On Friday night just after 10 p.m., a 24-year old rider lost his life in a tragic, fatal motorcycle accident when he lost control of his Yamaha YZF bike on South Sergeant Macario Garcia Drive. He hit a concrete barrier and the impact ejected him from his Yamaha bike over an overpass barricade. The man fell 30 feet from the Houston Ship Channel Bridge overpass to his death. (Source: Brian Rogers, Houston Chronicle, 4/27/13) The hearts and prayers of our Pearland motorcycle accident attorneys are with the man’s friends and family at this time.
Unfortunately, that man’s death was not an isolated incident nor a freak accident. Motorcyclists face a higher risk of death from collision with a fixed object in part due to the danger of being ejected from their bikes. They don’t have seatbelts, and they’re not enclosed in their vehicles. And if they’re not wearing helmets, their risk of a fatal accident goes up by as much as 60%.
Motorcycles are the Most Dangerous Vehicles to Drive
U.S. NHTSA data shows that year after year, an average of 25% of fatal motorcycle accidents occur when the rider has a collision with a fixed object such as a concrete barrier, a tree, fallen cargo, stalled or parked cars, an unlit truck trailer, or a pole. IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) data reveals that more than half of all vehicle collisions with fixed objects happen at night. At night, our Pearland motorcycle accident attorneys emphasize that drivers are less likely to be able to see obstacles in their path until it’s too late to avoid a crash.
Statistically, motorcycles are by far the most dangerous vehicles to drive. They make up only around 3% of all registered vehicles in the United States, but account for about 15% of all fatal accidents. The Pearland motorcycle accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC understand that the risk and the danger of riding motorcycles provide part of their allure for some riders. Click the link to learn more about your risk of a fatal accident from a collision with a fixed object.