While motorcycles are exciting and liberating, many riders are unaware of the risks they take when they take their bikes out for a ride. Our experienced Buffalo motorcycle attorneys are here to share everything you should know about motorcycle crashes and how to prevent them.
At Richmond Vona, our skilled attorneys are intimately familiar with the tragedy of motorcycle accidents. New York State saw 188 fatal motorcycle crashes in 2023, but riding a motorcycle doesn’t mean you’ll become a statistic. We put together these motorcycle accident facts to help keep you informed and safe on the road.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics: Impact by the Numbers
The first thing any motorcyclist should know about crashes is that they account for less than 5 percent of all vehicles but are involved in 11 percent of all crashes and nearly 15 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities. Given these numbers, it’s no surprise that motorcyclists are 25 times more likely to be in a crash than the average car driver.
A motorcyclist is also almost certain to be injured in an accident. The numbers show that nearly 80 percent of all motorcycle crashes result in serious injury or death. Those injuries tend to be much more severe than injuries suffered in similar car crashes. For example, paralysis and nerve damage are common outcomes of motorcycle accidents, and motorcyclists account for 50 percent of all spinal cord injuries in the country, roughly 250,000 per year.
Motorcycles lack the crucial safety features found in other vehicles. There is no seatbelt to keep riders in place, so a crash typically throws them into traffic at high speeds. Motorcycles also lack a crumple zone, which can reduce the force of impact by up to 25 percent, and airbags, which reduce the risk of injury by 34 percent.
Because motorcycles are inherently more dangerous than their four-wheeled counterparts, safety precautions fall almost entirely on the driver rather than the manufacturer. Although the risks of motorcycle riding are well known, many riders skip basic safety measures that could save their lives.
In 2023, New York City had a record-breaking 55 motorcyclist fatalities. Alarmingly, only 13 of those riders—just 27 percent—held a valid motorcycle license at the time of the crash. Even more concerning, only 20 motorcycles involved (36 percent) were properly registered.
Who Is at Risk: Understanding Motorcycle Deaths Per Year
According to data from the National Safety Council, the average age of riders killed in motorcycle accidents was 42 in 2022. From 2021 to 2022, fatalities increased by 16 percent, from 493 to 572, among riders aged 21–24, and by 7 percent, from 435 to 466 fatalities, among riders aged 60-64.
A closer look at the data tells yet another upsetting story. According to 2022 data, motorcyclists had the highest rate of alcohol impairment in fatal crashes compared to all other vehicle operators—28 percent for motorcycle riders versus 25 percent for car drivers, 21 percent for light truck operators, and just 3 percent for large truck drivers. Drinking and driving is always dangerous, but it’s even riskier for motorcyclists who must keep their balance while steering and controlling a vehicle with no protective frame.
Common Crash Characteristics
Deadly motorcycle crashes don’t just happen on the weekends, they can happen during regular commuting or daytime travel. In 2022, a majority of motorcycle fatalities took place during daylight hours on weekdays, with 58 percent of fatal crashes occurring during the day, and 54 percent taking place from 6 a.m. on Monday to 5:59 p.m. on Friday.
Engine size can also be a determinant in motorcycle fatalities. Larger engines often mean more speed and power, which can increase the risk of a deadly crash, especially for inexperienced riders. In 2022, motorcycles with engines over 500 cc made up 83 percent of fatal crashes, with engines from 501–1,000cc accounting for 35 percent of fatalities.
Fatal crashes were more common in urban areas, with 66 percent of motorcycle fatalities taking place in cities. Crashes were also more common on open stretches of road rather than at intersections, with non-intersection fatalities comprising 64 percent of all fatal crashes.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents?
Motorcycle accidents happen for a variety of reasons. However, a few common aggravating factors are more likely to cause an accident, including:
Alcohol Impairment
In addition to being illegal, driving a motorcycle while intoxicated sharply increases your risk of serious harm on the road. In 2022, 5,934 people operating a motorcycle were killed in traffic crashes. Of that number, 1,705 riders, or 29 percent, were legally drunk, meaning their blood alcohol content level was .08 g/dL or higher.
Speeding and Traffic Violations
Speeding contributed to 29 percent of motorcycle fatalities in 2022. Excessive speed reduces your reaction time and increases crash severity, making it more likely for motorcyclists to be seriously injured or killed in accidents. This is especially true in urban areas and when traffic is heavy.
Poor Visibility
Many crashes occur because other drivers fail to see motorcyclists, particularly in low-visibility conditions. Wearing reflective gear and using your headlight in poor weather or low-light conditions can help you stay safe and visible to other drivers on the road.
Failure to Wear Proper Safety Gear
Skipping safety gear significantly worsens the consequences of a motorcycle crash. In 2023, 33 percent of motorcyclists killed in accidents in New York City were not wearing the appropriate gear. In a motorcycle accident, safety gear can be the one thing standing between you and serious injury or death on the road.
How the Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries Impact Riders
Some injuries are more common than others in motorcycle accidents. Catastrophic injuries caused by motorcycle accidents can lead to serious, sometimes lifelong damage, with severe impacts on riders.
Head and Traumatic Brain Injuries
Head injuries, including concussions and traumatic brain injuries, are frequent in motorcycle accidents due to high-speed ejections or impacts. TBIs can lead to lifelong cognitive impairment, memory loss, or coma, severely affecting an injured rider’s ability to return to life as normal after an accident. Always wear a helmet while riding your motorcycle to reduce your risk of severe head injury.
Spinal Cord Injuries and Paralysis
Motorcycle crashes commonly cause spinal fractures or dislocations that can lead to partial or full paralysis. Spinal cord injuries can lead to life-changing injuries like paraplegia, which is the loss of the ability to walk, or quadriplegia, which is the loss of use of both arms and legs. These injuries often require extensive therapy and lifelong care, and first-year costs after a paralytic injury can exceed $1 million.
Fractures and Broken Bones
Arms, legs, ribs, and pelvic bones often break on impact in motorcycle accidents. The absence of a crumple zone and a protective frame exacerbates a motorcyclist’s risk of fractured or broken bones. This is because motorcyclists suffer direct impact upon collision, unlike auto drivers, who benefit from their car’s frame absorbing part of the impact.
Recovery from breaks and fractures can take months. In severe cases, surgeries and rehabilitation for broken bones can cost as much as $80,000.
Road Rash and Soft Tissue Damage
Even with protective gear, you can suffer painful injuries if you slide across the road on your bike. Road rash, friction burns, and soft tissue damage occur when motorcyclists’ skin and other soft tissue are dragged over the road in an accident. Severe cases can lead to infections or permanent scarring, sometimes requiring extensive skin grafts.
Internal Injuries
Blunt-force trauma caused by handlebar impacts or collisions can seriously damage vital organs, such as the liver, spleen, and lungs. Internal injuries can require emergency surgery to prevent death by internal bleeding or permanent loss of organ function.
After a Motorcycle Crash, Call Richmond Vona's New York Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
Motorcycle crashes are deeply traumatic and can have tragic impacts on motorcyclists and their families. Preparation and safety are key to avoiding serious injuries or death while on the road.
Our knowledgeable New York motorcycle attorneys understand how severely a motorcycle accident can derail your life. That’s why we go above and beyond for our clients to make sure that you can focus on recovery. Our clients work with a dedicated team of three to four skilled attorneys who put maximum effort into fighting for fair compensation on your behalf.
If you’ve recently suffered a motorcycle accident in Buffalo, call 716-500-5678 or reach out online today for your free legal consultation.
