Every year in the United States, there are between 35,000 and 45,000 traffic fatalities. This is at least true for recent decades, although previous decades did see spikes up into the 50,000s.
If you just look at motorcycles, the annual totals are much lower. For instance, there were 5,932 motorcycle fatalities in 2021. They only made up 14% of all of the fatalities on the road that year.
It’s more than you think
The problem with this is that 14% makes it sound as if motorcycles are not involved in a high amount of accidents. And they aren’t if you’re just looking at totals. Most accidents do involve cars and trucks.
However, far less than 14% of the traffic on the road at any given time is going to consist of motorcycles. This means that motorcyclists face disproportionate risks of passing away if they get involved in an accident. They make up a greater share of these fatalities than they should, considering the small size of the motorcycle population to begin with.
In fact, studies have found that someone on a motorcycle, when looking at fatality rates per mile traveled, was roughly 24 times as likely to pass away in a car accident. They also had injury risks that were roughly four times as high as people in traditional vehicles.
A study like this can help to show you how motorcyclists face such risks. Other drivers make mistakes, but it is often motorcyclists who are killed or injured. Those who are seriously injured in these accidents, or who tragically lose loved ones, need to make sure they know how to seek the proper amount of compensation that they deserve after the crash.