The weather is warming in Washington state and this means that more and more people will be spending time outside. It also means that people will be riding their motorcycles even more. Both the riders and the drivers of the other vehicles on the roads need to start practicing safe driving to help prevent motorcycle accidents from occurring.
Motorcycle accidents can be particularly devastating for the riders. There is very little protection for them and the ground or other objects around the roads. Due to this, the rider often suffers serious injuries when involved in motorcycle accidents and unfortunately many lose their lives as a result.
Motorcycle accident statistics
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s most recent statistics, in 2020 5,579 motorcyclists died in motorcycle accidents. This represented 14% of all traffic fatalities and demonstrated that motorcyclists were 28 times more likely to die in a traffic accident than drivers of other vehicles. There were also 82,528 riders who suffered injuries in the accidents.
More than half of the fatal motorcycle accidents involved colliding with another vehicle. In 42% of the fatal accidents involving a motorcycle and another vehicle, the cause of the accident was the driver of the other vehicle turning left in front of a motorcycle going straight in the opposite lane of traffic. So, while there are motorcycle accidents caused by the motorcyclists, a very large portion of them are due to the actions of other drivers.
These statistics show that everyone driving in Washington state needs to pay attention to motorcycles. This is especially true when they are taking left-hand turns and drivers should take an extra look to ensure there are no motorcycles traveling in the opposite direction.
If motorcyclists are struck by another driver, they or their families may be entitled to compensation for the damages they suffer as a result. This compensation can be very valuable for the riders and their families as the deal with the aftermath of the accident. Experienced attorneys understand the importance of this compensation and may be a useful resource.