Reckless driving causes motorcycle fatalities in the USA every year. Here are a few things you ought to be aware of.
Reckless driving is one of the main reasons that drivers of cars and other vehicles hit motorcyclists. Failing to check your mirrors before you turn, reversing without full view, or moving off a roundabout without checking, can all lead to the death or injury of a motorcyclist. They can be hard to see, but that does not excuse the recklessness of hitting another road user.
This article contains all you need to know about reckless driving motorcycle accidents in the USA. By reviewing the facts, we can remind ourselves of the damage we do when we do not check those mirrors.
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Facts and Statistics About Motorcycle Accidents in the USA
There are more than 8.6 million registered motorcycles in the US, with the average vehicle miles travelled hitting 20k. In 2020, NHTSA report showed over 38,000 deaths on the roads. Motorcyclist deaths increased 11% in that year alone. Their data shows that accidents where fatalities occurred to those outside the vehicle had increased to an all-time high of 34%.
With so many accidents on the roads, let us take a closer look at how proportionate motorcyclist deaths are by comparison to others. In 2019, 5,014 people out of the registered 8.6 million bike owners died in fatal accidents. This equates to 58.33 people per 100,000. Comparatively, only 11.0 people die per 100,000 in car accidents. Statistically speaking, you are more likely to die behind the wheel of a motorbike than you are to die behind the wheel of a car.
If you have been affected by a motorcycle accident, you can learn more about motorcycle accident lawyers here. Otherwise, let us look at how many of these accidents are caused by reckless drivers.
Reckless Driving and Motorbike Crash Fatalities
There are many common causes of reckless driving incidents in relation to motorcyclists. In states like California, which see some of the worst rates in driver fatalities every year, there are many causes of reckless driving. Here are some good examples of when your reckless driving might injure a motorcyclist:
- Not checking mirrors while making left hand turns. You should not begin your maneuver until you have checked your mirror.
- Bad weather accounts for some of the accidents, as do roads with uneven surfaces or otherwise harmful conditions.
- Head on crashes happen when a motorcyclist is in the central area overtaking and you are floating over the line.
- Lane splitting is a terrible culprit. It is only legal in some states. It allows bikers to filter through stalled traffic.
- Drink or drug driving
- Intersections – there are common intersections which are frequently reported to cause accidents.
If you have been involved in a motorcycle accident and you think a reckless driver is to blame, you should involve the authorities. They will find witnesses and track the party down. If you are a driver who has injured a motorcyclist because of recklessness, you should call a lawyer. You may need help to defend your actions.
