Motorcycle Accidents Increase

Motorcycle safety has become more prevalent in the past two decades. In fact, the rate of riders wearing helmets continues to increase. However, in recent years, the number of motorcycle deaths has actually reached an all-time high in the U.S., according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) data.

In 2008, deaths resulting from a motor vehicle crash involving a car or small truck reached an all-time low. But between 1999 and 2008, the number of deaths involving people on motorcycles more than doubled. And between 2001 and 2008 alone, more than 1.2 million people were brought to a U.S. emergency room with motorcycle-related injuries, and more than 34,000 motorcyclists were killed. Motorcyclists in their twenties had the highest rate of injury, as drivers aged 20 to 24 were the most likely to experience a severe crash. Most non-fatal injuries were to a leg or foot (30 percent), closely followed by injuries to the head or neck (22 percent).

The CDC suggests that the increasing rate of motorcycle accidents is due primarily to the fact that there are more motorcyclists on the road. “With more people in the United States riding motorcycles today than ever before, motorcyclist deaths and injuries are an important public health concern,” reports the CDC.

Helmet laws are one initiative to help taper increasing death rates for cyclists. Noted by the Governors Highway Safety Association, Illinois is one of only three states that does not have a helmet law for motorcycle riders. The universal helmet law in Illinois was repealed in 1970. This does not mean that Illinois motorcyclists should not wear a helmet when riding. However, the CDC reports that 42 percent of all motorcyclists fatally injured between 2008 and 2010 were not wearing a helmet at the time of crash. In comparison, only 12 percent of motorcyclists were fatally injured after a crash in the 20 states with a universal helmet law.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a motorcycle accident, the most important step is to seek the counsel of a Chicago auto accident attorney. Do not go through it alone. Contact a Chicago auto accident attorney at Salvi & Maher, LLP today.