Not everyone realizes what a big deal vehicle accidents are. Every year, people in the United States get involved in tens of thousands of fatal motor vehicle crashes. Of course, there are many more accidents than that, though most of them are not fatal.
These accidents are split between motorcycles and cars. Although both suffer accidents, they tend to manage them in different ways. When you compare motorcycle vs car accident outcomes, you see that motorcycles have certain disadvantages.
On top of that, there are a few different things that you will want to do after a motorcycle accident relative to a car accident.
So what is going on with motorcycle and car accidents, and how are they different? Read on to learn all about the most important things to understand about how motorcycle and car accidents differ from each other!
The Motorcycle Accident Guide to Motorcycle Vulnerabilities
As we have already mentioned, motorcycles come with certain disadvantages when it comes to accidents. Most motorcycle users understand this. There is a certain trade-off between safety and freedom.
All of the things that make motorcycles less restricted also make them less safe. For example, motorcycles have two wheels instead of four.
With four wheels, you can put the center of weight of the vehicle anywhere within the large rectangle between the four corners of the tires. As long as you have the center of weight of the vehicle within that large rectangle, the vehicle will not flip.
The same principle applies to motorcycles, but in a different way. When it comes to motorcycles, the center of the weight of the vehicle and the rider has to sit between the two corners of the two wheels of the motorcycle.
When you compare that tiny area of space to the larger rectangular space of a car, you can appreciate why it is so much easier to tip a motorcycle over than a car.
That increases the probability that people riding motorcycles will get into accidents in the first place. However, when they do get into an accident, they have to deal with the outcomes of the other disadvantages of motorcycles.
Not every motorcycle rider chooses to wear a helmet. This is another instance of the trade-off between safety and lack of restriction. As enjoyable as it can be to enjoy the wind in your face, there is a price and safety that you pay for it.
In contrast, most people in car accidents stay in their seats after the accident.
Lack of Safety Equipment
A combination of seat belts and airbags protects people who drive in cars. Without these, motorcyclists tend to fall off their bikes more often. That means that they often end up battering against the hard road.
You can also keep in mind that even if a motorcyclist does not fall off their bike, there is a good chance that their bike will fall over and trap one of their legs if they remain on it. That is why the prevalence of leg injuries is higher for motorcyclists compared to drivers.
What Does This Mean About Motorcycle Accident Outcomes?
The end result is that motorcyclists tend to fare worse in accidents. On top of that, there are certain injuries that motorcyclists tend to display that people who drive cars do not.
For example, it is much more common for a motorcyclist to end up with a spinal cord or brain injury. These kinds of injuries require long amounts of time to recover from.
It is also unfortunate to realize that many people perceive motorcyclists as reckless. However much a motorcyclist might be taking a chance with their own safety when they ride a motorcycle, that does not mean that they are responsible for accidents that occur. However, some people tend to conflate these two things.
And the effect of this goes beyond being less sympathetic to someone who has been in an accident. Even in court, motorcyclists may have a harder time convincing people that they were driving on the road appropriately and were not responsible for the accident.
Statistics About Motorcycle and Car Accidents
Motorcycle accidents lead to death about 30 times as often as car accidents. The odds of fatality go up even higher if the motorcycle rider is younger. In fact, the younger the person riding the motorcycle is, the higher the chance that they will end up in an accident and the higher the chance that the accident will be fatal.
Most car accidents end up mild without any serious injuries at all. However, about one out of every 12 motorcycle accidents leads to injury or death. On top of that, they are more likely to get into accidents in the first place.
Despite the fact that motorcycles make up only about 2% of the vehicles on the road, they are involved in about 5% of all highway fatalities.
Consider Hiring a Vehicle or a Car Accident Lawyer
After a motorcycle accident, it is important to find someone with a lot of experience with motorcycle accident cases to help you. Check out this rideshare lawyer for someone who has helped many people in car and motorcycle accidents achieve acceptable outcomes.
You can also look at reviews and ratings online to find out which lawyer satisfies their clients the most
Understand the Differences Between a Motorcycle vs Car Accident
The more you understand the differences between a motorcycle vs car accident, the better you will be able to adjust your behavior after an accident. After a motorcycle accident, it is better to find a lawyer who specializes in motorcycle cases. The same basic principle applies if you have been involved in a car accident instead.
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