It’s no secret that riding a motorcycle carries with it a level of risk not always present when driving a vehicle. Too often, motorists don’t pay sufficient attention when they’re behind the wheel and, when they make a mistake around a motorcycle, the motorcycle usually comes up short.
The data backs up a motorcyclist’s vulnerability
The New York City Department of Transportation studied accidents involving motorcycles throughout the five boroughs. What they found were a number of troubling trends. First of all, they found that a motorcyclist is less likely to go down on their own – instead, another vehicle is usually involved. And alcohol doesn’t tend to be involved. This was amplified by the fact that motorcycle accidents tended to take place during the afternoon or evening, rather than later hours when drinking occurs more often.
Even more concerning is the fact that fatal motorcycle accidents in the city happen at nearly twice the rate of those statewide. Despite the fact that motorcycles make up only 2% of all registered vehicles in New York City, motorcyclists represented 14% of all traffic fatalities.
Every driver around you owes you a duty to drive their vehicle with reasonable care. This means paying attention to what they’re doing and not allowing themselves to be distracted. Unfortunately, too many drivers do not follow these simple rules and motorcyclists pay the price. When drivers fail to drive with reasonable care and injure a motorcyclist in the process, they are negligent and in violation of the law. If you are such a victim, a personal injury lawsuit may be the best tool available to you – to compensate you for your injuries and to hold them accountable for their actions.