Are Motorcycles More Dangerous than Cars?

While the siren song of the open road when you’re on your bike is difficult to resist, it’s important to keep in mind that you are far more vulnerable to serious injuries when you’re on a motorcycle than you are when you’re in a car. Always prioritize your safety when you’re out and about on your bike, and if another motorist’s negligence leaves you injured in a motorcycle accident, don’t wait to consult with an experienced South Carolina motorcycle accident attorney.
The Statistics
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to defining how much more dangerous motorcycles are than cars. Consider the following statistics from a recent year:
- Only 3.5 percent of the registered vehicles on our roads were motorcycles, but they accounted for a full 14 percent of traffic fatalities.
- Motorcyclists were 24 times more likely to be killed in a traffic collision per vehicle mile traveled than the occupants of cars and other vehicles were.
- Per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, 30.69 motorcyclists lost their lives as compared to 1.22 car occupants.
Additional key findings from another NHTSA report include all the following for a recent year:
- More than 5,900 motorcyclists were killed in traffic collisions, which is the highest number since data collection began in 1975.
- The number of motorcyclist deaths was a full 8 percent higher than the previous year.
- It’s estimated that about 82,686 motorcyclists were injured in traffic accidents, which is a 5 percent increase over the prior year.
To make things worse, the number of life-threatening motorcycle accidents has been steadily trending upwards.
When You’re on Your Bike
When you’re on your bike, all the following variables leave you more vulnerable to being seriously injured:
- You take up less space on the road, which makes it more difficult for other drivers to see you.
- Too many motorists don’t bother to look for motorcyclists and take the precautions necessary to accommodate their safety.
- You don’t have the safety of a metal cage to protect you from the impact of an accident – the way you do when you’re in a car.
- You can make shorter stops than other vehicles can, which makes rear-end accidents a far greater risk when the motorist behind you chooses to drive too closely.
- Your bike has less traction on the road than cars do, which means you’re more susceptible to accidents related to the effects of bad weather or poorly maintained roads.
Discuss Your Claim with an Experienced South Carolina Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
The practiced motorcycle accident attorneys at John Price Law Firm – serving North Charleston, Summerville, Myrtle Beach, and Santee in South Carolina for more than 30 years – recognize the gravity of motorcycle accidents and will leave no stone unturned in their focused efforts to obtain fair compensation that covers your complete losses and supports your fullest recovery. We’re on your side, so please don’t wait to reach out. Contact us online or call 843-552-6011 today.