52-year-old man died last Friday after being involved in a motorcycle accident in Chicago. An autopsy concluded that the man died from multiple injuries after his motorcycle collided with a truck, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Our Chicago motorcycle accident attorneys understand that traffic accidents that involve these bikes often result in fatal injuries. Motorcyclists travel with much less protection than the occupants of passenger vehicles. Because of their small size, motorcyclists are often overlooked on our roadways. To prevent accident fatalities, it is a good idea for motorcyclists to wear the proper protective gear when hitting the road, even though it is not required by law. We also ask that all motorists be extra cautious during these summer months as we typically see more motorcyclists on our roadways because of the beautiful riding weather.The National Transportation Safety Board recently placed motorcyclists on their “most wanted” list. This list is part of an awareness campaign that aims to rally support for action for states to adopt safety steps that can help to prevent a number of accidents.
Motorcycles only represent about 3 percent of all of the vehicles on our nation’s roadways, but they account for nearly 15 percent of all highway deaths. From 1997 to 2009, the number of annual motorcycle deaths more than doubled from 2,116 to 4,462. It is estimated that more than 12 motorcyclists were killed every day during that time period. In 2009 alone, more than 600 motorcyclists were killed in the United States. Another 51,000 were injured in these motor-vehicle accidents.
A majority of these deaths occurred at non-intersections. More than 70 percent of these accidents happened during the daytime hours, between the hours of 4:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. The remaining fatalities happened during the nighttime hours. The average age of motorcyclists that were killed in 2009 was 41. This is a number that has seen a steady increase over the last 10 years. In 2009, Illinois witnessed 20 motorcyclist deaths.
The National Association of State Motorcycle Safety Administrators, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and the American Motorcyclist Association encourage riders to wear motorcycle helmets. These organizations do not oppose laws mandating such use by minors. The Scripps Survey Research Center at Ohio University concluded that, even of those riders who had previously ridden a motorcycle without a helmet, more than 60 percent favored state requirements for motorcycle helmet use.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident involving a motorcycle, contact the Chicago accident lawyers at Abels & Annes for a free case evaluation. Call (312) 924-7575 and speak to an attorney today.
More Blog Entries:
Decreasing numbers of motorcycle accidents could be good news for Chicago , Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog, April 25, 2011
Chicago woman killed in motorcycle accident on North Lake Shore Drive , Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog, October 11, 2010
Semi, taxi cab involved in pair of Chicago motorcycle accidents , Chicago Car Accident Lawyer Blog, August 24, 2010