It is no secret that riding a motorcycle is often a dangerous endeavor. That isn’t to say that motorcyclists are unsafe drivers. Motorcycle accidents can happen for a number of reasons, many of which aren’t the fault of the motorcycle rider. There is some good news that motorcyclists in California might find very intriguing. The number of motorcyclists killed in motorcycle accidents has decreased in 2013; that’s the first time since 2009.
Have motorcycle accident fatalities gone up or down?
In 2012, 4,986 motorcyclists were killed in traffic accidents. That number decreased by 318, which is a 6.4 percent difference, in 2013. In 2013, 4,668 motorcyclists died. Even when comparing the number of motorcyclists deaths related to an alcohol-impaired accident, the number still decreased from 2012 to 2013.
In 2013, 1,296 motorcyclists died in alcohol-impaired accidents. That is a difference of 117 fatalities from the 1,413 motorcyclists that died in alcohol-impaired accidents in 2012, which is a decrease of 8.3 percent from 2012 to 2013.
What about motorcyclist injuries?
The number of fatalities isn’t the only statistic that decreased. The number of motorcyclists who were injured decreased by 5,000 from 2012 to 2013. In 2012, 93,000 motorcyclists were injured. That number fell to 88,000 in 2013 for a 5.4 percent decrease.
While these statistics show a trend in the right direction, it also highlights just how important it is for all drivers to watch out for motorcyclists. Any motorcyclist who is injured and the family members of those who are killed might opt to pursue civil action against the party or parties responsible for causing the accident. That civil action could lead to compensation, which can reduce the financial stress on the family.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “2013 Motor Vehicle Crashes: Overview” accessed Mar. 03, 2015
