A total of 4,697 motorcyclists died in crashes in 2006. Motorcyclist deaths had been declining since the early 1980s but began to increase in 1998 and have continued to increase. Since 1997 motorcyclist deaths have more than doubled, reaching a record 11 percent of all motor-vehicle crash deaths in 2006.
In 2006, about a third fewer [...]
Motorcycles are less stable and less visible than cars and often have high performance capabilities. When motorcycles crash, their riders lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle, so they’re more likely to be injured or killed. The federal government estimates that per mile traveled in 2005, the number of deaths on motorcycles was about 37 [...]
Motor vehicle accidents, including motorcycle accidents, typically occur because of someone’s negligence. Motorcyclists are especially susceptible to accidents because motorcycle drivers are often not seen by other drivers because of the motorcyclist’s relatively small size. Injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident are likely to be serious, long-lasting and sometimes catastrophic because the motorcyclist is far [...]
