Motorcyclists are disproportionately at risk of severe injuries whenever they are on the road. Unfortunately, some crashes can lead to death.
While motorcycle accidents are not as common as car accidents, it’s worth knowing that the rate of fatal injuries is higher among motorcyclists. The risk of sustaining life-threatening injuries is also higher in riders who survive a collision than passenger car occupants.
So, how often are motorcycle accidents fatal?
This post will review statistics on fatal motorcycle accidents and highlights what to do if your loved one dies in a motorcycle collision. Read on to learn.
What Percentage of Motorcycle Accidents End in Fatality?
There are so many agencies tracking motorcycle accident severity and fatalities. While the information is sobering, it probably won’t discourage someone from intending to experience the thrill and freedom of motorcycle riding.
However, these statistics should at least encourage you to take precautionary measures. 2020 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Reveals That:
- In 2020, approximately 82,528 motorcyclists were injured in an accident
- 5,579 motorcyclists lost their lives to traffic collisions
- Riders account for 14% of all traffic fatalities
- 27% of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes in 2020 were alcohol-impaired.
- 42% of riders die in single-vehicle crashes due to alcohol impairment
- 33% of riders killed in accidents for not wearing helmets
- Male riders are 92% more likely to suffer fatal crashes than females.
From these statistics, you can tell what percentage of motorcycles accidents are fatal. If you divide the fatalities by the overall number of accidents, you find that 4.6% of motorcycle crashes were fatal.
How Many Fatal Motorcycle Accidents Per Year?
Did you know that more than 5,000 people die from motorcycle accidents yearly? And that you are 27 times more likely to die from a motorcycle accident than car drivers?
Riders are disproportionately at risk of sustaining severe injuries than motorists on the road.
Recent data from the NHTSA shows that more than 82,000 motorcycle crashes occurred in 2020 alone. Altogether, 5,579 riders lost their lives in those wrecks.
That means approximately 14% of these motorcycle accidents resulted in the rider’s death. In fact, the NHTSA acknowledges that this is the highest number of deaths recorded.
There was an 11% increase in fatalities among motorcyclists and passengers between 2019 and 2020 alone. Additionally, there has been a 20% increase in deaths from motorcycle accidents over the last ten years, while the death rates have increased to 27%.
In other words, the number of fatal motorcycle accidents per year is so high to go unnoticed.
What Factors Make Motorcycle Accidents Likely to be Fatal?
Here are some of the main factors contributing to motorcycle accident fatalities.
1. Alcohol Use
27% of motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes in 2020 were alcohol-impaired. This is the highest rate among motorists of any vehicle since alcohol impairment among passenger cars is 23%, 19% for light trucks, and 3% for trucks.
Moreover, 42% of riders who die in single-vehicle crashes had blood alcohol concentrations above 0.08.
2. Head-on Collisions
The 2020 NHTSA data showed that about half of the 5,579 fatal motorcycle accidents involved another moving car. In three-quarters of these crashes, the vehicle hit the front side. Only 7% were rear-ended accidents.
Head-on collisions are the riskiest accidents for motorcyclists due to the high impact involved and because motorcycles lack safety features.
3. Collision with Fixed Objects
Motorists are equally likely to lose their lives in collisions with fixed objects as opposed to individuals in passenger cars. For example, veering off a rain-soaked road and hitting a tree can leave you with severe injuries or even death.
NHTSA statistics show that 23% of all deadly motorcycle crashes involved collisions with fixed objects. These statistics differ from the 16% for passenger vehicles, 13% for light trucks, and 4% for big trucks.
4. Cars Making Left-Hand Turns
Cars making left-hand turns top the list of causes of fatal motorcycle accidents
According to the 2020 report by the NHTSA, nearly 50% of fatal crashes involving a car and a motorcycle happen when the vehicle is taking a left turn.
Cars typically strike oncoming motorcycles in intersections either because of low visibility, driver distraction, or because they are speeding.
5. Speeding
Powerful motorcycles such as SuperSport bikes encourage speeding and related risky behavior. In 2020, 33 percent of motorcyclists involved in fatal accidents were speeding!
Young riders are more likely to be involved in fatal accidents while speeding. In 2020, half of the riders who died in motorcycle accidents when speeding were between 21 and 24 years of age.
6. Helmet Use
The simplest way of staying safe on a motorcycle is wearing a helmet. The NHTSA approximates that 33 out of every 100 motorcyclists killed in accidents could have survived if they had worn a helmet.
Helmet use is linked with adherence to universal helmet laws. Notably, 58% of riders killed in 2020 did not have their helmets on compared to 8% in states where helmets are required.
7. Licensing Requirements
Riding a motorcycle without a valid license further increases the rate of fatal accidents. One in every four fatally-injured motorcyclists in 2020 did not have a permit at the time of the accident.
8. Lane Splitting
Lane splitting refers to the scenario where a biker rides through lanes of vehicles to cut through traffic.
Generally, cars don’t expect vehicles to pass them in slow or stopped traffic. Besides, there’s very little room for motorcycles to maneuver when weaving between cars. A slight mistake can cause an accident in the flash of a second.
What Motorcycle Accident Injuries Lead to Death?
Motorcycle accidents frequently inflict severe injuries on riders. Some of these injuries cause death on the spot, while others become fatal if the motorcyclist fails to receive emergency care.
Some potentially fatal injuries that happen in motorcycle crashes are:
a) Traumatic Brain Injury
Motorcyclists usually withstand serious blows to the head in a motorcycle collision, which could lead to a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Wearing a helmet lowers your risk of suffering fatal head injuries, though it doesn’t eliminate this risk.
b) Internal Bleeding
If you’re thrown off the bike during an accident, you can land hard on the pavement, strike an object or injure body organs. The trauma can lead to organ damage, internal bleeding, and death.
Internal bleeding can also lead to death by causing major secondary health complications.
c) Shock
Sometimes, the body responds to the severe trauma of a crash by going into shock. This is a sadden and rapid drop in blood flow throughout the body. If not treated immediately, shock can lead to death.
These are a few examples of potentially fatal injuries in a motorcycle crash. Regardless of the trauma or injury that causes your loved one to die in a motorcycle accident, an experienced motorcycle accident injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation.
What Do Those in the Medical Profession Say?
You might be lucky enough to survive a fatal motorcycle injury. However, the injuries you sustained can be potentially life-threatening.
Medical professionals encourage traffic accident survivors to seek medical treatment immediately to increase their chances of recovery. So, what types of doctors can I see?
1. Emergency Room Doctor
You need to see a doctor in the emergency room (ER) if you sustain severe injuries.
You should address life-threatening injuries immediately, so call 911 when at the accident scene if you need an ambulance. Delaying getting treatment can lead to death.
2. Urgent Care/Primary Care Physician
Suppose you escape a motorcycle accident with minor injuries; then purpose to see your doctor as soon as possible. You could ride yourself to an urgent care clinic for examination and treatment.
Urgent care clinics typically operate for longer hours so that you can walk in without an appointment. But you can also visit your primary care physician for a physical examination if you can wait long enough for an appointment.
3. Medical Specialist
Sometimes, your doctor refers you to a specialist for further treatment. That is especially true if you need surgeries or injuries requiring specialist treatment such as physical therapy.
Can I Sue for Wrongful Death in a Motorcycle Accident?
Yes, you can file a wrongful death lawsuit if you lose a loved one to a motorcycle accident. The suit can help you receive compensation for the end-of-life medical expenses of the loved one. This can help you cover costs for:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Lost counsel
- Lost income
- Lost inheritance
- Lost investment, among others
While these damages can’t replace a loved one, they will help your family keep going if the lost member was the provider.
Can You Recover Damages If the Victim Was At-Fault?
Before you file a lawsuit, you must have solid evidence to show that the other driver was at fault. That calls for quoting traffic laws they dishonored or related risky actions that led to the accident.
Such things as driving under the influence, distracted driving, speeding, or running a red light can help show that the other driver was at fault. But this doesn’t mean you cannot seek compensation if you were at fault.
Most of the time, both parties are partly liable for the crash. That explains why most state laws allow apportionment of liability– meaning you can recover damages less the percentage of fault.
So, if your loved one is found 10% liable for the accident, you will receive 90% of the damages.
Get Help from an Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Considering the high fatality rate, the percentage of riders who die in accidents is in the thousands.
The risk of death during a motorcycle accident can come from anywhere. Everything from road hazards to the other driver’s negligence can put a rider at risk.
Understanding the causes of death in motorcycle crashes is helpful to riders, but it can’t eliminate the risk of a fatal crash.
The good news is you can seek compensation if you lose a loved one to a fatal motorcycle accident and take legal action against the driver at fault for the accident.
At Legal Giant, we have experienced motorcycle accident lawyers who can help you through the process. Contact us today to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.
