Motorcycle riders in the Los Angeles area will be glad to know that, if preliminary statistics from 2017 hold true, then California’s roads may be getting a little bit safer for them.
In 2016, 566 people in this state died because of fatal motorcycle crashes. In 2017, preliminary reports indicate that only 406 people died in motorcycle accidents. This made for an over 28 percent decrease in the number of deaths between the two years.
Across the country, 4,990 motorcycle riders died in 2017. This compares to 5,286 fatalities in 2016, which is a decrease of just over 5.5 percent. What this means is that California was well ahead of the curve if one judges the recent figures as an accurate indicator of how safe a state’s roads are for motorcyclists.
News about motorcycle safety was not all cheery, however. For example, the recent statistics showed that motorcyclists made up 14 percent of all vehicular traffic fatalities in 2016; in 1994, this number was under 6 percent. Mile per mile traveled, a motorcyclist is 28 times more likely to die than is the driver of either a passenger automobile or another vehicle. Such statistics suggest that California and the rest of the country have a way to go when it comes to keeping motorcyclists safe.
While there are of course some things motorcyclists can do to protect themselves, it’s also important to remember that not all deadly motorcycle accidents are the fault of the motorcyclist. For instance, many fatalities happen when a driver does not see a motorcyclist and either turns right in to him or her or makes it impossible for a motorcyclist to avoid a fall or a collision. In these sorts of circumstances, the victim’s family may be entitled to compensation.