Shocking and sadly, 5,010 people were killed in motorcycle accidents in 2015 in the US. http://iii.org/issue-update/motorcycle-crashes This was a 10% increase from 2014 and only the third time in US history that more than 5,000 motorcyclists were killed in crashes in a year according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. http://www.ghsa.org/html/issues/motorcyclesafety.html
Possible reasons for the increase include increased permissiveness in some states in allowing riding without a helmet. These statistics are a stark reminder of how motorcyclists are at an increased risk of life threatening injuries.
Seek Legal Counsel As Soon As Possible
If you or a loved one is involved in a motorcycle accident, it is critical to seek legal counsel as soon as possible by speaking with Henderson motorcycle accident lawyer Laura Payne, Esq. Injuries are much greater in motorcycle accidents; however, no greater level of insurance is required for a collision with a motorcycle.
Maximize Available Coverage: It is imperative to maximize all coverage available, including health insurance, medical payments coverage, underinsured coverage and tort liability coverage to compensate an injured motorcyclist. Often there can be commercial policies involved as well to provide compensation.
Have You or a Loved One Been In a Motorcycle Accident?
Laura Payne® has been helping injured motorcycle riders for over a decade. If you or a loved one is involved in an accident involving a motorcycle, we urge you to contact us today. The Law Offices of Laura Payne,Esq. can protect your legal rights and to make sure that your medical bills are paid. Immediate consultation with an attorney can also stop many medical bills from being sent to collections which will adversely affect your future credit. Our Law Firm will immediately maximize all available resources to have your medical bills paid and compensate you for your injuries and pain and suffering. Please call the Law Offices of Laura Payne,Esq. today for a free consultation regarding your motorcycle accident.
Frequency of Motorcycle Fatalities vs. Auto Fatalities
It is an unfortunate reality that motorcyclists are more likely to be involved in an accident than motor vehicles. http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/motorcycles/fatalityfacts/motorcycles As the statistics illustrate, half of all motorcycle collisions involve a driver of a vehicle who is often negligent. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in 2006, 13.10 cars out of 100,000 ended up in fatal crashes. The rate for motorcycles is 72.34 per 100,000 registered motorcycles. In fact, a motorcyclists’ risk of a fatal crash is 35 times greater than a passenger car. There are approximately 4 million registered motorcycles in the United States.
Sadly, a primary cause of serious injury or death to motorcyclists is the negligence of drivers in passenger vehicles.
There are a number of ways motorcycle accidents occur and the following charts illustrate the most common types of motorcycle accidents:http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/Vehicles/VehiclesMotorcycles.aspx
Have You or a Loved One Been In a Motorcycle Accident?
At the Law Offices of Laura Payne,Esq., we hope all riders wear helmets. We urge all riders of open air vehicles, including motorcycles, ATV’s and four-wheelers to always wear a helmet. Only 19 states require riders to wear a helmet. Nevada requires riders to wear a helmet. In 2012, Michigan saw a 23% increase in motorcyclist fatalities following the repeal of the states helmet law. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, wearing a helmet lowers the risk of death by 37% when someone is involved in a motorcycle accident. http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/laws/helmetuse/mapmotorcyclehelmets
When tragedy occurs, the Law Offices of Laura Payne,Esq. has helped motorcyclists recover compensation for their injuries and medical bills following motorcycle accidents. Most motorcycle accidents involve vehicles failing to yield right-of-way to a motorcycle, resulting in a collision. The Law Offices of Laura Payne,Esq. urges all motorcycle riders to wear appropriate protective gear, including a helmet and appropriate clothing, in order to prevent severe injuries and fatalities in these accidents.