In New York City, parking and maneuvering in traffic can be considerably easier on a motorcycle or a moped than in a car. Many New Yorkers ride motorcycles, and many of them are injured each year in motorcycle crashes. The Queens motorcycle accident lawyers at Sullivan and Galleshaw discuss some motorcycle safety statistics and tips for New Yorkers. If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle crash in Queens or anywhere in NYC, contact our law offices today to discuss your options for filing an injury claim.
Motorcycle Crash Statistics in NYC
Across the country, motorcycle accidents and injury rates have remained relatively steady for many years. The Insurance Information Institute (III) reports that the motorcycle fatality rate (per 100 million miles traveled) was 24.18 in 2007 – and in 2016, the most recent year they report, that rate is 25.85. Over this period, there was an average rate of 24.14, and the rate did not fluctuate more than 2.68 up or down. This shows that over the years there has not been a marked improvement or change in the rate of fatal motorcycle accidents.
From 2012 to 2014, the New York State Department of Health studied accident rates and fatalities for all New York car accidents and motorcycle accidents. Each year had an average of 141 motorcycle-related deaths. This is an overall rate of 0.7 deaths per 100,000 New Yorkers, which is far lower than the car accident fatality rate of 5.6 per 100,000 or the pedestrian accident fatality rate of 1.6 per 100,000 residents. This rate is, however, higher than the rate for bicycle accident deaths, which is 0.2 deaths per 100,000. These statistics also show an average of 1,558 hospitalizations per year and 4,458 visits to the emergency room each year.
The fatality rates in New York for motorcyclists “were highest for males and New Yorkers ages 20-44,” according to these statistics. Hospitalizations and ER visits are also most common for males, but hospitalizations most affect those aged 15-19. The rate for ER visits is highest for 20-24-year-olds.
Statistics for Motorcycle Safety in New York
One of the most important things you can do to keep safe on a motorcycle is wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet can help protect your head from skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries, which are one of the most deadly and life-changing injuries you can face in a motorcycle crash. The III reports that in the year 2000, around 71% of Americans reported that they wear helmets while riding a motorcycle. This statistic dropped off by 2005 with only 48% of riders reporting helmet use. Fortunately, this has continued to rise to 65% in 2017, the most recent year reported.
Most accidents happen in the daytime during commuting hours. Rush hour in New York City is a dangerous time to be on the road for both cars and motorcyclists. Around 23.7% of all fatal, weekday motorcycle accidents occur between 3 and 6 pm according to III stats. In contrast, on weekends it is most dangerous to ride between 6 and 9 pm. These same timeframes are also the most dangerous for accidents that only cause injury instead of wrongful death.
Motorcyclists involved in drunk driving accidents are killed around 30% of the time. This is lower than the nearly 5% of motorcyclists that are killed in motorcycle accidents, overall. This makes drunk driving – either by the motorcyclist or the other vehicle’s driver – a significant risk factor in turning an accident into a deadly accident.
Suing for Motorcycle Accidents in NYC
If you were injured in a motorcycle accident or a loved one was killed in a motorcycle crash, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit to seek compensation. New York’s no-fault auto insurance rules often keep cases out of court after car accidents and motorcycle accidents, but sufficiently severe or costly injuries can go to court instead. Any accident that caused death can also go to court for compensation.
When you seek compensation for your injuries, the main areas of concern are damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you suffered serious injuries during the crash, your medical bills may be quite high. Your ability to return to work depends on how long your recovery takes and whether you faced any permanent injuries that might reduce your earning capacity going forward. You can claim damages for both past and future lost wages.
In New York, you can also claim damages for pain and suffering if you take your motorcycle accident case to court. Auto insurance policies will typically block damages for pain and suffering, but filing a lawsuit allows you to claim potentially high pain and suffering since there is no cap or limitation on these damages under NY Law.
Queens Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Offering Free Legal Consultations
If you or a loved one was injured in a motorcycle accident in New York City, call the New York City personal injury lawyers at Sullivan and Galleshaw today. Our lawyers offer free consultations to help you understand your options for pursuing compensation and how much your case might be worth. You may have a limited time to file your case, so call our law offices as soon as you can to discuss your case. To set up a free consultation with our lawyers, call us today at (718) 843-0300.