Why Motorcycle Accidents are Still a Substantial Concern for Officials

Roughly 5,000 fatalities happened with motorcycles during 2017. This is nearly 300 less than 2016’s numbers. Although it’s good that the deaths have been going down at a projected 5.6%, motorcyclists are still astronomically overrepresented in traffic deaths overall. Fatalities occur 28 times more frequently than those with passenger vehicles when you look at miles traveled. These are the findings of a new study published recently by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). It’s a nonprofit foundation serving as a representation of state highway safety.

“Motorcyclist death tolls have shifted from year to year throughout the last decade, so we’re still cautiously optimistic regarding the projection. We’re really trying to see a continuous downward trend until fatalities from motorcycle accidents are eliminated altogether,” the author of the report, Tara Casanova Powell, mentioned in a statement. The statistics detailed in “Motorcyclist Traffic Fatalities by State” directly relate to preliminary information given in 2017 by all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Shown side-by-side with 2016, fatalities in motorcyclists are estimated to have declined in 30 states, stayed the same with two states and risen in 18 states. Casanova Powell mentioned that the bad weather and the hectic 2017 hurricane season (in particular) that curtailed motorcycle riding could have been a contributing factor to the decrease in fatalities.

A combination of factors are the reasons why motorcyclist death rates have remained high overall according to the report such as the following. If you or a loved one have experienced any of these, a personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles can be beneficial.

Drug impairment
Because recreational marijuana has been legalized in a few states, a higher number of motorcyclists and drivers may be under the influence of drugs when crashes occur. Marijuana impairment has been identified as a factor that increases your risk of a crash.

Distraction
There have been several states that have reported an improvement in distracted riding deaths recently. Virginia has recorded more than a doubling in the number of distracted riding deaths from 2016-2017.

An older population of riders
Riders who are more than 40 now comprise the largest share of motorcyclist deaths across the nation. This is a shift from earlier times where younger people involved in fatal crashes was the overrepresentation. The typical age of a motorcyclist killed in 2016 nationally was 43 years old.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a fatal crash, we know how hard it can be to find the right personal injury attorney. This is especially the case when you’re dealing with all the emotions that come with such accidents. We’re dedicated to aggressively defending your case to make sure you gain the maximum amount of compensation. To speak with one of our Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyers at Mann Elias, call us right away at 323-984-8438.