Motorcycle Injury Statistics Show Little Change in Injury Rates

A study conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has confirmed what most authorities already know—it’s far more dangerous to travel on a motorcycle than in a car or truck. Researchers found that, per mile traveled, people riding on a bike were more than 26 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident, even though nearly five times as many people were killed in car accidents than motorcycle crashes. Though the study concluded that wearing a helmet reduced the likelihood of death by nearly 40%, only 19 states and Washington, D.C. require operators and passengers on motorcycles to wear protective headgear.

Here are some of the relevant statistics concerning the risk of injury while on a motorcycle:

Nearly 60 percent of motorcycle accident injuries result from multi-vehicle accidents, a statistic that has been essentially unchanged since the 1980s
A significantly larger percentage of people involved in motorcycle crashes were operating the bike without a valid license
The average age of persons dying in motorcycle accidents has continually gone up in the last 40 years. In 1975, 80% of motorcycle fatalities involved people under the age of 30. In 2013, only 27% were that young.
The vast majority (91%) of people who die in motorcycle accidents are male
While smaller bikes (1000 cc or smaller) still account for 47% of all motorcycle fatalities, that percentage is down dramatically from its peak of 72% in 1986 and 1987.
August is the most dangerous month to ride a motorcycle, with 14% of all annual fatalities. February and December are the safest months, with less than 3% of deaths.
Approximately half of all fatalities happen on the weekend, with 6 pm until 9 pm as the most dangerous time.
About one-third of all motorcyclists who died in a crash were legally intoxicated at the time of the accident.

Contact Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP

You can reach us by phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week to discuss your Nassau County motorcycle accident injury claim. For a free initial consultation, contact us online or call us in Garden City at 516-248-2234 or in Flushing-Queens at 718-539-3100 (toll free at 888-519-3100).

We can arrange to meet with you in your home or at the hospital, if necessary. We have offices in Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx and Nassau counties.