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The popularity of motorcycles has exploded in recent years. The typical motorcycle rider today consists of more mature and casual riders than in recent history. In 2006 motorcycle sales topped 1.1 million. More motorcycles on the road mean more motorcycle accidents. Injuries and fatalities from motorcycle accidents have spiked in the last few years. Motorcycles offer much less protection to the rider than an automobile, leaving the rider much more vulnerable and open to serious injuries or death. The volatility of the vehicle’s stability, openness to weather, vulnerability to road conditions, and the fact that riders are less discernible on the road stack the odds against motorcyclists. According to NHTSA, motorcyclists were 37 times more likely to die and eight times more likely to be injured in a traffic accident when compared to car accident occupants in 2006.
About Our Indianapolis Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident in Indiana, contact a motorcycle accident lawyer at the Law Office of Kelley J. Johnson today. We can help you pursue compensation for injuries. Our motorcycle accident attorney will work to prove that the negligent driver who caused the accident is responsible for your injuries.
Indiana Motorcycle Accident Statistics
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2021 and estimated 82,686 motorcyclists were injured across the US and out of those:
- 5,932 Fatalities
- Motorcyclists accounted for 14% of all traffic fatalities
- 75% of motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were struck from the front.
Motorcycle accidents have been rising every year for the past nine years. As a result, deaths, injuries, and property damages have escalated as well. Indiana law only requires motorcyclists to wear helmets for riders 17 years of age and younger. In 2005 there were 6.2 million motorcycles on U.S. roads as per the Federal Highway Administration (FHA). The agency notes that motorcycles accounted for over 3 percent of all registered motor vehicles and 0.4 percent of vehicle miles traveled in 2005. In that year the NHTSA reported that nearly 103,000 motorcycles were involved in accidents.
In 2006 motorcyclists accounted for 11 percent of all traffic fatalities, 13 percent of all occupant fatalities and 4 percent of all occupant injuries. NHTSA data demonstrates that in 2006, 47 percent of motorcycle riders who died in accidents were age 40 or above, compared with 30 percent ten years earlier. In contrast, fatalities among young motorcycle riders have declined in the past 10 years, relative to other age groups. Speed also plays an important role in motorcycle accidents.
In 2006, 37 percent of all motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were speeding, compared with 23 percent for drivers of automobiles, 19 percent for light truck drivers and 8 percent for large truck drivers, as reported in NHTSA research. Riding without a valid license also seems to be more prevalent among motorcyclists. In 2006, 25 percent of motorcycle operators who were involved in fatal crashes were riding without a valid license, compared with 13 percent of passenger vehicle drivers.
NHTSA says that motorcycle operators were also 1.2 times more likely than passenger vehicle drivers to have a prior license suspension or revocation.
Contact Our Indianapolis Motorcycle Accident Lawyer
Have you or someone you know been injured in a motorcycle crash? If so, contact an Indianapolis motorcycle accident lawyer at the Law Office of Kelley J. Johnson and start on your road to recovery and compensation. Call us today at toll-free, or use our online contact form. Our office is located in Indianapolis.
