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Motorcycle Crashes

Motorcycle Accident Statistics (Part B)

If you have suffered serious injury or lost a loved one in a Chicago motorcycle accident, you may have questions about how common motorcycle crashes are, and what factors are prevalent with many of the most serious accidents.

Factors in Fatal Motorcycle Accidents in Illinois and Beyond

Further findings by the NHTSA show that from 1997 to 2004, the number of motorcycle fatalities increased every single year. The age group that suffered the most fatalities was riders 40 years and older.

Judging by these analyses, the NHTSA can assume that motorcycle fatalities will continue to increase in the future, and so they are using their findings to help with the development of motorcycle crash prevention programs. Hopefully, with new technology and safety education, they will be able to reduce the number of fatal motorcycle accidents in Illinois and beyond.

Alarming Motorcycle Accident Statistics

Listed below is some of the NHTSA's most startling data in relation to motorcycle accident statistics:

There was an increased number of motorcycle fatalities on rural highways, of riders aged 40 and older;
Speeding is one of the major contributing factors of fatalities in riders younger than 30 years old;
A significant number of fatalities were caused by riders with a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08 or higher;
Helmet use among fatally injured riders remains at just around 50%; and
66% of fatally injured riders in states without helmet laws were not wearing helmets, compared to 15% in states with helmet laws.

In Illinois, a helmet is NOT required to operate a motorcycle, which significantly increases the chance of fatality in the event of a Chicago motorcycle accident.

Steps to Decrease Motorcycle Accident Fatalities

In light of the number of fatalities associated with motorcycles, the U.S. Congress pledged in 2005 to contribute $2.8 million to study the causes of motorcycle accidents. This pledge was matched by another $2.8 million from the motorcycle industry, and the money was given to the Oklahoma Transportation Center, which is an independent and well-respected research center at Oklahoma State University.

Ideally, with new research and data, the motorcycle industry can find new ways to improve the safety and operability of motorcycles, which in the future can help prevent the chances of riders becoming involved in a serious or fatal Chicago motorcycle accident.

Contacting a Chicago Motorcycle Accident Attorney

A motorcycle is usually no match for a larger vehicle. Therefore, most Illinois motorcycle accidents will result in the rider sustaining serious and sometimes fatal injuries. At the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C, a Chicago motorcycle accident attorney will examine all aspects of your accident, determine liability, and aggressively pursue the full amount of compensation due to you for any injuries or loss you may have suffered as a result of your motorcycle accident. Contact us today for a free case evaluation - 312-263-1080.

As a service to the residents of Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, and Illinois in general, the Law Offices of Barry G. Doyle, P.C. will frequently publish blogs about local traffic accidents. We do this to raise awareness about the common types of motor vehicle accidents that occur in Illinois and can result in serious injuries and/or fatalities.

Common accidents include, but are not limited to:

-- single-car accidents such as SUV rollovers;
-- accidents due to hazardous road conditions; and
-- accidents caused by distracted, aggressive, and/or drunk drivers.

If you have been named in this blog or you are the victim's family member or friend and would like the blog removed from our website, please feel free to contact us and we will promptly accommodate your request.