Just last year, Georgia was ranked 18th out of the top 20 states with the highest motorcycle fatality rate. Any motorcycle accident attorney understands that motorcyclists are at a high risk of experiencing an accident – fatal or otherwise. It is also important to consider the long-lasting impact a motorcycle injury can have on a person while they work through recovery and any necessary rehabilitation.
Motorcyclists are almost 30 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in an accident and five times more likely to be injured.
The personal injury lawyers in our Marietta office often represent the devastated family members ofmotorcycle crash victims.
There are some common elements among the causes of these accidents:
- Statistically, intersections present the most dangerous areas for motorcyclists. The driver doesn’t see the motorcycle and turns in front of it, causing a head-on collision. Head-on crashes are often fatal for motorcycle riders, due to chest and head injuries.
- Car accident lawyers also see many motorcycle cases where driver behavior played a role. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 30 percent of motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes had a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
- A 2013 study found that a third of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were exceeding the speed limit.
Disability lawyers know that even when a motorcyclist survives an accident, the probability of injury is very high. In accidents between motorcycles and cars, 98 percent of the time the cyclist will be injured. In motorcycle-only accidents, 96 percent will involve some injury. Forty-five percent of these injuries are not minor ones, resulting in disability or other serious damage to the rider.
Motorcyclists can take certain precautions to limit the possibility of disability, serious injury, or death from a motorcycle crash:
- Wearing a helmet can be a lifesaver. Georgia has a universal helmet law, which means all motorcyclists are required to wear a helmet.
- Motorcycle rider training also reduces accidents. Courses are available through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation.
- Staying 100% sober and riding within your skill limits will always minimize your risk.
If you have been injured in an accident while riding a motorcycle, you need the guidance of an experiencedpersonal injury attorney. Call the personal injury lawyers at our Marietta, GA office today fora free consultation.
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