Countless benefits exist while traveling via motorcycle. From fuel savings to the sheer excitement on open roads, the experience is one of a kind for two-wheeled enthusiasts looking to “get away from it all.”
However, with rewards come risks. Motorcycles lack the protective enclosure of a motor vehicle, not to mention restraints in the form of seat belts. Add to that the susceptibility to severe weather conditions, and that open road can become treacherous.
Higher chances of catastrophic injuries
Simply put, riders have a higher chance of injuries or death. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5,579 cyclists and passengers lost their lives, while the 84,000 who survived suffered serious injuries.
Additional statistics from 2020 back up the inherent risks of motorcycle travel:
- Accidents are 28 times more likely to result in death when accounting for vehicle miles traveled
- Riders traveling with motorcyclists are four times as likely to suffer injuries
- While transports account for three percent of registered vehicles nationwide, contributions to traffic deaths are 14 percent
- Deaths in motorcycle accidents increased by 11 percent (5,044 to 5,579), with the most happening from June to September
- From 2016 to 2020, motorcycle crashes increased from 5,337 to 5,579, the most fatalities in decades
- Motorcyclists between 25 to 29 accounted for the most motorcycle accident deaths
- Riders 55 and older grew from three percent in 1975 to 27 percent in 2020
- Injuries have never decreased below 81,000 in any year of the previous decade
While staying a little above 5,000, fatal accidents from motorcycle travel have fallen, and taking that option for travel carries numerous risks. When accidents happen, help from a skilled personal injury attorney can make a significant difference in securing the justice you deserve.