As the number of motorcycle riders continues to climb, so, too, does the number of motorcycle-related fatalities. In the Illinois area of Champaign-Urbana, ten people in the past five months have died in motorcycle accidents, The News-Gazette reports.
The News-Gazette reporter Steve Bauer writes in “Local fatalities illustrate a bad trend in motorcycle accidents,” that local motorcycle crashes have claimed the lives of riders between the ages of 20 and 66. In addition, two husband-and-wife couples were killed in separate accidents when cars struck their motorcycles.
In a related article, “Police attribute increase in motorcycle accidents to rise in riders,” Bauer notes that motorcycle fatalities now account for 13 percent of total traffic deaths in the United States. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration also reports while auto-related deaths have dropped 3.9 percent from 2006 to 2007, motorcyclist deaths rose 6.6 percent.
Several factors seem to account for the increase. The number of motorcycle registrations has been rising steadily for the last ten years. In 2006, there were 2.3 million more motorcycle registrations than the previous year.
In addition, as oil prices soar, owners who might have limited their motorcycle outings to weekends are now riding daily to save on gas.
Safety experts urge riders to wear gloves, heavy jeans, a heavy jack, over-the-ankle boots, and helmets for protection. Motorcyclists should drive defensively, make their presence known to motorists and never drive impaired.
If you have been hurt in a motorcycle accident resulting from the negligence of another or a loved one has been hurt or killed in such an accident, please contact us online for legal assistance as soon as possible or call 877-678-3400. The experienced motorcycle accident lawyers of the Lowe Law Firm will contact you immediately.
