These Illinois motorcycle accident statistics highlight how
frequently fatal motorcycle accidents occur in the state and,
in some cases, why they take place.
Last year, 148 motorcycle riders in Illinois were killed in traffic accidents, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation (DOT). While this represented a slight increase from the 145 motorcycle riders who died in traffic accidents in 2011, it continues the trend of motorcycle riders being one of the groups of motorists who are most likely to be killed when they are involved in traffic accidents. In fact, the Illinois DOT reports that motorcyclists account for more than 15 percent of all traffic accident deaths despite the fact that motorcycles only represent about 3 percent of all registered vehicles in the state of Illinois.
Additional Illinois motorcycle accident statistics as reported by the Illinois DOT are as follows:
- Motorcycle riders who are involved in accidents in the late afternoon hours (i.e., between about 3 pm and 6 pm) were twice as likely as other motorists to be operating their vehicles while intoxicated with alcohol.
- Between about 6 pm and 9 pm, approximately 24 percent of all fatal motorcycle accidents involved an intoxicated rider – as opposed to about 11 percent of all fatal car accidents involving drunk drivers.
Fatal Motorcycle Accidents
Some of the reasons that motorcycle riders have such a significant risk of death when they are in traffic accidents include that:
- Motorcycles offer little, if any, protection when they are involved in collisions with passenger cars, trucks or even fixed objects.
- This often results in riders absorbing the brunt of the impact with their bodies, which can cause significant injuries even if riders or other motorists were going at very low speeds prior to the collision.
- Illinois law currently does not require riders to wear safety helmets. When riders don’t wear safety helmets and are involved in accidents, their risk of sustaining serious head injuries and/or death increased by approximately 40 percent.
St. Louis Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
If you have been in a motorcycle accident or in any type of traffic accident that may have been caused by the negligence or recklessness of another driver, contact the St. Louis motorcycle accident lawyers at Brown & Brown Attorneys at Law. We have a long-standing commitment to serving our clients, and we are experienced at aggressively defending our clients’ rights in any legal setting. Our goal is to preserve and promote the rights and welfare of individuals and families who have suffered injuries and losses and/or who need help navigating through the complexities of the court system.
Since 1993, our lawyers have been successfully representing our clients in various areas of personal injury litigation, including motorcycle accident lawsuits. Our unwavering dedication to the pursuit of justice in every case we handle means that we will work relentlessly to help our clients achieve the best possible outcomes to their cases. One of our primary goals is to help accident victims secure the maximum possible compensation for their injuries and losses so they can focus on their recovery and moving on with their lives. For a free initial consult, email us using the form at the right-hand side of the screen and/or to call us at 573-333-3333 for our Missouri office or at 618-888-8888 for our Illinois office.