Men and women who enjoy riding motorcycles in Indiana undoubtedly love the freedom and flexibility they provide. Unfortunately, however, motorcycles also come with risks of dangerous motorcycle collisions.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tracks the occurrence of both injuries and fatalities associated with motorcycle accidents. According to recently released data from the NHTSA, in 2014, injuries to motorcyclists increased by 4.5 percent. Approximately 88,000 motorcyclists were injured in 2013, and the NHTSA reported 92,000 motorcyclist injuries in 2014. Motorcyclists are about five times more likely to be injured than their counterparts in passenger cars as well.

Typically, younger riders suffer less severe injuries than older riders in accidents. This is due to a number of factors, including reduced vision and reaction times in older riders. Riders, age 60 and older, are two and a half times more likely to suffer from serious injuries than those aged 20 to 39.

Significantly, motorcyclists are also much more at risk for fatalities than their counterparts riding in vehicles, at approximately 26 times more likely to die in a crash than passenger car occupants. Furthermore, for every 100,000 registered motorcycles on the roads, 56 were involved in fatal crashes in 2013, which is significant when compared to the nine of every 100,000 passenger cars involved in fatal crashes. There is some good news from the NHTSA. Motorcycle fatalities declined by approximately 2.3 percent between 2013 and 2014, from 4,692 fatalities in 2013 to 4,586 in 2014.

An Indiana or Kentucky resident who has been injured in a motorcycle accident, or a family who has lost a loved one in a fatal motorcycle crash, may wish to consult with an attorney. Seeking attorney guidance may feel like an big step to take following an accident, but the help an attorney can provide an injured victim or the family of a deceased motorcyclist can be invaluable.

Source: III.org, "Motorcycle Crashes," accessed on July 29, 2016