Motorcycle rider wearing a helmet

In 2010, almost five thousand motorcycle fatalities occurred, accounting for 14% of all deaths on the road, despite the fact that motorcycles only comprise 1% of all miles that were traveled by motor vehicles in that year. Injuries and fatalities to drivers and passengers of motorcycles were also more common with riders and passengers who were not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Motorcycle riders are at a high risk of being injured when they are in the process of traveling on the road.

Woman wearing a motorcycle helmet

Motorcycles do not provide the same amount of protection that a seat belt and other protective gear that passengers in automobiles receive. A motorcycle occupant is exposed to the environment, and may be at risk of receiving a direct and hard blow on the head and other parts of the body in a motorcycle collision. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that motorcyclists are about 21 times more likely to die in a traffic accident than those either driving a car or as passengers in a car who are wearing their seat belts.

Motorcycle accidents infographic

Federal and state laws have been enacted requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets while riding, though some states only require helmets for riders under a certain age, while the federal government no longer threatens to withdraw a certain percentage of highway funds if a state allows motorcycle operators to ride without wearing a helmet. The stated purpose behind such legislation is to save lives. The NHTSA also estimates that helmets are 35% effective in preventing fatalities, meaning that out of every one hundred deaths of those killed while riding a motorcycle, thirty-five of them would have survived if they were wearing a helmet.

Another very important statistic to pay attention to is the observation based on the findings of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. These statistics tend to show that more than 70% of deaths of drivers of motorcycles occurred in states with either a lack of helmet laws or with helmet laws that are less restrictive than the universal helmet laws that some states have.

Motorcycle riders have very minimal means of protecting themselves. A helmet, when worn in the proper way, is the most effective way to protect riders from a head injury or brain damage. While wearing a helmet may not guarantee your safety, it is still the best precaution to minimize potential risks during a traffic collision.

Do You Need a MA Motorcycle Accident Attorney?

If you or a loved one has been in a motorcycle accident, you should consider contacting a lawyer with experience in handling these types of cases. The motorcycle accident attorneys of d’Oliveira & Associates would like to meet with you and discuss the investigation of your motorcycle accident claim. Our law firm has represented and assisted numerous motorcycle accident victims in bringing lawsuits against other drivers and insurance companies alike, and there are no fees unless we are successful.

To have a member of our law office contact you, please fill out a contact form or call us at 1-(508) 252-8510.

Motorcycle accident Victims meeting with their Personal Injury Attorney