Deadly Motorcycle Wrecks Have Risen

Motorcyclists make up about 3% of the traffic on US roads.  They contribute to 14% of all traffic fatalities.

It’s certainly not difficult to see why.  With little to no protection around the rider, even a minor fender bender can turn deadly very quickly.  Combine that with the fact that motorists don’t pay enough attention (and actually can become “blind” to bikers) riding is incredibly dangerous.  One of the big issues, however, is that fatal motorcycle wrecks could be reduced easily.

Let’s take a look at what the Car Crash Captain says about riding and its risks.

Using this Piece of Equipment Lowers the Risk of Dying

In 2021, the latest year statistics are available, 65% of motorcycle riders wore DOT-compliant helmets.  That number is slowly rising over the years, but still a long way from the 100% that would help to save many more lives.

Studies consistently show that wearing a helmet improves the odds of not dying in a wreck by 37%.  If we do the basic math using the numbers we know and understand, we can quickly determine how many more people would survive these crashes if they wore helmets.

The NHTSA reports that in 2020, there were 5,579 motorcyclists killed in traffic fatalities.  If everyone wore helmets, using that 37% increase in survivability rate, we can assume that about 2,000 of those riders would still be alive today.

Of course, the math isn’t perfect, but the point is that wearing the right protective equipment means more likely to survive if something terrible happens.

The Two Most Common Motorcycle Injuries

Wrecking on a bike almost always means there will be at least some sort of injury.  The greater the speed, the more likelihood of serious injuries.

Head Trauma – If you wear your helmet, your risk of head trauma is reduced by 70%.  Without helmet use, the biggest risks a motorcycle rider faces are skull fractures, TBI, brain hemorrhaging, and spinal cord injury.

Facial Injuries – When crashing, the head and face usually hit first.  The result is massive injuries to the cheekbones, nose, jaw and teeth, and eyes.

A helmet that covers the whole head, including the face shield, is the best way to avoid these two head and face injuries that show up in the majority of motorcycle wrecks.

Herbert Law Group Helps Motorcycle Crash Victims in Texas

We can work toward 100% helmet usage while riding a motorcycle.  And we can strive to ensure that all motorists are diligent and pay attention to motorcycles on the road.  But no matter how much care you take, as a motorcycle rider, there is always the risk that someone else’s negligence will result in a wreck and serious bodily injury to you.

If that happens, you need to have a motorcycle wreck lawyer on your side to ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve from the insurance companies.  They are in the business of collecting premiums, so when it comes time to pay out settlements, they try to minimize that amount as much as possible.

Here at Herbert Law Group, we know what a victim deserves.  We know how to argue for it, so that you can focus on healing from your injuries.

Let’s find out what happened to determine how we can help you.  Call us at 214-414-3808, or fill out our contact form and we will be in touch soon.