Despite declining 6.4% over the year prior, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported in 2013 that over 4,600 people died as a result of motorcycle accidents, with another 88,000 suffering injuries. The NHTSA also reported that motorcyclists were nearly 26 times more likely than operators of other motor vehicles to die in an auto-related accident, and five times more likely to suffer an auto-related injury. And yet despite the risk involved with operating a motorcycle, the number of bikes on U.S. roads increased by 5% between 2009 – 2013.
Wear a Helmet!
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 19 states, including California, had laws on the books requiring all motorcyclists, regardless of age, to wear a helmet. These laws, commonly referred to as universal laws, resulted in the preservation of over 1,600 lives in 2013. The NHTSA estimates that an additional 715 lives could have been saved had all motorcyclists been wearing helmets at the time of impact.
What This Means For You
Suffering a motorcycle-related injury can be expensive, and in some cases may even prove fatal. In addition to the cost of medical treatment and vehicle damage, victims may also lose out on future earnings as a result of their injuries and time missed at work. If you or your loved ones are suffering from a motorcycle-related injury, call the attorneys at Hales & Associates, Attorneys immediately to schedule your complimentary consultation. With over two decades’ experience representing victims of personal injury in California, we are committed to helping our clients obtain the compensation they deserve.
Source
Insurance Information Institute: http://www.iii.org/issue-update/motorcycle-crashes