Member- Motorcycle Injury Trial Lawyers Association
Jackson and Wilson, Inc. is proud to have accepted an invitation to become a member of “The Motorcycle Injury Trial Lawyers Association”. This association is a professional association of trial attorneys representing injury victims and consumer plaintiffs in claims involving motorcycle injuries.
Attorneys involved in this association make up a group of influential and accomplished trial lawyers who truly enjoy helping victims of motorcycle accidents. We look forward to working with MITLA to help build a strong organization that will benefit all of its members and all motorcycle accident victims.
Too Many Motorcycle Riders Become Accident Victims
Because of the physics involved in motorcycle accidents, the extent of personal injury or death is unusually high. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recently released new statistics showing that motorcycle fatalities have increased for the seventh year in a row. With more than 1,000,000 motorcycles being purchased each year (this figure has increased each of the past 14 years), the additional number of riders has resulted in fatalities increasing at an alarming rate of 89% from 2,116 in 1997 to 4,008 in 2004.
The numbers reflect that the average age of these riders is 20-29, with
speeding being the number one cause of these fatal accidents. According
to Motorcycle Industry Council findings, there is a high increase in the
number of motorcycles purchased by riders over the age of 40 and a correspondingly
increasing number of fatalities with riders in this age group.
The highest percentage of fatal motorcycle accidents involved alcohol.
More than 72 percent of these riders were in the age group of 40-49. One
positive aspect of this statistic is that the number of alcohol-related
fatalities has actually decreased over the past 10 years.
More than 70% of motorcycle fatality accidents take place on undivided highways. I would suggest that this is a combination of a lack of rider education, training, inattention, excessive speed or third-party negligence (the driver of another car or truck was careless and caused the accident).
Another disturbing but not necessarily surprising statistic is that about 80% of all motorcycle accidents result in injury or death. This statistic reflects the fact that regardless of fault, there is little protection for a motorcycle rider in an accident. Unfortunately, the pain I feel in my knees, back, and right shoulder while writing this article is a constant reminder to me of this very real fact.
To learn more about motorcycle accident causes, statistics, and damages…