Many Louisiana residents enjoy the feeling of freedom afforded by riding on motorcycles. Unfortunately, motorcyclists face a greater risk of vehicle accident involvement than do occupants of other cars, and a greater likelihood that if they are involved in an accident to suffer serious personal injury.
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reported that 4,668 people died in motorcycle crashes across the country in 2013. A review of statistical data from 2012 found that motorcyclists were 26 times more likely to be killed in a collision and five times more likely to suffer an injury in one for every vehicle mile they drove than were car drivers and passengers.
There are several factors particular to motorcycles and cyclists that result in the increased risks. First, since they are smaller than are other vehicles, they are also more difficult to see. Many accidents result when other drivers simply fail to notice an oncoming motorcyclist when turning at an intersection, for example. Motorcycles themselves also have a front tire wobble at higher speeds, making them more likely to wreck as well. Some motorcyclists are inexperienced, and thus are less able to effectively engage in defensive driving tactics in the event of an impending collision.
Since a motorcyclist simply is pretty well unprotected in the event of a motorcycle crash, the potential for suffering catastrophic personal injuries is much greater. One who is seriously injured in such a crash as a result of a negligent motorist’s actions may be able to hold the other driver responsible through a personal injury lawsuit. Such lawsuits may provide a method through which the injured motorcyclist can recover damages to compensate for the associated medical expenses as well as other losses.
Source: Insurance Information Institute, “Motorcycle Crashes”, accessed on Feb. 10, 2015
