North Carolina motorists might be interested to hear that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advises all motorists to be on the look-out for motorcycles during the summer months. Amicable weather and favorable road conditions encourage more motorcyclists to come out and ride their bikes during the summer months than any other months. The administration says that with a rise in motorcycles in the road also comes a rise in potential danger.
According to a study that the NHTSA conducted city almost half of the motorcycle deaths that occurred in 1999 occurred in seven states, most of which have motorcycle season all year long. The states that don’t have it all year long at least have it for six months out of the year. Additionally, the NHTSA reported that 14 people were killed in motorcycle accidents in New Hampshire in 2011. New Hampshire is a state that doesn’t require motorcyclists to wear helmets, and 12 of the 14 people who died in motorcycle accidents that year were not wearing helmets.
However, in 2011, 36 people in Massachusetts died in motorcycle accidents, and only four of them weren’t wearing helmets. Additionally, the NHTSA study reported that more accidents occurred on rural roads than urban ones, a trend that differed from that of previous years. However, the NHTSA says that not all motorcycle accidents can be linked to motorists not seeing the motorcyclists. The study also revealed that 41 percent of the fatal accidents involved motorcyclists who were speeding.
People who are injured in motorcycle accidents could decide to file personal injury lawsuits against the motorists who were involved in accidents with them. Additionally, the family members of people who died in motorcycle accidents could decide to file wrongful death lawsuits against motorists. Personal injury attorneys might be able to help people prepare such claims.
Source: The Salem News, “Our view: As summer heats up, watch out for motorcycles”, June 26, 2013
