MyPhillyLawyer Assists Motorcycle Accident Survivors
July 31st, 2024
By Dean I Weitzman, Esq.
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Riding a motorcycle is addicting, exhilarating, cost-effective to operate, and yet deadly. Motorcycle crashes are responsible for a significant number of deaths and serious, life-altering injuries.
Motorcycles made up approximately 3 percent of all registered vehicles across the nation and accounted for 14.6 percent of all traffic deaths and 3.5 percent of all injuries in 2022. In 2021, Pennsylvania witnessed 217 motorcycle deaths.
Although this Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania, motorcycle accident happened in July 2022, an Allentown man was recently sentenced to 2 1/2 to 5 years in jail for the involuntary manslaughter of a motorcyclist and a 16-year-old schoolgirl.
The collision happened on MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township, 48 miles north of Philadelphia. Involuntary manslaughter is a first-degree misdemeanor. The crash deaths were the result of two motorcycles racing side by side at speeds up to 80 mph in a 40 mph zone. It also involved a passenger vehicle. Bikers are 28 times more likely to die in a fatal crash and four times as likely to sustain an injury in a collision.
The federal government estimates the number of motorcycle deaths in 2021 was nearly 24 times the number in cars. In 2021, 6,084 motorcyclists died, the highest number recorded and a 21 percent increase since 2019. Motorcycle fatalities accounted for 14 percent of all motor vehicle crash deaths in 2021, and 83,000 motorcycle riders sustained injuries.
Often not talked about is the engine size of the motorcycles involved in crashes, which has increased dramatically over the years. In 2021, 34 percent of bikers killed while riding were driving bikes with engine sizes larger than 1,400 cc, compared to 9 percent in 2000 and under 1 percent in 1990.
Other relevant statistics from 2021 that outline how deadly motorcycles are at any time of year relate to what season bikers had the highest death tolls. Fifty-nine percent were killed between May and September, with deaths hitting an all-time high in June and the lowest number of accidents in February. Most of the deaths happened over a weekend, and typically after 6 p.m. Another grim statistic indicates that over one-third of motorcycle crashes, or 36 percent, involve unlicensed, untrained riders.
2021 was a deadly year for motorcycle riders. There were 5,932 riders killed, the highest number of deaths by riding since the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) started tracking statistics in 1975.
Not all motorcycle crashes are fatal. Some leave the rider and/or passenger with serious, life-altering injuries. At MyPhillyLawyer, we have experience handling cases like this and know how to assist you through one of the worst times of your life. We understand the pain, fear, and concern for your future and work closely with you to seek fair and equitable compensation for your injuries.
Contact MyPhillyLawyer for Representation
Contact MyPhillyLawyer for a free evaluation of your claim. Our Philadelphia law firm recovers millions of dollars annually for clients. We seek compensation for all types of injuries and wrongful death caused by vehicle accidents, medical negligence, and birth injuries, on-the-job accidents and work-related injuries, accidents caused by dangerous conditions, medication errors, and elder abuse, and injuries caused by dangerous products.
Contact our Philadelphia law firm if you have been injured in Pennsylvania and need legal representation. Learn about your eligibility to file a claim against the negligent party who caused your injuries and losses.