Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycles vs. Autos
How Motorcycle
Accidents Happen
Motorcycle
Accident and Injury Statistics
Who
Is Affected
Motorcycle
Injury Improvements
Helmets
Save Lives
Motorcycle
Repair or Replacement
Motorcycle
Safety
Helmets
The Statistics
Don't Lie
Safety
& Advocacy Organizations
Tips
for Preventing Motorcycle Injuries
Passenger
Safety
On
The Road
Motorcycle
Clubs
Favorite
Motorcycle Road Trips
Riding
Tips
Motorcycle Care
Bike Talk
Customizing
your Bike
History
of Motorcycles
Bike
Basics
Motorcycle
Types
Buying a
Motorcycle
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In 1997, more than 2,100
motorcyclists were killed, and another 54,000 were injured
in traffic crashes in the United States. More than 7,000
of those injured were riders between ages 15 and 20, and
36 percent of those who died were between ages 16 and
29. Ninety percent of the people who died were male; nearly
all of them were operating the bike. Among females who
died, 72 percent were passengers.
Per mile driven, motorcyclists are about 14 times more
likely than persons in a car to die in a motor vehicle
crash, and they're about 3 times more likely to be injured.
While motorcycles make up less than 2 percent of all registered
vehicles in the U.S., motorcyclists account for 6 percent
of total traffic deaths.
The Motorcycle Riders Foundation (MRF), the nation's foremost
advocacy organization for the rights and safety of street
motorcyclists, was not surprised to hear that motorcycle
fatalities reported for calendar year 2001 exceeded those
reported for 2000. The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) issued a preliminary report yesterday
indicating that motorcycle fatalities increased approximately
7% and motorcycle occupants injured increased approximately
2% in 2001.
Reasons for the predicted spike in motorcycle fatalities:
First, the waiting period for rider training was upwards
of a year through the late 1990s, with many states turning
away as many riders as they trained. It is worse now,
with new motorcycle sales having soared in the past few
years (from some 300,000 new units sold in 1990 to 710,000
in 2000).
Second, states have backed down from their commitment
to motorcycle safety by sharply cutting or totally eliminating
rider training funds. Meanwhile, riders do more than their
share, from paying extra fees on registration (thought
to be "protected" and "earmarked"
for rider training) to volunteering to teach Motorist
Awareness of Motorcycles in drivers' education courses.
Third, NHTSA continues to promote "safer crashing"
- that is, policies it hopes will reduce injury severity
AFTER an accident has occurred. For example, the agency's
draft Motorcycle Safety Improvement Program (McSIP), released
in May 2001, was roundly criticized for its "injury
reduction" approach to motorcycle safety, and its
lack of attention to dangerous car drivers (responsible
for the majority of multiple-vehicle crashes). |
See a medical professional
as soon as possible
Follow your doctor's orders
Keep a diary of your injuries, symptoms, and any
associated costs
Call an experienced
attorney like Michael Padway
Do not make any statements regarding fault
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| Call
Us: 1-800-928-1511 |
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| Michael Padway &
Associates |
595 Market Street,
Ste 2520
San Francisco, CA 94105
Tel: 415-777-1511
Tel: 800-928-1511 |
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