More than 11 percent of the people killed in traffic accidents in North Carolina in a recent year were motorcyclists.
Motorcyclists are more likely to sustain serious injuries or die in motor vehicle accidents because 1) they are not protected by an enclosed passenger compartment as car occupants are, and 2) because of their smaller size, other motorists are more likely to not notice the motorcycle before moving in front of it.
In North Carolina in 2021, there were 3,712 motorcycle accidents, of which 210 (5 percent) were fatal and 2,847 (77 percent) caused injuries, the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reports. Many of those collisions were caused by the drivers of passenger vehicles.
If you are a motorcycle rider or passenger who has been injured in an accident someone else caused, our experienced lawyers at Younce, Vtipil, Baznik & Banks in Raleigh, N.C. will do everything we can to help you put your life back together again. Our attorneys help people injured in North Carolina motorcycle accidents, and their families. Our knowledgeable attorneys are ready to review your motorcycle accident case and discuss your rights to get money for your losses.
Get started by setting up a free initial consultation to evaluate your legal options.
National Motorcycle Accident Statistics
Nationwide, 5,932 motorcyclists were killed in motorcycle accidents in the U.S. in 2021, representing 14 percent of all traffic fatalities, the National Highway Transportation Administration (NHTSA) reported.
In 2021 you were almost 24 times more likely to die if you were in an accident on a motorcycle than if you were in an accident in a passenger car, the NHTSA said.
According to the NHTSA:
- The 5,932 motorcyclists killed in accidents in 2021 was the highest number since the NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System started collecting data in 1975.
- The number of motorcyclist fatalities increased by 8 percent from 2020 to 2021.
- The 82,686 motorcyclists injured represented a 5 percent increase from 2020.
- Among the 6,082 motorcycles involved in fatal crashes, 3,471 (57%) were involved in collisions with other motor vehicles.
- 43 percent of motorcycle riders who died in single-vehicle crashes were alcohol-impaired.
- Motorcycle riders killed in crashes at night were found to be alcohol-impaired three times more often than those killed during the day.
- 33 percent of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes were speeding, compared to 22 percent for passenger car drivers, 15 percent for light-truck drivers, and 7 percent for large-truck drivers.
- 75 percent of motorcycles involved in fatal two-vehicle crashes were struck in the front. Only 8 percent were struck in the rear.
- In 43 percent of fatal two-vehicle motorcycle crashes, the other vehicle was turning left while the motorcycles were going straight, or overtaking other vehicles. In many instances, the automobile driver did not see the approaching motorcycle or misjudged the motorcycle’s speed and turned in front of the motorcyclist, making a collision unavoidable.
- In states with universal helmet laws (which includes North Carolina), 9 percent of motorcyclists killed in accidents were not wearing helmets. In states without helmet laws, 55 percent of motorcyclists killed in accidents were not wearing helmets.
