadly, it can still result in significant injuries to the rider. Wearing protective gear like a Department of Transportation (DOT) compliant motorcycle helmet, thick pants, gloves, boots, jackets, and body armor are each crucial when it comes to protecting your body – and sometimes saving your life. Some of the most common injuries that riders sustain include traumatic brain injuries (or TBIs), facial disfigurement, whiplash, internal bleeding, lacerations, road rash, organ damage, spinal injuries, paralysis (partial or full), broken bones, and amputation.

Other tips from the NHTSA on what steps motorcycle riders and passenger vehicle drivers can take to reduce their chances of involvement in a deadly accident are:

• Before riding, check that your wheels and tires are properly inflated and safely rotating, that chains and cables are intact with appropriate lubrication and are free from cracks and chips, that fluids are at proper levels and are not leaking, and that control functions (like the horn and lights) are working correctly.
• Obey all posted speed limits and signage.
• Wear high-visibility personal protective gear and your DOT-compliant helmet.
• Always yield to people on motorcycles, especially when making a turn at an intersection.
• Do not operate a motor vehicle of any kind while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
• Avoid all distractions.
• Motorcyclists should successfully complete a rider education course in addition to a training class to best ensure a safe riding experience.

Were You Injured in a Motorcycle Accident?

Numerous studies show that more than half of all motorcycle accidents are caused by motor vehicle, bus, or truck drivers who claim they did not see the motorcyclist. While it may be hard to decipher exactly why an accident occurred, the experienced attorneys at our firm can investigate the cause of the accident and who is responsible and will work tirelessly to secure your rights. If you would like to learn more about filing a legal claim for the injuries you sustained, contact a representative of our firm online now.

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

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, Pennsylvania, we serve clients throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.