The statistics are grim. Riding a motorcycle is inherently riskier than driving a car. The Insurance Information Institute (III) reports that in 2019 there were 5,014 motorcycle riders killed in a crash. That was double the number from 1997.
In comparison, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recorded that in 2018 the number of motorcycle fatalities was 27 times the number of fatalities by vehicle. This data is consistent with common sense. Riding a motorcycle is inherently riskier than driving a car. The number one reason for this is that motorcycles do not have the enclosure protection that a vehicle does.
When a crash happens, the injuries for a motorcycle rider will be much more severe than they would be for a car driver. At Arash Law, we know just how severe these injuries can be. We also know how devastating these crashes are to the lives of our clients.
A motorcycle accident changes lives in an instant. If you have been a victim of a motorcycle crash, give us a call. You will be entitled to compensation for every single loss. Call our record-setting California motorcycle accident attorneys today at (888) 488-1391, and we’ll review your crash for free.
Types of Motorcycles
The number of motorcycles registered to Americans has risen from 4.3 million in 2002 to 8.6 million in 2021. California and Florida have the largest number of registrations for motorcycle riders in the United States.
There are 10 different types of motorcycles that are characterized according to their design and use:
- Scooter – Small wheels, small engines, automatic transmissions
- Cruiser – Heavier bikes, more torque and less horsepower in engines, feet forward
- Chopper – Much like cruisers, longer wheelbase, highly customized (“chopped”) bikes
- Touring – High-displacement and high torque engines, wind protection, improved technology (ABS, GPS, heated handgrips, etc.)
- Dual-purpose – Four-stroke emission compliant engines, comfortable riding position
- Standard – Upright riding position, improved ground clearance
- Sport touring – Drive trains, touring features such as high windshields and heated grips
- Unclad sport – Does not have full body panels, feet under the seat, reduced horsepower– Light with high power-to-weight ratios second to supersport class
- Supersport – Comparable to factory racing bikes with superior power-to-weight ratio
In the United States, cruisers and touring bikes have the most registrations. Data indicates that supersport motorcycles have a fatality rate that is four times higher than fatalities for cruisers and standard motorcycles.
What Reduces the Risks of Crashes for Motorcycles?
The two things that will reduce crashes for motorcycles the most are proper helmets and anti-lock braking systems. The NHTSA estimates that over 25,000 lives have been saved since 2002 by wearing proper helmets. Laws have been changed all across the country because of this data.
If every motorcycle rider had worn a helmet in 2017, an additional 802 lives would have been saved. Helmets are said to be 37 percent effective in preventing motorcycle riders’ injuries and 41 percent for their passengers. Still, only 70.8 percent of riders and passengers wore them in 2019, reflecting a 23 percent increase in helmet use since 2002.
Antilock braking systems are also known to reduce the risk of crashes for motorcyclists. These systems will prevent wheels from locking up, which is more critical to bikes than to cars. For cars, locked brakes might lead to a skid. On a motorcycle, locked brakes could lead to a fall.
In one study, anti-lock brake systems reduced motorcycle injury crashes in Italy by 24 percent, Spain by 29 percent, and Sweden by 34 percent. This data is used widely across the world, along with other studies, as support for the effectiveness of anti-lock braking systems at reducing crashes on motorcycles.
At Arash Law, we work with victims of motorcycle accidents all the time. We know that if you have been in a motorcycle accident, you suffer several losses and trauma. We can help you to recover the damages you deserve. Call our California accident injury team at (888) 488-1391 for a free review of your case.
Do Motorcycle Helmets Work?
The research shows consistently that helmets save lives for motorcycle riders while on the road and during crashes. Overall, the death rate in regions with motorcycle helmet laws is lower for helmet-wearers, and so is the rate of lethal head injuries. The severity of injuries during a crash is also reduced for those that wear helmets.
When a rider survives a motorcycle crash, the result is often traumatic brain injury (TBI), even with a helmet. These injuries will vary by individual and will have a devastating impact on the victim and families involved, sometimes permanently. Still, head injury was reduced by 69 percent with helmet-wearers in an accident. Many studies are consistent with this.
There are many different kinds of helmets sold in the United States and across the world. Where there are universal helmet laws, motorcycle riders must wear helmets that are mandated by federal standards. Helmets that do not meet those standards are known as novelty helmets.
One study on the effectiveness of novelty helmets looked at data from 84 law enforcement agencies in California and found the risk of fatal injury rose with the use of novelty helmets. At the same time, there is always a discussion of full-face or half-face helmets for riders purchasing new helmets. Riders prefer half-face helmets as they are lighter, cooler, and easier to wear.
However, full-face helmets will provide more protection from brain injury or death every time. The information we have on this is very specific. Those that wear full-face helmets will reduce their risk of injury and death by 64 percent overall, and the risk of injury or death is 57 percent lower than those with half-face helmets.
This is the kind of data used by lawmakers state-wide and nationally when they make motorcycle helmet laws. Not every state mandates motorcycle helmets. For those that do, they are called universal helmet laws. If you have been in a motorcycle accident and suffer a brain injury or other trauma, we can help.
At Arash Law, we have been working with and fighting for motorcycle crash victims and their families for decades. Call our motorcycle accident and California brain injury accident attorneys today at (888) 488-1391 to book a free consultation of your case.
Motorcycle Helmet Laws
States that require helmets for all motorcycle riders have laws called universal helmet laws. To date, there are only 19 states along with the District of Columbia that have these laws. At least 29 states have laws that mandate helmet use for some riders, often in the younger age ranges.
For example, riders under the age of 21 or 18 are the only riders in some states required to wear helmets. The states of Illinois, New Hampshire, and Iowa are the only states that do not require any helmets at all.
In states where there are no helmet laws or helmet laws are weakened, we see an increase in deaths from motorcycle accidents:
- California – When a universal helmet law became effective on January 1, 1992, fatalities decreased by 37 percent.
- Nebraska – The universal helmet law enacted on January 1, 1989, resulted in a 22 percent decrease in traumatic brain injury and head injury, as well as a decrease in medical bills by 38 percent.
- Louisiana – With the repeal of its universal helmet law in 1999, motorcycle fatalities increased by 100 percent.
- Florida – When Florida weakened their laws to exempt motorcycle riders over 21 with $10,000 medical coverage, their fatalities increased. The medical costs for personal injury sustained from motorcycle crashes averaged $34,500.
- Michigan – As of 2012, Michigan has similar laws to Florida but requires $20,000 medical coverage for those without helmets. The result was an increase in insurance payments by 22 percent.
- Iowa – This state has no helmet laws, and the outcomes are what you would expect. In 90.8 percent of crashes, 60.2 percent of motorcycle riders died of traumatic brain injury.
The information on motorcycle crashes and universal helmet laws is interesting. The lawmakers in states that stipulate insurance mandates and medical minimums for motorcycle riders are telling us something. They are saying the risk of injury and death and medical costs is high.
At Arash Law, we have seen this every day for decades. The more traumatic a crash, the more expensive it is. The costs and losses add up with every piece of glass broken. If you or a loved one has been in a motorcycle accident, we can help you recover your damages.
Fighting for motorcycle accidents and brain injury accident victims is what we do. You don’t have to deal with this alone. Contact our California accident lawyers at (888) 488-1391 and let us have a look at your case. You don’t pay until we win.
Do Motorcycle Anti-Lock Brake (ABS) Systems Save Lives?
After motorcycle helmets, anti-lock braking systems (ABS) help save lives on motorcycles. This system on a bike will work to measure the speed of the wheel continuously, working through a small ring called a tonewheel that is located on the brake disc. A wheel sensor will pick up the speed of the tone wheel reading to the ABS system, which can detect when a wheel is to stop rotating.
This information is used to slow down the wheels on a bike or vehicle. Most drivers in cars or on a bike won’t notice the ABS working. You can break and drive as you usually would. Drivers will notice it working during an emergency and will be glad it is there.
Today, ABS is not required on motorcycles, but more than half of all models will have that as a standard feature or an option when purchasing a new vehicle. The science on ABS and accidents is as clear as the science on motorcycle helmets. With ABS, a bike’s wheels will not lock during an accident, enabling a bike rider to apply the full weight of the brakes during an accident.
One study found that over a five-year period, ABS reduced crashes by 37 percent. At the same time, insurance claims occur less frequently for bikes with ABS than for bikes without it. They occur at least 31 percent less than bikes without ABS.
The reasons for that are simple. Whether road and weather conditions are good or bad, stopping on any surface will be easier with ABS. That is why the system is there. Many riders and car drivers do not know that stopping on a bike is different from stopping in a car. Most bikes have separate controls for both wheels, and both can lock up during a hard brake.
This lock could mean a skid or a hard fall, neither of which is a leading cause of motorcycle accidents, but it is a cause. Slamming the brakes too hard in any vehicle could become a dangerous situation. ABS gives drivers the ability to brake without worrying too much about that.
Brake pressure is instantly reduced when this happens. ABS handles this intuitively to ensure that the wheels don’t jam when you need that most. For motorcycle riders, it saves lives and keeps insurance costs low.
If you have been a victim of a motorcycle accident, this is just one of the many issues that will be considered in your crash. A personal injury lawyer can help you to navigate every single one of the factors in your crash. You don’t have to go through this alone.
Contact a California Motorcycle Accident Attorney for a Free Consultation Today
It is common sense that riding a motorcycle is inherently riskier than driving a car. However, we also see the data on this every day. Not wearing a helmet or having ABS on your bike could result in serious lifelong injuries, or worse, death.
That doesn’t mean every rider is automatically considered to be at fault in the event of an injury or motorcycle accident. Some car drivers will like to say that it is. Fault in motorcycle crashes is another factor entirely.
At Arash Law, if you or someone you love has been in a motorcycle accident, give us a call. We can work on each of these factors and help put the costs of this problem behind you. A motorcycle accident is an overwhelming trauma for everybody.
The California motorcycle accident lawyers at Arash Law have been working with motorcycle crash victims for decades. We know what you need to do to get the settlement you deserve. Call us for a free consultation today.
