Just How Dangerous are Cars Compared to Motorcycles?

Motorcycle drivers are 36 times more likely to be killed in an accident than other drivers on the road. Eighty percent of all motorcycle accidents involve injury or death, and the injuries are more traumatic than those of car accidents.

Motorcycle drivers, who aren’t wearing helmets, are more likely to receive facial lacerations, concussions, and skull fractures than other drivers. They are also more susceptible to breaking their pelvises, shoulders, and joints, and they are more likely to be thrown from their vehicle resulting in road rash, cuts, scrapes, and more broken bones.

Motorcyclists must obey all traffic laws. Thirty-seven percent of motorcycle accidents are caused by speeding. Twenty-one percent of all motorcycle accidents are caused by drivers with invalid licenses. Thirty-three percent of motorcycle accidents are caused by drunk drivers. Twenty-five percent of motorcycle accidents are caused when the driver hits an object and 75 percent of accidents are caused when the motorcycle impacts another car.

Motorcycle drivers need to be extra vigilant when riding their motorcycles as compared to riding in a car. Only 23 percent of car drivers are in fatal accidents. Only 14 percent of all car accidents involve motorists without a valid driver’s license, and only 20 percent of car accidents involve a fatality. Being vigilant means keeping an eye on the road and other vehicles, wearing the proper protective gear, and obeying all traffic laws.

Infographic presented by Sutliff & Stout: Houston Injury Attorneys.