Motorcycle Fatalities on the Rise Nationwide

 Posted on January 19,2018 in Motorcycle Accidents

The excitement of riding a motorcycle continues to be appealing to many Americans, and it is easy to see why. Motorcycles come with a level of agility and exhilaration that is, in several ways, unmatched in comparison to automobiles. But with the additional excitement comes additional risk.

According to the US Department of Transportation, 4,976 motorcyclists were fatally injured in motorcycle collisions nationwide in 2016. Identifying the necessary steps to take if you or a member of your family are injured in a motorcycle accident can be incredibly emotional and unnerving. In the event of injury, do not hesitate to contact a knowledgeable Lake County personal injury attorney.

Illinois Motorcycle Injury Statistics

In Illinois, motorcycle injuries continue to be a major traffic concern, as 2,643 people were injured in motorcycle accidents in 2015 alone. Of the 2,643 motorcycle injuries, more than 5 percent resulted in fatal injuries—a large uptick from the just over 1 percent of injuries that proved fatal in automobile collisions. All in all, 147 motorcyclists were killed in accidents in 2015. Yet while motorcycle collisions only accounted for 1.1 percent of total crashes throughout the state, they represented over 15 percent of all fatal crashes.

Rising Fatalities Nationwide

Nationwide, the already alarming fatality rates in motorcycle collisions have risen in recent years, as annual motorcycle fatalities increased by more than 13 percent from 2014 to 2016. With obvious safety limitations in comparison to automobiles, it should not be surprising that federal government estimates suggest that the fatality rate on motorcycles was nearly 29 times the fatality rate in automobiles throughout 2015.

The Importance of Helmets

Motorcycle safety is limited due to the small stature and open nature of the vehicles themselves; therefore, it is paramount for passengers to wear helmets. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 50 percent of motorcycle passengers that suffered fatal injuries in 2010 were not wearing a helmet.

Contact Us

Motorcycling continues to be one of our nation’s greatest consumer activities, as 487,000 commercial motorcycles were sold to customers in the United States throughout 2016. If you or a family member elect to travel via motorcycle, it is important to be aware of the increased risk of injury, in comparison to traveling in a car.

For more information on how to increase motorcycle safety, and how to respond if a collision does occur, contact a compassionate Waukegan personal injury attorney today at 847-662-3303 or visit us online.

Sources:

http://www.idot.illinois.gov/Assets/uploads/files/Transportation-System/Resources/Safety/Crash-Reports/crash-facts/2015%20Crash%20Facts%20with%20cover.pdf

http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/motorcycles/fatalityfacts/motorcycles

https://www.statista.com/statistics/252261/us-motorcycle-salesin-units/

https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/pdf/mc2012/motorcyclesafetybook.pdf