What are the Odds of Getting in a Motorcycle Accident

Posted in Motorcycle accidents on June 17, 2021

Motorcycle accidents are not uncommon throughout Tennessee, but that does not mean that motorcyclists should just forgo the risk and give up doing what they love. In reality, there are risks involved in operating any type of vehicle, including traditional passenger vehicles and motorcycles. Here, our Nashville injury lawyers look at some of the statistics surrounding motorcycle accidents in Tennessee and discuss the odds of getting into a crash.

What Does the Data Say About Motorcycle Accidents?

When we look at data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), we can see that there were more than 5,000 total motorcyclist fatalities across the US during the latest reporting year. According to the NHTSA, motorcyclists are 29 times more likely than those inside traditional passenger vehicles to sustain fatal injuries as a result of a collision. Additionally, motorcyclists are four times more likely to sustain a non-life-threatening injury in the event a crash occurs.

When we turn to data available from the Tennessee Department of Transportation, we can see that there were 153 total motorcyclist fatalities during the same year referenced above. Over the last few decades, there has been a general upward trend in the number of motorcycle accident fatalities in this state.

When we are trying to determine how likely a person is to get into a motorcycle accident, we want to examine data available from the Insurance Information Institute (III). When we read the data provided in their latest report, we can see that there are 8,666,185 total motorcycles registered in the country. During the latest reporting year provided in the study, we can see that approximately 82,000 motorcyclists were injured, and nearly 5,000 motorcyclists lost their lives. Not calculating the non-injury crashes, we can see that around 1% of all motorcyclists are likely to be involved in injury-causing or fatal accidents during any given reporting year.

We Need to Look at the Big Picture

We are hesitant even to say that only around 1% of all motorcyclists are involved in crashes because we do not want anyone to become less vigilant, thinking that they completely safe on the roadway. The reality is that motorcyclists face a much higher risk of being injured or killed in an accident than do those inside traditional passenger vehicles. In fact, anytime a motorcycle crash occurs, there is a significant chance that an injury or fatality will happen.

When we look at data from various states’ departments of transportation, we can examine the total number of motorcycle accidents that occur and compare those to how many of those incidents resulted in an injury or fatality. More often than not, a reported motorcycle accident results in some sort of injury. Very rarely does a motorcyclist walk away from an accident without having to seek medical care from a doctor.

Decreasing the Chances of a Motorcycle Crash Injury

In the state of Tennessee, all motorcyclists are required to wear helmets when they ride. This includes those driving the motorcycle as well as motorcycle passengers. Helmets are incredibly important in order to prevent serious head and traumatic brain injuries.

However, helmets are not the “end all, be all” of motorcycle accident safety. It is incredibly important for motorcyclists to remain vigilant on the roadway because traditional passenger vehicle drivers often fail to give motorcyclists the space they need. It is not uncommon for motorcycle accidents to be caused by vehicle drivers failing to yield the right-of-way, following motorcycles too closely, or passing a motorcyclist unsafely. If you were injured by a negligent driver, contact our Nashville motorcycle accident attorneys today.