The majority of total traffic fatalities happen in passenger vehicles. There are typically a few thousand fatalities involving motorcycles, but they do not make up the bulk of the 40,000 annual highway deaths that happen in the United States.
However, if you look at the fatality rate, you’ll see that motorcyclists are actually 22 times as likely to pass away in car accidents as people in larger vehicles. They’re also four times as likely to get injured.
It’s hard to understate how big this difference really is. Even if it was merely twice as likely for a motorcyclist to die in a crash, people would be wary about riding. But it is 22 times as likely. Why is the rate so high?
There are fewer motorcycles
First of all, there aren’t that many motorcyclists. To find the rate, researchers look at the number of fatalities per miles driven. Because there are so few motorcycles on the road, they are involved in a highly disproportionate number of fatal crashes. This is why the total number of deaths can be relatively low, while the death rate is exceedingly high.
Motorcyclists have less protection
Part of the reason for these fatalities is just that motorcyclists do not have the same protection as people in vehicles. They don’t have the protection of a steel cage, airbags, seat belts, crumple zones and many other safety features. A rider who is thrown from the bike is only protected by the clothing that they’re wearing and their helmet – and some riders don’t wear either.
Have you lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident that was caused by another driver? If so, you may be able to seek financial compensation for funeral costs and more.
