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Motorcycles are more hazardous than automobiles. Only 3% of all registered road vehicles are motorcycles with about 9 million registered motorbikes in the United States, yet the number of traffic deaths and injuries is excessive. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 5,014 motorcyclists died in motorcycle accidents in 2019, a slight decrease from 5,038 in 2018. In the same year, motorcyclists were 29 times likelier to die in a collision than passengers per vehicle mile driven.

Like other vehicle accidents, the nature of motorcycle accidents may have similarities to automobile accidents. Still, they can be distinct due to the many unique characteristics of motorbikes and motorcycle riding. The likelihood that motorcycles may participate in an accident can result in death or injury compared with vehicle accidents.

The following are comparison factors and other areas of importance for car and motorbike accidents, as well as how they differ in each circumstance:

1. Types of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents are a fraction of the rate at which car and commercial truck accidents occur. Yet, they have the potential to cause damage or death. According to gio-law.com, the following is the list of the most frequent ones:

  • Head-on collision

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More than half of all motorcycle accident fatalities involve people being hit by cars. Many times, when a vehicle hits a biker, it does so from the front. The result is usually death for the motorcyclist in a head-on accident.

  • Lane splitting

Splitting the lane or driving between two lanes of moving or stopped cars are dangerous to motorcyclists in traffic jams.

  • Left-hand turn accidents

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The smaller size of the motorcycle typically makes it less noticeable to other drivers when they’re in a vehicle that’s making a turn. Motorcyclists riding in the same lane as passing automobiles are also more likely to get into an accident.

  • Hitting immovable objects

A motorcyclist’s chance of dying in a collision with immovable objects such as bridges and trees is another type of motorcycle accident because the rider is likely to be thrown off the bike, striking the object with great force.

  • Excessive speed and alcohol use

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Alcohol use or excessive speed is involved in almost all motorcycle accidents. The number of passenger car and commercial truck accidents is about the same. Still, the severity of injuries is more significant. Crashes often result in severe injury or death due to the motorbike’s lack of passenger and motorcycle safety.

  • Road hazards

Motorcyclists face considerable risk while traveling on slippery pavement, having accidents with potholes, making lane changes with varying heights, and crashing into unexpected obstacles or animal carcasses on the road.

  • High-performance motorcycles

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Just a small percentage of all motorcycle accidents each year result from crashes involving high-performance motorcycles. Supersport bikes may reach speeds over 140 miles per hour. They’re also four times higher than riding on a regular motorbike such as a touring, standard, or cruiser bike.

The number of car accidents in the United States approaches 11 million per year. When accidents happen, they’re usually due to driver mistakes or other external factors such as weather, road conditions, health emergencies, and mechanical problems with the vehicle’s tires or brakes.

2. Alcohol-Related Accidents

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NHTSA reported 28 drunk-driving fatalities in the United States every day, or one person every 52 minutes. In 2019, the number of individuals who lost their lives due to alcohol-related causes was at its lowest point since 1982, yet there were still 10,142 people who lost their lives that year. This loss might have been prevented.

In 2017, 27% of motorcycle riders involved in fatal accidents were under the influence of alcohol. The situation remains unchanged at the moment. Like in the past, drunk driving is the primary cause of motorcycle accidents today. Additionally, the proportion of intoxicated drivers among motorcycle riders engaged in severe accidents is the greatest of any other kind of motorists such as automobile or truck drivers.

According to Insurance Information Institute (III), motorcycle riders are 29 times more likely than car riders to experience fatal injuries. Recent motorcycle accident data indicate motorcyclists have a much higher risk of severe injury than vehicle passengers. That’s mainly because the latter is equipped with much greater protection such as airbags and seatbelts.

3. Injuries And Fatalities

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Motorcycle accidents are typically more hazardous for drivers and passengers than vehicle accidents because riders aren’t protected by steel and are often thrown off the motorcycle after a collision. Motorcycle accidents often result in the following injuries:

  • Brain injury and concussion are heightened for motorcyclists who don’t wear an authorized helmet.
  • As the body slides over the road, road rash or soft tissue injury occurs.
  • Injuries to the joints and fractures of the pelvis and shoulders.
  • Biker’s arm is a condition in which the upper arm’s nerves are injured. This results in lifelong arm paralysis.
  • Disfigurement of the face can happen as 35% of motorcycle accidents include a chin collision.

Motorcycle accidents are likely to result in harm. According to the Hurt Report, motorcyclists are injured in 98 percent of multiple vehicle crashes and 96 percent of single-vehicle accidents. Motorcycle riders are also 26 times likelier to die in a traffic collision than drivers and five times more likely to be injured.

Conclusion

Riding a motorbike is fun, whether it’s a lengthy road trip or a quick drive across town. While motorcycle riders can’t prevent all accidents, there are specific methods riders may do to minimize their chances of being involved in a severe accident. The harm is preventable, but if you’re not careful, your innocence may end in disaster. Because motorcyclists travel outside of a metal cage, this contributes to a far higher mortality rate for motorcycle accidents than car accidents.

Also, motorcycle injuries may result in immediate or long-term complications for all persons involved. However, prompt medical attention and alternative therapies may relieve further physical and emotional pain. While motorcycle accidents aren’t entirely avoidable, there are potential injury recovery methods. Wearing a full complement of safety equipment and following traffic laws are the two most critical measures toward preventing severe motorcycle accidents.