Motorcyclists face serious dangers if involved in a motorcycle crash with another vehicle, often leading to serious or catastrophic injuries or death. The statistics, as reported in the Indiana University Public Policy Institute’s 2019 Traffic Safety Facts, reveal that:
- Almost 2,600 motorcycle accidents occurred in 2019, with 112 fatalities, 1,607 nonfatal injuries to operators, and 211 injuries to passengers
- Helmet use rate was 34.7% among all motorcyclists but only 26.8% among those killed in motorcycle accidents
- In about 60 percent of multivehicle accidents involving a motorcycle, the other vehicle was more likely to be at fault than the motorcyclist.
- The number of motorcyclists who died from their injuries increased 1.3% from the prior year, and the number of riders that managed to escape injuries altogether decreased.
What Motorcycle Accident Statistics Mean for You
Motorcycle accident statistics are a stark illustration of the dangers of riding a motorcycle. However, they should not dissuade you from riding your motorcycle—rather, they should encourage you to be extra cautious while on the road and remain vigilant against anything that could put you in danger, like unlit roadways.
One factor to be especially alert for is reckless drivers. Other drivers may forget to keep an eye out for motorcycles, or they may forget that motorcycles are smaller and move differently from automobiles. This could increase the motorcyclist’s risk of being involved in a devastating accident.
Unsafe driver actions that led to these accidents included:
- Failure to yield right-of-way (other drivers responsible 80.9% of the time)
- Following too closely (motorcyclists responsible 53.5% of the time)
- Distracted drivers (motorcyclists responsible 52.1% of the time)
- Cognitive impairments from alcohol, illness, sleep, or fatigue (other drivers responsible 50% of the time)
- Unsafe backing (other drivers responsible 80.8% of the time)
Speeding holds a unique place in motorcycle accident statistics. When it comes to driving too fast generally, motorcyclists were responsible 85.2% of the time. However, other drivers were responsible 62.5% of the time when it came to driving too fast for specific weather conditions (e.g., rain or fog).
Unsafe Drivers Cause Many Accidents
Unsafe driver actions were responsible for a large percentage of all motorcycle accidents. Nationwide, per the first page of a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report, 5,579 motorcyclists were killed in 2020, up 11% from 2019.
If you were the victim of a negligent driver, an Indiana motorcycle accident attorney will help. Seeking professional assistance from a personal injury lawyer near you is vital after an accident: trying to handle a claim by yourself can only cause unnecessary confusion and delays. It could even jeopardize your claim’s future.
Other Factors That Cause Motorcycle Accidents
While driver or motorcyclist error accounts for many accidents, a few are attributable to outside factors, such as:
- The weather
- The roadway’s condition
- The motorcycle
- The other driver’s car
This is another reason why representing yourself is risky: the true cause of your motorcycle accident may not be apparent to you. You require a lawyer’s help to investigate and get to the bottom of things.
For a free legal consultation, call 317-636-7777
Types of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
The numbers reveal the staggering percentage of motorcycle accidents that have resulted in severe injuries. Essentially, if you ride a motorcycle in Indiana, the likelihood of suffering serious or fatal injuries is far higher than in any other type of vehicle accident.
The various types of motorcycle accident personal injuries range from severe abrasions (road rash) to permanent impairments. A rider hit by another vehicle, even at lower speeds, is thrown off the motorcycle onto the roadway, with the potential of being hit by another vehicle and suffering a secondary impact. The rider’s body, when thrown onto the street or highway, is heavily impacted, frequently leading to broken bones, severe head injuries, and brain damage, as well as internal injuries.
Consequences of Motorcycle Accident Injuries
An injured rider who can no longer function in daily life and suffers from permanent cognitive impairment will never again lead the life enjoyed prior to the collision. The driver responsible must be held accountable for the long-term consequences to the motorcyclist.
The accident may have occurred due to:
- Driver distraction
- Driver inattention
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Aggressive driving or road rage
- Failure to adhere to road signs
- Another form of negligence
These conditions don’t excuse the driver from responsibility. The family will often be left with the task of caring for a loved one who has lost abilities, whether physical, cognitive, or both. The costs of treatment can range into hundreds of thousands of dollars in a few short months, with emergency medical care, surgeries, and the need for a long rehabilitation.
You Are More Than a Statistic
All this data obscure one thing: the human toll of motorcycle accidents. Being involved in an accident is a very personal and traumatic event for which you could be entitled to compensation.
A motorcycle accident attorney in Indiana will treat you as more than just a statistic. They will:
- Get to know you as an individual
- Work with you to develop a plan of action based on your circumstances
- Determine how much the accident has cost you in terms of money, physical health, and emotional health
- Identify everyone who contributed to your accident and ask them for appropriate compensation
- Keep you updated on your case’s progress, including if and when the liable party’s insurance company offers you a settlement (and if the settlement is fair)
- Address questions or concerns you have about your case or the law in general
- Treat you with the respect you deserve
Click to contact our Indiana Motorcycle Accident Statistics today
Recovering Compensation for Damages in Motorcycle Accidents in Indianapolis
If you were seriously injured while riding, or your loved one was injured or died in a motorcycle accident, it’s imperative that you seek the help of an Indianapolis motorcycle accident lawyer to assist you with the legal matters surrounding compensation. At Sevenish Law Firm, we have a personal dedication to assisting the injured and their families to get justice in motorcycle accident cases.
Our firm’s founder, Randy Sevenish, is a former police captain, police academy instructor, and SWAT team commander—all while attending law school. As a dedicated motorcyclist, he’s personally committed to pursuing justice for motorcyclists who have been the victim of a negligent driver or who have had a vital safety system on the motorcycle fail.
Both Randy and his wife, Regina, have been avid motorcyclists for 40 years. He is a “Real Motorcycle Lawyer and Real Rider®.” You can trust Randy and his legal team to be professional, compassionate, and effective. The firm is the only law firm recommended by the national Road Guardians organization.
You can trust the firm to serve you with dedication, commitment, and an exceptional level of legal skill. Our goal is to achieve justice for you and the highest compensation possible. Call us toll-free today to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation.
Call or text 317-636-7777 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
