A study by NHTSA regarding motorcycle accidents provided the following insight into injury causation and preventability of motorcycle crashes.
The single largest factor in motorcycle accidents is that the automobile driver fails to detect or see the motorcycle in traffic. The lack of awareness that a motorcycle driver is even there combined with a lack of caution and awareness by the automobile driver is the leading cause of motorcycle accidents.
Without a doubt, injury severity goes up radically with increased speed. The higher the speed at which a motorcycle crashes the much greater potential for serious injury or wrongful death.
The lack of helmets accounts for the most severe injuries that are preventable. In Texas we have no mandatory helmet use by motorcycle riders.
The motorcycle safety training appears to provide effective ways to reduce the number of severe motorcycle accidents. The more training a motorcycle rider has the less likely he or she will be involved in an accident. The use of a helmet would further reduce the severe head injuries associated with many motorcycle accidents.
Greg Baumgartner is a Houston personal injury attorney and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping personal injury victims seek civil justice. If you would like to speak with a Houston motorcycle accident lawyer call the Baumgartner Law Firm at 281-587-1111.
