Motorcycle accidents are much more likely to result in serious injuries or deaths when compared with other types of motor vehicle collisions. Unlike people who occupy cars or trucks, motorcyclists do not have the safety features provided by cars or trucks to protect them from the violent forces released in crashes. Because of the risks involved with riding on motorcycles, riders need to take safety precautions to minimize the likelihood of injuries. A part of this involves understanding where the risk for collisions is the highest. So, where do most motorcycle accidents occur?
Where Do Most Motorcycle Accidents Occur?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) releases detailed statistics on motorcycle accidents each year. So, where do most motorcycle accidents occur? To find out, let’s look at the NHTSA’s data from 2019, which is the most recent year reported.
Urban Locations
While you might think motorcycle accidents are more likely to happen in rural areas or on interstates, 2019 data reported by the NHTSA shows that they are much more likely to happen in urban settings. The NHTSA reported that 61 percent of all fatal motorcycle crashes happened in urban areas versus 39 percent that happened in rural locations.
Non-Interstate Roads
Out of the 5,014 fatalities that happened in motorcycle crashes in 2019, the NHTSA reports that 91 percent occurred on non-interstate roads. By contrast, only 9 percent happened on interstates. While this might seem surprising since interstates have higher speed limits, non-interstate roads are more likely to have only two lanes going in opposite directions, more potholes, heavier traffic, and other factors that can contribute to motorcycle crashes.
Two-lane roads are especially dangerous because they place motorcyclists in close proximity to vehicles traveling in the opposite direction. Motorists who are not paying careful attention when traveling in the opposite direction to a motorcyclist might pull out to pass another car in front of an oncoming motorcyclist or veer over the center line and collide with a motorcycle. The NHTSA reports that 76 percent of the motorcyclists who were killed in two-vehicle collisions were struck in the front, and only 7 percent were struck in the rear.
Intersections
According to the NHTSA, 34 percent of fatal motorcycle accidents occurred at intersections while 66 percent happened in other areas of the roads. However, intersections are also among the most common areas for motorcycle accidents to occur overall. One of the reasons why there might be fewer motorcycle crash fatalities at intersections despite intersections being the location of many collisions is that both motorcyclists and other motorists are more likely to be traveling at lower speeds in intersections than in other areas of the roads. Motorists and motorcyclists might be slowing down, starting, or stopping at intersections. By contrast, areas of the roads without intersections might also involve motorists and cyclists traveling at higher speeds when they are involved in accidents.
Talk to the Attorneys at Ellis & Associates
The NHTSA reports that 5,014 motorcyclists were killed in 2019 in the U.S. An estimated 84,000 motorcyclists also suffered injuries in motorcycle collisions during that year. Understanding the areas where motorcycle accidents are more likely to occur might help you exercise greater caution when traveling in those locations. Regardless of where you ride, however, you should always make sure to follow the traffic laws, wear a helmet and other safety gear, and pay attention to what other motorists around you are doing. Taking safety precautions at all times might help you to avoid being seriously injured or killed in a motorcycle crash.
That said, it is not always possible to avoid an accident. If you were injured in a motorcycle crash or lost your loved one, you should talk to the attorneys at Ellis & Associates about your potential case. Call us today for a free consultation at 800-MR-ELLIS or contact us online.