If there’s one thing that both federal agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the nonprofit groups such as those at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) want you to know about motorcycle riding, it’s that helmets can save lives.
Data compiled by the NHTSA from 2016 shows that helmets saved as many as 1,859 American lives that same year. That same federal agency also contends that at least 802 others would have been able to avert death had they merely been wearing a helmet at the time of their 2016 crashes.
Researchers working on academic journal articles in 2008 and 2009 determined that helmet use results in a 69% reduction in head injuries among motorcyclists. NHTSA data also shows that helmets can reduce motorcyclists’ fatal accidents by 37%.
Federal data also shows just how riding a motorcycle is significantly more dangerous than riding in a car. One of the biggest dangers that motorcyclists face is not having the protection of a shell of a vehicle around them. NHTSA data from 2017 shows that a motorbike riders’ fatal accident risk is 27 times higher than that of passenger car drivers.
Nonprofit organizations, including IIHS, note that one of the most significant issues for motorcyclists and their safety is that only the District of Columbia and 19 states require riders to wear helmets. Florida requires motorcyclists to do so. The IIHS argues that it’s likely that there will be more life-altering injuries and deaths until more states mandate this, though.
There are a variety of factors that can result in a motorcyclist getting hit. Many motorists tend to blame accidents on riders. Drivers often argue that they couldn’t see the motorcyclist coming their way and that they were operating their bike erratically and suddenly veered, resulting in the accident. What motorists seem to forget is that they must keep a watchful eye for anyone on the road, whether it’s a pedestrian, bicyclist, motorcyclists or another car.
If a Florida driver failed to exercise their due diligence and you ended up getting hurt as a result, then you’ll want to consult with a motorcycle accident attorney in Sarasota who is well-experienced in helping victims recover compensation after more common motorbike crashes.
