PARADISE MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT ATTORNEY

Getting the Facts About Motorcycle Crashes and Liability

How common are motorcycle accidents? And how often do these crashes prove to be fatal? A fact sheet from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gathers data for motorcycle fatalities in each state, including in Nevada. In 2013, the last year for which statistics are available, 57 motorcycle accident fatalities occurred in Nevada. Of those who suffered deadly injuries, 84 percent were wearing helmets. While helmets can help to prevent injuries to the head, face, and neck, they cannot ensure that a rider will be safe in the event of a dangerous collision.

The IIHS fact sheet provides additional data about motorcycle accidents, including the following:

• Nearly 4,300 motorcyclists died in accidents in 2014;
• Motorcycle fatalities account for about 13 percent of all deaths in motor vehicle accidents;
• About 42 percent of motorcycle fatalities happen in single-vehicle accidents (in other words, an accident involving only the motorcycle and not another vehicle);
• About 58 percent of motorcycle fatalities happen in multiple-vehicle accidents (crashes involving the motorcycle and another vehicle);
• Around 36 percent—more than one-third—of all motorcyclists who are killed in accidents are aged 50 and older;
• Riders under the age of 30 account for about 30 percent of all motorcycle fatalities;
• More than 90 percent of motorcycle riders who suffer deadly injuries in crashes are male;
• Around 62 percent of motorcyclists killed in crashes were wearing helmets, while only about 53 percent of motorcycle passengers who sustained fatal injuries wore helmets;
• Alcohol is a major factor in motorcycle accidents, with about 30 percent of riders in multiple-vehicle accidents having blood alcohol concentrations of more than 0.08 percent, and with about 43 percent of riders involved in single-vehicle accidents having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or higher;
• In total, alcohol is a factor in about 20 percent of deadly motorcycle accidents.