According to the NHSTA, 5,000 people were fatally injured in motorcycle accidents in California in 2018. The national rate averages about 88,000 motorcycle accidents per year. Unfortunately, California has the second-highest rate of motorcycle deaths, possibly due to California being the only state to allow lane splitting. For every mile traveled in a motorcycle, the rate of an accident is 26 times greater than every mile traveled in a car.
California Motor Injury Statistics – What are my chances of getting into a bike accident?
The state of California has about 39 million people. Out of the 33 million registered vehicles, 900k of those are motorcycles. Although motorcycles make up a fraction of motor vehicles on the road, an incredible 27% of all motor accidents in California are with motorcycles! Of all motorcycle accidents involving a single motor vehicle, 42% involve the driver being drunk. However, the main cause of motorcycle accidents in California are caused by motor vehicles. Two-thirds of motorcycle accidents are not the motorcycle driver’s fault, but rather the other vehicle. According to the NHSTA, when a motorcycle is hit by a motor vehicle, the motorcycle driver has a 27x higher chance of being hurt or severely injured.
Of course, there is some course of action a motorcycle driver must take before riding their bike. For starters, wearing approved helmets, replacing padding once they’ve worn out, and wearing long clothes to avoid road rash if ever in an accident. Many accidents involving motor vehicles are caused by the other driver texting and driving or are just not aware of their surroundings. California is the only state where lane splitting is allowed for motorcycles, and some drivers just aren’t paying attention when a motorcycle is lane splitting next to them. It’s important so be aware of your surroundings when driving a motorcycle, but some things can’t be avoided.
I was driving my motorcycle and I got hit! What do I do?
After a motorcycle crash, the first step you should take is contacting an attorney. Collect all pieces of evidence necessary and hand them to your lawyer. It’s important to not speak to an insurance company, as that would start a personal injury claim with your insurance company, and not a personal injury lawsuit. Your lawyer would handle speaking to the adjuster to allow them to know what had happened, and the course of action they would like to take. If you and your lawyer believe the compensation the insurance company is offering is adequate enough, your lawyer would file a lawsuit against the other person. Almost all personal injury lawsuits end with an out of court settlement and then would be finalized by a judge. Rarely do personal injury cases go to court or to trial. To learn about the types of compensation involved in personal injury claims, read our article here.
Contact Pride Legal
If you or a loved one has been involved in an Uber or Lyft accident, we invite you to contact us at Pride Legal for legal counseling or any further questions. To protect your rights, hire someone who understands them.
