The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recently released motorcycle accident and fatality data for 2013. According to the statistics in 2013, there were 4,668 motorcycle accident fatalities across the country.
That was a drop from the number of motorcyclists killed in accidents in 2012. The previous year, there were 4,980 motorcycle accident fatalities across the United States. Out of the 4,668 motorcyclist killed in accidents in 2013, approximately 94% were riders, while 6% were passengers.
There was also a decrease in the number of motorcyclists injured in accidents in 2013, compared to the previous year. In 2013, there were a total of 88,000 motorcycle injuries recorded in motorcycle accidents, and that was a 5% drop from the 93,000 motorcycle injuries that were reported in 2012.
Motorcycle accident fatalities in 2013 accounted for a significant 14% of all traffic fatalities. They also accounted for 4% of all persons injured in accidents across the country.
In California, 435 motorcyclists were killed in accidents in 2013. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration believes that helmets saved as many as 1,600 lives in motorcycle accidents. However, if all motorcyclists had been wearing helmets while riding, 715 additional lives would have been saved in these accidents.
Failure to wear a helmet can impact the compensation you recover after a motorcycle accident. If you were involved in a motorcycle accident, and were not wearing a helmet at the time, the insurer for the other motorist involved in the accident may argue that your injuries were worsened by your failure to wear a helmet. To establish your legal rights, discuss your case with a Los Angeles motorcycle accident lawyer.
