Motorcycle Accident Fatalities Reached Record Numbers in 2022
Despite safety campaigns and new legislation launched across the country, motorcycle accidents continue to occur at an alarming rate in the U.S. In fact, a recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation revealed that these numbers, as well as fatalities resulting from those accidents reached record numbers in 2022. Tragically, more than 6,000 people lost their lives in motorcycle accidents that year alone.
New Study Reveals Alarming Trend
A new report issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System revealed that in 2022, 6,222 motorcyclists were killed in accidents, which is the highest number on record. It also represents a 23 percent increase on the number of motorcyclist fatalities that occurred three years prior. Although motorcycles are far outnumbered by passenger vehicles on our nation’s roads, wrongful motorcyclist deaths still accounted for nearly 15 percent of all traffic crash fatalities. The majority of these accident-related fatalities happened in collisions that involved other motor vehicles, while around 37 percent involved only the motorcyclist.
Why Motorcyclist Accidents Are So Dangerous
Driving any vehicle is dangerous, as there is no way to predict how other motorists will behave, whether they will obey traffic laws, or how factors like the weather will affect driving conditions. Riding a motorcycle, however, is even more dangerous than driving for a number of reasons. Motorcycles are far less stable than other vehicles, so motorcyclists are more likely to lose control in the event of poor weather conditions or road defects. They are also a lot smaller, meaning that they are simply less visible to other drivers, easily getting lost in blind spots, which puts riders even more at risk of injury.
Motorcyclists also have little to no protection in the event of a crash, while motorists who drive more standard passenger cars are surrounded by a steel frame that separates them from the road and other vehicles. Instead, motorcyclists, even when struck at low speeds, can easily be thrown from their vehicles entirely, which means they are at risk of striking another vehicle or the ground. They also lack some of the other safety benefits of traveling in a passenger vehicle, like air bags and seat belts. As a result, motorcyclists must suffer the full blunt force of impact of a car that weighs thousands of pounds on their own bodies, often with their only protection being a helmet.
Call Today for Help With You Atlanta Motorcycle Accident Case
At Shiver Hamilton Campbell, our experienced Atlanta motorcycle accident attorneys and skilled support staff are dedicated to helping accident victims across Georgia seek compensation for their crash-related losses. We know first-hand how catastrophic the injuries sustained by motorcyclists can end up being and the physical, emotional, and financial toll that they take on victims and their families. Let us put our experience and resources to work in your own case by calling our office at 404-593-0020 and setting up an initial consultation with a member of our legal team.
Sources:
iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/motorcycles-and-atvs#
forbes.com/advisor/legal/motorcycle-accident-statistics/
