Three people were injured over the weekend in a crash involving two motorcycles and two cars, according to Massachusetts State Police.
Police stated that none of the injuries that the victims sustained were considering life-threatening, and that no citations were issued after the accident.
This is the second serious accident in less than one week to occur in New England. Last Monday a New Hampshire man suffered a serious head injury after he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed in Pelham.
Approximately 81,000 people were injured and 4,612 were killed in motorcycle accidents in 2011 in the United States; a 2% increase from the number in 2010 and a 41% increase from 2002. Motorcycle accidents account for an estimated 14% of the total number of motor-vehicle crashes in the United States annually, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated that per every vehicle mile traveled, motorcyclists are 30 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in an accident, and 5x more likely to be injured during an accident.
According to the NHTSA nearly half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve collisions with other motor vehicles. According to past data 75% occurred with the motor vehicle in front of the motorcycle. Fatal motorcycle accidents are most likely to occur with fixed objects, rather than collisions with other motor vehicles.
Speeding, rider inexperience, and alcohol use are the three main factors that contribute to the high risk of accident on a motorcycle, and according to the NHTSA, 35% of all motorcyclists involved in accidents in 2011 had been speeding before the crash. Inexperienced and un-licensed individuals made up 14% of those injured or killed in motorcycle accidents, and individuals who had had their licensed suspended previously were 1.4 times more likely to get into an accident compared to those with a passenger vehicle license revocation. Alcohol use is also a risk factor for fatal motor cycle accidents. The NHTSA estimated that about 29% of all motorcyclists were impaired by alcohol at the time of an accident. Riders aged 40-44 made up 38% of that group, respectively, followed by individuals ages 45-49 and 35-39 at 37%.
The NHTSA estimated that over 1,600 motorcyclists were saved by helmets in 2011, and that over 700 of those who were killed in collisions could have been saved, had they worn a helmet. Helmets are 37% effective in saving someone’s life during an accident. In other terms, for every 100 motorcyclists killed in accidents, 37 of those riders would have been saved if they had worn a helmet. Massachusetts has a mandatory helmet law that required both operators and passengers to always wear a helmet before getting onto a motorcycle. In 2011, 65% of those involved in accidents in states that did not mandate the use of helmets were killed because they were not wearing a helmet, versus only 9% of those killed who were riding without a helmet in a state that required a helmet.
As the weather continues to get warmer, more and more motorcyclists will be on the road. Whether you are traveling by motorcycle or in a passenger vehicle, it is incredibly important to not only be vigilant of your surroundings, but to ensure you are fully obeying the rules of the road by always wearing a helmet, obeying speed limits, and not consuming alcohol.
At the law offices of Altman & Altman we have been representing clients who’ve been injured in car and motorcycle accidents for nearly 50 years. Motorcycle accidents can lead to serious injuries that require extensive medical treatment and time away from work, given that motorcyclists have minimal protection and are highly vulnerable to being injured should they be involved in an accident. If you or a loved one was involved in a motorcycle collision, give one of our experienced Boston Car Accident Attorneys a call for a free consultation. Our lawyers are available around the clock and always available to answer any and all questions about your case.
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