May Is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month: What Every Rider and Driver Needs to Know
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, a national observance dedicated to raising awareness about the unique dangers motorcyclists face on the road and encouraging all drivers to share the road responsibly. As warmer weather arrives and more riders take to the highway, it is a timely reminder that motorcycle accidents can be life-altering, and that injured riders have legal rights worth protecting.
At the Law Offices of Frederick W. Nessler and Associates, we have protected the rights of injured motorcycle drivers and their families for over three decades. We have won millions of dollars in compensation for our clients, and we are ready to fight for you.
Why Motorcyclists Face Greater Risk
The physics of motorcycle accidents are fundamentally different from other traffic collisions. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average passenger vehicle weighs approximately 4,156 pounds, while the average motorcycle weighs around 700 pounds. That disparity in mass means that when a car and a motorcycle collide, the motorcyclist absorbs the overwhelming force of the impact.
Motorcycles also provide no external frame to absorb a crash. There is no airbag, no crumple zone, and no protective cabin. Riders are exposed to the full force of any collision, the road surface, and surrounding debris. As the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety notes, Illinois does not require motorcycle riders to wear helmets, and riders who choose not to wear one face a 40 percent greater risk of a fatal head injury in a crash.
These factors combine to make motorcycle accidents among the most severe traffic incidents on the road. According to Illinois Department of Transportation fatal crash data, fatality rates among Illinois motorcyclists have risen steadily since 2018. In 2020 alone, 2,404 riders sustained injuries in motorcycle crashes across the state, and 152 motorcyclists lost their lives.
Common Causes of Motorcycle Accidents
The majority of motorcycle accidents are caused by the negligence of other drivers, not the riders themselves. The most common causes include:
- Drivers failing to see motorcycles: Motorcycles have a small profile, and drivers frequently overlook them when turning left, changing lanes, or merging. This is one of the leading causes of serious collisions.
- Speeding: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding is a contributing factor in nearly 29 percent of all traffic fatalities in the United States. Higher speeds reduce reaction time and dramatically increase the severity of any impact.
- Tailgating: Following too closely leaves a driver no room to stop if a motorcycle suddenly slows. According to NHTSA data, rear-end collisions account for 7 percent of motorcycle deaths.
- Distracted driving: Drivers who eat, text, talk on the phone, or engage in other distracting activities are significantly more dangerous to motorcyclists. Distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in 2020, according to NHTSA.
- Impaired and fatigued driving: Alcohol and fatigue impair a driver's vision, concentration, and reaction time, making it far more likely they will fail to notice a motorcycle in their path.
- Aggressive driving: Weaving through traffic, running stop signs, and improper passing put motorcyclists at serious risk of being cut off or forced off the road.
Injuries Motorcycle Accident Victims Commonly Face
Motorcycle accident injuries are often severe and long-lasting. Victims frequently sustain traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, severe burns from engine contact, internal organ injuries, deep lacerations, road rash, and in the most tragic cases, limb amputation. Many of these injuries require extensive and ongoing medical treatment, significant time away from work, and major adjustments to daily life.
Beyond the physical toll, the financial consequences of a serious motorcycle accident can be overwhelming. Medical bills, lost wages, and the cost of long-term care add up quickly, often before a victim has had any opportunity to recover.
What Compensation Can You Pursue?
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident caused by another driver's negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for both your economic and non-economic losses.
Economic damages can include medical bills, ongoing treatment costs, lost wages, lost earning capacity, property damage, necessary medical equipment, prosthetic limbs, and out-of-pocket expenses such as medication and home modifications.
Non-economic damages can include physical pain, emotional distress, psychological injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder, loss of enjoyment of life, decreased quality of life, and permanent injury or disability.
One important consideration for riders: an insurance adjuster may attempt to assign partial fault to you in order to reduce the settlement offer. Having an experienced motorcycle accident attorney in your corner helps ensure that the evidence is presented accurately and that your rights are fully protected.
How Nessler and Associates Can Help
The motorcycle accident attorneys at Nessler and Associates understand the challenges riders face, not only in recovering from their injuries, but in fighting for fair compensation against insurance companies that often assume motorcycle riders share blame for accidents they did not cause. We know how to counter those tactics, and we work with expert witnesses to build the strongest possible case on your behalf.
We handle motorcycle accident cases across the country, including Illinois, Florida, Texas, and beyond. Wherever your accident occurred, our team is ready to review your case, explain your options, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
We pride ourselves on clear communication and answer calls and emails promptly. You will never be left wondering about the status of your case.
This Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, we encourage every driver to slow down, check their mirrors, and share the road. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident, do not wait to get the legal help you deserve.
Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation
Phone: (800) 727-8010
Website: www.nesslerlaw.com
Free consultation. No fee until your case is settled or won.
By Blake Schaefer, Senior Director of Marketing
The Law Offices of Frederick W. Nessler and Associates
