A motorcycle is a fun vehicle much loved by several people. Wide-open roadways and long summers make Texas a perfect place for motorcyclists. Texas has the fifth-largest number of probable motorcycle registrations in the U.S. But a larger volume of motorists on the road also means more accidents and injuries. Here we will go over some Texas motorcycle accident statistics.
Motorcyclists can suffer severe injuries or death during motorcycle accidents, especially if they don’t put on protective gear. There are very few instances where motorcycle riders suffer only minor wounds. Bike crashes could be solo or involve motor vehicles or trucks.
Motorcycle accidents can leave survivors badly injured and emotionally distressed. Some never recover and get the quality of life they lived before the occurrence. If you are involved in a motorcycle accident, a Texas motorcycle accident lawyer looks at the evidence to ensure the negligent party pays compensation for your loss. The legal team at McDonald Worley is fully equipped to deal with crash cases involving a negligent driver.
Motorcycle accidents can lead to fatal injuries, in comparison, passenger car occupants are comparatively safer against the injuries caused by reckless driving, though not immune to them.
What Are Common Causes Of Texas Motorcycle Crashes?
Certain driver factors cause motorcycle accidents and many other types of traffic crashes. But in the case of motorcycle accidents, they can lead to fatal consequences. These dangerous behaviors include:
Speeding
Speeding contributes to almost 32% of motorcyclist fatalities as compared to only 18 percent for passenger car drivers.
Head-on Accidents
Front-end collisions accounted for over 75% of motorcycle crashes involving the head-on crash of two vehicles.
Crashes With Fixed Objects
23% of deadly collisions occur when motorcycle riders crash into non-moving objects.
Left-turn Crashes
42% of fatal motorcycle accidents involve another vehicle. The accident occurs when the second vehicle turns left in front of the motorcycle.
Driving Under The Influence
Alcohol-impaired motorcyclists account for 28% of deaths in road accidents. Whereas, a single-vehicle crash with impaired motorcyclists contributed to 43% of deaths.
Other crucial contributors to this type of accident in Texas are:
- Lane splitting (weaving in and out of traffic)
- Reckless and distracted driving
- Hazardous road and weather conditions
- Limited visibility
How Often Do Motorcycle Accidents Occur in Texas?
Texas ranks among the top three states for the highest number of motorcycle fatalities. From 2010 to 2017, there were 68,877 crashes involving motorcyclists in Texas. 5% of Texas motorcycle crashes in 2018 were fatal, compared to 0.3% of passenger vehicle crashes. Over half of motorcyclists killed in accidents in 2018 were wearing helmets.
While solo motorcycle crashes are not very dangerous, the greatest threat to the bikers is other drivers as between 2010 and 2016, over half of motorcycle accidents involved multiple vehicles. Most fatal motorcycle crashes are caused by riding under alcohol or drugs influence or on rural roads.
Motorcycle Accident Statistics in Texas
With over 350,000 motorcycles registered, Texas ranks in the top ten states for motorcycle ownership. If you were involved in such an accident, you are not alone. Bike crashes are, unfortunately, a most common occurrence here, as can be seen by the following motorcycle accident statistics in Texas:
Injuries By Age
The average age of motorcyclists in Texas involved in a crash is 39 years old, while the average age of passengers in other accidents is 35 years old. People who’ve crashed were most likely the ones without a helmet.
Injuries By Day Of Week And Time Of Day
Mondays through Fridays are more dangerous for motorcyclists than the weekends, Saturdays, and Sundays. According to findings, 65% of motorcycle accidents happen on weekdays, while only 35% occur on the weekend.
Yet, weekdays have a higher percentage of accidents that don’t cause any injury or crashes with less severe injuries. 74% of crashes occurring during the daytime resulted in no or minor injuries.
A majority of motorcycle collisions occur during daylight, still, there’s a higher percentage of lethal and suspected serious injury accidents during the night. 30% of crashes occurring during nighttime resulted in fatal or severe injuries.
Injuries by Location
Fatal motorcycle accidents are more likely to happen in rural locations rather than in urban areas. Between 2010 and 2017 in rural Texas, there were almost 8% of fatal motorcycle crashes and 28% resulted in serious injuries. Whereas in urban areas, there were 4% fatal and 19% serious motorcycle accidents.
As per stats from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcycle injuries are more serious than those for motor vehicle accidents. However, it is possible to demand punitive damages if gross negligence on part of the at-fault party incurred injuries and property damage upon you.
Injuries Involving Intoxication
There were almost 5,438 motorcycle crashes (including single-vehicle and multiple-vehicle accidents) between 2010 and 2017 involving impairment. 37% of people who died in motorcycle accidents that happened in the state of Texas were impaired drivers. 4,399 motorcyclists in 2013 died with blood alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Injuries Involving Helmet Use
Wearing a helmet can lower the risks of head and brain injuries by 69% in motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists who fail to wear helmets cause an estimated $1.1 billion in unnecessary economic costs. In 2013, helmet use saved about 1,630 people from death in motorcycle accidents.
As the Texas motorcycle accident statistics show, bike accidents are frequent in Texas. These accidents are more fatal to motorcyclists than to drivers of passenger vehicles. If you regularly ride a motorcycle, be constantly aware of your surroundings, obey the speed limit, and never drive drunk.
Road Risks For Texas Motorcycle Riders
Motorcycle riders are exposed to dangers far more treacherous than other automobiles. Therefore, motorcyclists must be aware of the risks and remedies available if involved in a traffic accident.
Road Hazards
Potholes, oil slicks, puddles, debris, ruts, uneven pavement, and railroad tracks can be minor distractions for a car but a critical hazard to motorcycles. These road hazards can result in severe road accidents.
Avoid adverse weather
Rain cuts the driver’s visibility and reduces the tires’ grip on the road. Be proactive while riding in the wind. Estimate the potential push from the side while moving in the direction of the wind.
What Are the Most Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries?
According to Statista, over 350 000 motorcycle riders have registered in Texas. That’s why injuries and motorcycle traffic fatalities are common in Texas. The bike riders have little or no protection. Therefore the seriousness of motorcycle crash injuries is more than other vehicles.
Below are some of the most common injuries from motorcycle collisions.
Head Injuries And Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Head injuries are among the most common types of injuries from motorcycle accidents. Such injuries are frequent with un-helmeted motorcyclists and cause concussions, skull fractures, or brain damage.
Fractures And Broken Bones
In a bike collision, bones are the most vulnerable part of the human body. Accident victims surviving the crash can sustain fractures or broken bones that lead to amputations.
Neck And Spine Injuries
Several motorcycle crashes with un-helmeted drivers end up with severe spine injuries. It covers whiplash, nerve damage, and spinal cord damage. Often crash victims who suffer whiplash have delayed neck pain.
Other known injuries are painful skin damage, road rash from the road surface, and bruises and cuts. If you suffer any of these injuries, get medical treatment immediately. We will get you compensated for the medical costs and other expenses resulting from the negligence of the other automobile driver.
A Texas Motorcycle Accident Lawyer May Be Able to Help
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident due to the negligence of another driver, a professional Texas motorcycle accident attorney can help you recover compensation for your losses. Compensable losses include property loss, medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering. Do not hesitate to contact a Houston, Texas personal injury law firm like McDonald Worley. We will review the details of your case to see if we can help.
We understand that motorcycle crash cases can be complicated, even if the at-fault driver was negligent. Factors like whether you were wearing a motorcycle helmet or not can factor in. However, our legal team is prepared for all such scenarios.
Reach out to us today, and see if we can get started with preparing a strong case for you!