Motorcycle accidents are potentially deadly and all-too-common; that’s something that few people can dispute. However, do most motorcyclists realize the numbers that back that statement? Knowing the statistics concerning motorcycle accidents can be a helpful way for a motorcyclist to remain aware of threats on the road, hopefully avoiding them. This primer is intended to assist you in understanding the dangers of riding a bike.

The most common type of accident:

Most frequently, accidents involving motorcycles involve another automobile, usually a car. This type of accident comprises approximately 75 percent of motorcycle accidents. Often, the automobile driver was unaware of the presence of the motorcycle because of the low visibility of motorcycles.

The most common location of accidents:

Surprisingly, despite slower rates of speed, 91 percent of two-vehicle motorcycle accidents occur not on the interstate but on non-interstate roads. Half of those occurred at intersections.

The effects of alcohol on motorcycle accident statistics:

Alcohol involvement results in 2.5 times the number of fatalities in a motorcycle accident than happen in automobile accidents. While blood alcohol content (BAC) is considered 1 percent for intoxication, 69 percent of the motorcycle fatalities involving alcohol recorded over 8 percent BAC, 8 times higher than the illegal level in all states. Simply put, combining alcohol and motorcycles is deadly.

The role of speed in motorcycle accident statistics:

While many may assume that high-speed has a role in most motorcycle accidents, the opposite is actually true. In two-vehicle accidents, only 27 percent of the motorcycle accidents involved considerably higher rates of speed than posted speed.

Weekend versus weekday driving and motorcycle accident statistics:

Not surprisingly, two-vehicle motorcycle accidents are more likely to occur on weekends rather than weekdays with the likelihood for accidents being 1.5 more likely on a weekend. Night time accidents are also more frequent on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with 55 percent of nighttime accidents occurring on those days.

Crash position frequency in motorcycle accidents:

The most common position of two-vehicle accidents involving motorcycles and an automobile is that of a front-to-side crash. This type of accident results in 57 percent of all two-vehicle motorcycle accidents, with the next most frequent position being much less frequent at 18 percent for head-on accidents.

Passenger vehicle versus motorcycle accident and driving violations:

Statistically, according to the NHTSA, 30 percent of car drivers who were involved in motorcycle accidents are charged with a driving violation in 2005. Of those accidents, there were no violations assigned to the motorcyclists as you cannot charge someone who was fatally injured.

Crash avoidance maneuvers and their role in motorcycle accidents:

No attempts to maneuver the vehicle or motorcycle to avoid an accident are taken in over 35 percent of accidents. However, when motorcyclists attempt to maneuver to avoid an accident, that rate is over 55 percent versus 42 percent by the other driver. Braking maneuvers to avoid an accident by the driver are 3 times more frequent for motorcyclists than car drivers.

The most common killer of motorcyclists in accidents:

The most common fatality of motorcyclists is that of a motorcycle versus car accident with a 90 percent of motorcycle accident fatalities resulting from this type of accident.

The usefulness of statistics for the motorcyclist:

Statistics help the motorcyclist to understand that while motorcycles are fun, driving them is serious business. The motorcyclist should constantly be aware of everything going on around him and drive defensively. A motorcyclist should never assume that the driver of the car by him sees him as motorcycle accident statistics show that this is more often not the case. By being aware of visibility limitations, his own vulnerability, and safety precautions, hopefully the motorcyclist can enjoy more safety on the road, and less danger.

Where to seek help if you are in an accident:

If you or your loved one is the unfortunate victim of another’s negligence and have been involved in a motorcycle accident, Michael Ehline of Ehline Law Firm, PC, can help. Michael Ehline has not only a high success rate specifically with motorcycle-versus-automobile accidents, but also a personal knowledge of motorcycles and the motorcyclist lifestyle as he is a long-time motorcyclist. His status as a Marine assures that his clients will have a tough but ethical attorney on their side to protect their rights and fight for fair recompense. Ehline Law Firm has offices conveniently located throughout California, including Orange County, Los Angeles County, and San Diego. If you would like more information on how Michael Ehline can help you and your cause, please call Los Angeles personal injury attorneys today at 1-888-400-9721.

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Every year the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration totals up the amount of motorcycle accidents in which riders were injured and riders that have been killed, while riding their bikes.

For the year of 2006 there were 4,810 motorcycle riders killed while riding in solo accidents and traffic accidents across the nation, and includes Reseda, Pomona or Palisades. After the 2006 death rates, there was a report done that was published in October of 2007 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This report showed that riders wearing helmets were 16 percent less likely to sustain severe head injuries, over riders that were not wearing helmets at the time of their accident. Another thing that their studies showed was that approximately half of all these fatal motorcycle accidents involved other vehicles. Factored into this information were the riders that were speeding, the fatalities were double that of drivers or passengers in vehicles.

Statistics show motorcyclists are in danger on the highways, and the danger can come from several sources. Drivers are not always aware of how their driving can affect a motorcycle rider or in many cases the driver claims to have not seen the motorcycle prior to colliding with them. Then there are problems with the roads; debris on the road or uneven pavement traveling at highway speed on two wheels can be a hazard to the amount of control the rider has. This leads to many accidents, because traveling on two wheels in comparison with four is much different when it involves things like gravel on a curve, or uneven pavement when changing lanes in traffic.

These statistics show motorcyclists are in danger from more than the average rate of vehicle accidents, the injuries are much more severe and the elements that can cause an accident are different. Riding a motorcycle is something many people enjoy, it gives them a feeling of freedom and in today’s economy many people are finding it one way to save money on fuel costs. But, at what cost to them if they become one of the statistics for the year?

When you are involved or a family member has been involved in a motorcycle accident in Reseda, Pomona or Palisades, that means there will be medical bills, lost work and other expenses. There will in many cases be permanent injuries that could keep the injured rider from working or need to be trained for a new type of employment. This can be a tragedy on top of the devastating accident and this is why there are experienced Orange County personal injury attorneys that are committed to helping the injured rider begin to heal.

Contact Motorcycle Lawyer Michael Ehline at Ehline Law Firm PC:  Michael Ehline: michael@ehlinelaw.com Address: 633 West Fifth Street, 28th Floor, Los Angeles, CA, 90071; 6700 East Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 275, Long Beach, CA 90803;  201 Wilshire Blvd, Second Floor, Santa Monica, CA, 90401; 620 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1100 Newport Beach, CA, 92660. Phone: 888-400-9721; 213.596.9642.