Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

In the 2008 fiscal year, 25 Marines were killed in motorcycle accidents on bases, 22 of them on sports bikes. This is according to the Naval Safety Center which gathers yearly statistics. It was the worst year for the bike-riding Marines so far and the first year in which more deaths occurred in bike crashes than in car crashes.

New Sanctions Allowed

Further, each of the past four years has been the deadliest so far. This is a trend. In response, the Corps has given more authority to non-commissioned officers over their junior enlisted Marines. Officers will now be able to deny requests for leave on the basis of any reckless behavior. There will be tougher penalties for traffic violations and a Marine's on-base driving privilege will be revocable. Riders will be required to wear helmets and reflective vests

More Training

Safety training is be mandatory at both basic and experienced-rider levels and there is a new safety course for sports bike riders. This was offered at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort this past summer. It teaches braking and cornering skills for riders of high-speed motorcycles. It is mandatory for all active-duty Marines if they want to keep their bike's base access sticker. There are three hours of class time plus five hours of ride time.

In motorcycle accident research studies, speed consistently comes up as a factor in fatal crashes. As documented in the November 7 blog in this space, Supersports motorcycles are far more often involved in motorcycle deaths than standards or cruisers.

Yet speed and the accompanying sense of freedom is a big part of the attractiveness of motorcycle riding. Hopefully a more educated type of speeding will reduce the loss of our Marines.

If you have lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident and would like to consult an experienced bike accident attorney, please contact the law firm of Pomerantz Perlberger & Lewis. They serve the Philadelphia area.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing highway accident losses – injuries, deaths and property damage. It works with a related organization, the Highway Loss Data Institute, which studies insurance data. Both are wholly supported by automobile insurers.

The IIHS has compiled 2005 statistics on motorcycle injuries and fatalities and classified them according to which type of bike was involved.

Supersports Motorcycles

These are racing bikes modified for street use, and are light weight with aerodynamic styling. They have more horsepower than other types, being able to travel as fast as 190 mph.

They are most popular with riders younger than 30.

• Riders of Supersports bikes sustain deaths nearly four times as often as riders of other types of bike.
• They made up nine percent of bike registrations in 2005.
• There were 22.5 rider deaths per 10,000 registered bikes.
• In contrast, there were only 10.7 deaths per 10,000 registered bikes for other sports models.
• Riders of supersports models sustained fatal injuries at the youngest average age (27 years) of all motorcycle types. In contrast, riders of other sports models were 34 years old on average.
• Speed was a factor in 57 percent of fatal accidents. In contrast speed was a factor in only 46 percent of fatal crashes involving other sports models.

Standards and Cruisers

These bikes with upright handlebars appear to be safer on the roads. In 2005 they constituted 51 percent of bike registrations.

• Standards tallied 5.7 rider deaths per 10,000 registered bikes
• Cruisers tallied 6.5 such deaths
• The average age of fatally injured riders was 44 years
• Speed was a factor in 27 percent of fatal crashes

Touring Bikes

Touring bikes appear to be the safest type and attract the oldest group of riders. The average age for accident deaths was 51 years in 2005. In those fatal crashes, speed was a factor in 22 percent.

Statistics like these are not necessarily predictive, but they are suggestive. If you recognize yourself in one of these categories, perhaps you could take some safety measures to try and lower your likelihood of being injured.

If you need an experienced motorcycle accident attorney and are in the Oklahoma City area, please contact Stipe Injury Law.