Taking a motorcycle to the open road can be an exhilarating experience for those who choose the motorized two-wheel transports. However, with that excitement comes inherent risks. First and foremost, motorcyclists do not have a steel structure enclosing them with the accompanying safety features. Collisions carry catastrophic consequences.
Severe risks. Catastrophic injuries.
It should come as no surprise that motorcycle operators are more likely to suffer severe injuries and death than those who ride in automobiles. According to the Highway Loss Data Institute, supersport cycles are most prone to collisions when looking at all motorcycle classes, accelerating the frequency of high insurance claims following a crash.
Add to that statistic the common tendency to speed or operate a bike under the influence while foregoing helmets, putting themselves at greater risk for catastrophic brain injuries and death. California law mandates helmets without any exceptions.
In 2010 alone, 16 billion dollars were spent for not only medical costs and property damage but also emergency services. Collisions often required rehabilitation that kept cyclists away from their jobs. Not to mention the significant insurance and potential legal expenses.
Those costs only increase when the rider is older and prefers larger bikes more prone to rollovers. Not to mention their advanced age that results in poor vision and slower reaction times.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) revealed that the most significant costs associated with motorcycle accidents involved market productivity, with decreases at 44 percent, and medical expenses at 18 percent. The GAO is pushing for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (HTSA) to provide states with grants on motorcycle safety expansion from general training and awareness to programs that address more specific issues.
In the end, safety measures are up to the individual motorcyclist via proactive steps that prevent serious accidents that could require accident victims to seek help from a skilled personal injury attorney.
