More than 5,000 people were killed riding motorcycles on U.S. roads in 2015, close to an all-time high, and a 10 percent increase over 2014’s figure.
This marks the first time since pre-recession 2008 – and only the third time in history – that more than 5,000 motorcyclists have died, according to a report by the Governors Highway Safety Association and Sam Schwartz Consulting.
Key reasons for the 5,010 fatalities were increased permissiveness from states for riding without a helmet, demographic surges in motorcycle ownership in the 20- to 29-year-old and 50- to 59-year-old age groups, and an increase in riding while impaired.
“These sobering findings provide a stark reminder of how susceptible motorcyclists are to fatal and life-threatening injuries,” Richard Retting, one of the authors of the report, said in a statement.
“The risk of motorcycle crashes and fatalities is compounded by factors such as alcohol and drug use, increased speed limits, the repeal of state helmet laws, and a record number of vehicles on U.S. roads. Concerted efforts are needed to reduce this tragic loss of life,” Retting added.
Read the full Consumer Reports article by Mark Rechtin with statistics.
First Steps After an Accident
When you are injured in a motorcycle accident, it is of utmost importance that you allow a physician to carefully examine you, as not all injuries may appear right away; sometimes there is an injury that does not show itself until well after the accident. Major issues such as internal bleeding may not be readily apparent to the untrained eye, but can be fatal if not addressed quickly.
In fact, one of the most dangerous types of internal bleeding is a subdural hematoma, or bleeding outside of the brain caused by a severe head injury. Symptoms of subdural hematomas can take as long as two weeks to appear, so a thorough checkup from a doctor is absolutely essential to prevent fatality.
If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident, contact Jacobson, Schrinsky & Houck today at: 414-223-4444 or online at: www.jsh-law.com/contact-us
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