Motorcycle Accidents Totaled $16 Billion in Claims

In 34 years of practice, Carabin Shaw's team of experienced lawyers has helped countless motorcycle accident victims file claims against the negligent drivers responsible for their injuries. We have attorneys within the San Antonio region standing by to provide counsel and defense for motorcyclists affected by another driver's carelessness. If you or a loved one has been in a motorcycle accident in the San Antonio area, contact the lawyers at Carabin Shaw today.

The fact of the matter is that a motorcycle does not protect its rider in the same way a car's enclosure offers resistance for an automobile passenger in case of a collision. Even with protective outerwear like a helmet or riding jacket, there is no substantial buffer between rider and concrete after impact. The risk of harm increases dramatically if the collision happens at highway speeds; however, motorcycle accidents occur no matter the speed or circumstance. Even the open roads in a suburban setting such as San Antonio pose a threat for motorcyclists.

The number one cause of motorcycle accidents is other drivers' inability to notice motorcycles in their periphery, and in cases such as this, serious injuries can be sustained. Another person's inattentive driving could turn into your misfortune. You deserve to know your options moving forward. Fortunately, a Carabin Shaw San Antonio motorcycle accident lawyer is always there for you.

According to a Government Accountability Office report, motorcycle crashes cost roughly $16 billion in a single year in economic and comprehensive costs. The full cost is likely much higher than that figure, as long-term medical expenses and eventual repercussive costs are difficult to measure.

Motorcyclists are involved in fatal accidents at much higher rates than drivers of other types of vehicles. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, per vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists are roughly 22 times more likely to die in a crash than occupants of a passenger car. In a recent year, approximately 82,000 motorcyclists were injured nationwide. Government estimates have placed the average cost of a fatal motorcycle crash at about $1.2 million, while crashes producing only injuries ranged anywhere from a few thousand dollars to roughly $1.4 million, depending upon the severity of the claim. Ultimately, motorcycle crashes total billions of dollars in claims every year.

It is difficult to fully determine the entire cost of each claim with complete accuracy, as some types of supplemental costs and long-term figures are difficult to measure. Treating serious injuries following motorcycle accidents can be a long, expensive, and ongoing process, but oftentimes follow-up analyses of such costs are conducted for only a few years following the incident. The duration of these follow-ups is often disproportionate to the lengthy repercussions of the collision.

Additionally, many consequences of long-term injuries like changes in employment and living status cannot be fully aggregated. Laws requiring all motorists to wear helmets remain one of the only strategies proven effective in reducing fatalities and injuries. In fact, NHTSA estimates that helmets are about 37 percent effective at preventing fatal injuries to motorcycle riders (and about 41 percent effective for passengers). NHTSA has also estimated that helmets saved the lives of more than 1,870 motorcyclists in a recent year, including riders in San Antonio and the surrounding regions, and that hundreds of additional lives could have been saved if all riders had worn helmets. But helmet laws are difficult to enforce, and many riders still do not wear proper headgear.

The biking community and motorcycle groups have met the idea of "universal" helmet laws with strong opposition. Currently, 18 states and the District of Columbia have universal helmet laws requiring all riders to wear helmets. An additional 29 states have what are considered "partial" helmet laws that require only some motorcyclists to wear helmets -- usually riders under age 21 or, in some states, under 18. Three states, Illinois, Iowa, and New Hampshire, have no helmet law at all. Michigan repealed its universal helmet requirement for motorcyclists over the age of 21 in 2012, and other states have periodically considered similar repeals.

While many motorcycle groups do endorse the use of helmets, they also often oppose mandatory helmet laws as infringements on personal liberties and their right to assume the risk of riding without a helmet. The data, however, consistently show that in states without universal helmet laws, a far higher share of motorcyclists killed were not wearing helmets compared with states that require them.

It would certainly appear that mandatory helmet laws save lives, and the research strongly supports that conclusion. As the government figures show, motorcycle crashes cost billions in claims every year, and that toll continues to grow as more motorcycles take to the roads.

If you or someone you care about has been affected by a motorcycle accident, do not hesitate to contact a Carabin Shaw lawyer in San Antonio today. Our attorneys understand how to fight to obtain the compensation that you deserve. Call us today toll-free at 866-216-5248, day or night, for a free consultation.