Motorcycle Accident Statistics in Los Angeles
One of the more common reports in the offices of a motorcycle accident attorney: “The motorcycle was advancing straight ahead, the car made a left hand turn in front of the oncoming motorcycle. Crash.” It helps to start with a closer look at the trends and statistics of motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles, with the intention of promoting safer conditions, and understanding what to do when things on the road do not go as planned.
With the Highway Safety Act of 1970, the Executive Branch of the government unveiled the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an entity “dedicated to achieving the highest standards of excellence in motor vehicle and highway safety. It works daily to help prevent crashes and their attendant costs, both human and financial.” The NHTSA had a hand in supporting the Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures (aka The Hurt Report), along with subsequent studies that have aided in gathering statistical data.
Perhaps the most noteworthy statistic from the study involves miscommunication and the right of way. The study states that in accidents between motorcycles and vehicles, the driver of the vehicle violated the motorcycle’s right of way and caused the crash in 2/3 of the cases. Where drivers forget to make the effort to cautiously look for motorcyclists, accidents abound.
The data also revealed that “the use of the safety helmet is the single-most critical factor in the prevention or reduction of head injuries.” Beyond head safety, using face coverings reduced face injuries. And eye protection is also important as the report revealed that 73% of the accident-involved motorcycle riders not using eye protection incurred some impairment of their vision.
Additional weighty factors contributing to the more common motorcycle accident stats include:
Because many of these causes are common and recurring, identifying the correct cause of the accident will be important when filing a police report, consulting with a motorcycle accident attorney, and most importantly, learning from our common errors and improving our track record with motorcyclists and the roads we share.
If you have been the unfortunate victim of a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles or Pasadena, contact Andrew Ritholz for more information today.
