Study Shows Negligent Driving Contributes to 37% of Motorcycle Crashes

Crash data from the GHSA (Governors Highway Safety Association) reveals that throughout the United States, motorcyclist traffic deaths increased by around 9% between 2011 and 2012. For example, our Houston motorcycle injury attorneys report that Maryland saw 61 fatal motorcycle collisions in the first 9 months of 2011 and 63 in the first nine months of 2012. A study in Frederick County, Maryland showed that that negligent driving was a factor in 37% of the motorcycle crashes. ​

By contrast, Texas, which has seen an alarming increase of 56% in the number of fatal motorcycle crashes since 2004, actually experienced a rare decrease of 6% in the number of fatal motorcycle crashes in 2012. Numbers were down to 460 in 2012 compared to 488 in 2011.

Sharp Increase in Fatal Motorcycle Crashes Leads to Government Concern

The Houston motorcycle injury attorneys at Denena Points, PC emphasize that the overall sharp increase in motorcyclist fatalities across the nation has led the federal government and state transportation authorities to focus on the causes of motorcycle accidents and on ways to prevent them. An examination of these issues by the Frederick County Sheriff’s Office in Maryland found that negligent driving was a factor in 37% of motorcycle crashes. In Frederick County, 196 motorcycle crashes were reported between January 2008 and May 2013.

• Failure to pay attention was listed as a factor in 37% of the Frederick County accidents, making inattentive driving a leading cause of such accidents and the resulting serious injuries and deaths.
• Failure to maintain a single lane while driving was a factor in 30% of the accidents.
• Driving too fast for conditions contributed to 18% of the crashes.
• In Frederick County, the great majority of the accidents were single-vehicle crashes involving only the motorcycle. Only 28% of the County’s motorcycle accidents were collisions with another vehicle.
• Most of the motorcycle accidents occurred in daylight between 5:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
• Half of the motorcycle crashes happened on the weekend.

Why are the Numbers of Fatal Motorcycle Collisions Rising Nationwide?

The Frederick County Sheriff’s Office, similarly to TxDOT, concluded that the reasons might be warmer weather in combination with an improving economy and/or more people taking to motorcycles to save on gas expenses. Our Houston motorcycle injury attorneys note that these factors would lead to more motorcycles on the road. But the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M is concerned that crash data might be undercounting motorcycles and the involvement of other vehicles in their crashes.

Past studies have indicated that very often crashes reported as single-vehicle motorcycle accidents were actually caused by an enclosed vehicle cutting off the bike and then traveling on without stopping as the motorcycle crashed. And road debris and obstacles also cause 5% or more of motorcycle collisions.

Contact the Houston Motorcycle Injury Attorneys at Denena Points, PC for a FREE Legal Consultation after a Serious Crash Injury

Chad Points and Tony Denena have been helping injured motorcyclists and their family members successfully make full financial recoveries after their accidents for more than 14 years. They know motorcycle accidents, their causes, how to conduct thorough accident investigations, and how to build strong, successful cases. They could help you too.

Contact Chad and Tony at 713-807-9500 or fill out the online contact form to schedule your free, no obligation legal consultation to discuss your accident and evaluate your potential for a full financial recovery. The Texas Board Certified attorneys at Denena Points, PC never charge you attorneys’ fees unless they win your case for you.