4 Reasons Motorcyclists Are More Likely to Be Severely Injured in an Accident

A motorcycle can be a great mode of transportation. You spend less in gas, and can often get places more quickly, thanks to your automatic access to the HOV lane. However, statistics have shown again and again that motorcyclists are much more likely to be severely injured in automobile accidents. In fact, motorcycle drivers are 27 times more likely to die in a vehicle accident than drivers of other types of vehicles, as well as being much more likely to suffer severe, potentially life-altering injuries. Why are the numbers so stacked against motorcyclists’ safety? Keep reading to find out.

Lack of Protection

A visual comparison of a motorcycle and a standard commuter car will quickly reveal one of the primary reasons that motorcyclists are so likely to be severely injured in an accident: a lack of protection. The design of a motorbike simply doesn’t provide much in the way of safety. The driver (and the passenger, if they have one) can easily be thrown from the bike, and they must rely on whatever protective gear they’re wearing to prevent serious injuries.

By comparison, automobile drivers have the durable steel frame of their car, numerous crumple zones to minimize the impact, airbags on all sides of the vehicle, and a seatbelt to help prevent ejection from the car. When you compare the safety systems of these two types of vehicles, it’s little wonder that motorcyclists are subject to much more serious injuries.

More Difficult to See

In addition to a lack of safety measures, motorbikes are also much smaller than your average car on the roads. This makes them much more difficult to see, and many vehicle drivers fail to provide proper right of way to motorcycle drivers as a result. In fact, other vehicles violating a motorcycle’s right of way causes roughly 66% of all multi-vehicle accidents involving a motorcycle.

These violations of motorcyclists’ right of way often occur when changing lanes on the road. It’s much easier for a motorcycle to remain unseen in a car’s blind spot due to their smaller size. So, the car will change lanes, believing the space to be clear when in reality, a motorcyclist is attempting to pass them. However, most accidents occur at intersections, when another vehicle fails to provide right of way to the motorcyclist or violates other traffic controls.

Impaired Vision

It’s not only the other drivers that may have a problem seeing the collision coming. Studies show that nearly ¾ of motorcycle riders involved in accidents didn’t wear any protective eyewear. In most of these cases, the wind and other conditions caused impaired vision and delayed the rider’s ability to detect the upcoming danger. Fortunately, this particular cause of accidents can be avoided with the use of protective eyewear or a full-face helmet.

In fact, a full-face helmet can both help prevent the accident from occurring and help to significantly reduce facial injuries if you are involved in an accident. This type of helmet is still the most protective type available, and motorcyclists should wear one any time they climb aboard a motorbike.

Less Stability

This is another difference between motorbikes and automobiles that you can easily detect from a glance; motorcycles simply don’t have the same stability as a four-wheeled vehicle. If an automobile is in an accident, it would take serious force and very specific conditions to cause the vehicle to overturn. Motorcycles, however, can overturn if the driver simply brakes too quickly on a slick road. This low level of stability makes it much more likely that the driver will be thrown from the bike, subjecting them to much more serious injuries. It can even result in the motorcycle and rider being thrown under the other vehicle or into the path of oncoming traffic.

Get Legal Help for Your Motorcycle Accident Injuries

Did you suffer severe injuries from a motorcycle accident? Was the accident caused by the negligence of another driver who failed to provide you with proper right of way on the road? You’re not alone. This is, unfortunately, a fairly common occurrence for motorcyclists, and you deserve to receive due compensation for those injuries. If you’ve been severely injured in a motorcycle accident, contact The Harr Law Firm today to speak with one of our personal injury attorneys. We’ll gather information about the accident and resulting injuries, and provide you with the support you need to pursue the compensation you deserve. Call now to schedule your consultation.