Motorcyclists are a vulnerable group of drivers on Wisconsin roads. Motorcycles are much smaller than the cars and tractor-trailers with which they share the road, and motorcycles have fewer safety protections.

When a motorcyclist gets into an accident, injuries are likely to result. Moreover, motorcycle accident injuries tend to be severe among cyclists. The same cannot be said for drivers and riders of cars.

About Wisconsin Motorcycle Accidents

Riding on a motorcycle presents more risks than riding in cars. In fact, motorcyclists are 27 times more likely to die in an accident than car occupants. They are also six times more likely to be injured.

Despite the fact that motorcyclists are at greater risk for death or injury, they are not necessarily at fault when accidents occur. In fact, a National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) study from 2003 concluded that in 80 percent of accidents involving a motorcycle and a car, the motorcyclist was not at fault or was less at fault than the other driver.

Tips to Decrease the Likelihood of a Motorcycle Accident

Motorcycle riders know the look – the one that passenger car drivers give them. That shake of the head as your engine revs next to them, catching them off guard. They assume that, because you ride, you are somehow reckless, or that you are bound to experience an accident, simply because you do not drive a “sensible” vehicle. Mostly, they are wrong. However, they do have one thing right: you are more likely to experience a traffic accident. Sadly, that crash will most likely be caused by another driver.

Motorcycle Riders More Likely to Experience a Crash

Ride long enough and you could probably tell a dozen or so stories about the near-misses. Incidents where another driver did not see you coming and you had to lay your bike down, slam on your brakes, or maybe even skidded out of control. If you were lucky, these were minor occurrences that did not lead to injuries beyond a few scrapes and bruises. However, there are many who are not quite as lucky.

Although summer is over, many motorcycle enthusiasts still enjoy riding during the autumn months. Unfortunately, this also means there will be motorcycle accidents that may lead to serious injury or fatality. The causes of motorcycle crashes are mixed, but previous studies suggest that vehicle drivers – not motorcyclists – are most often responsible. If you are a motorcyclist, then understanding the most common causes may be able to help keep you safe. If you are a driver, then it is critical that you know how to effectively share the road with two-wheeled motorists; it could save a life.

Human Error Most Frequent Cause of Motorcycle Crashes

Generally, a motor vehicle accident is caused by environmental factors, human error, vehicle failure, or any combination of these three. When it comes to crashes that involve two-wheeled vehicles, an in-depth study from the Association of European Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM), the most common cause can be traced back to human error. In particular, the analysis of 921 motorcycle accidents found that the automobile driver (referred to in the study as the “other vehicles”) had been primarily responsible for the accident (just over half). In contrast, motorcyclists were found to be the primary cause of approximately 38 percent of the accidents.

Even with the protection of gloves, leathers, helmets, boots, and safety goggles, motorcycle riders are at an extremely high risk for serious injury. This is due, in part, to the lack of encasement around them. However, they are also at an increased risk because, more often than not, other drivers simply do not see motorcycle riders. What injuries are riders most likely to sustain in a motorcycle accident? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) have both conducted studies to find the answer.

Most Common Non-Fatal Injuries

Based on hospital records of 1,222,000 motorcycle crash victims, the CDC’s study of non-fatal motorcycle crash injuries determined that the feet and legs of riders were most likely to be injured in a crash (30 percent of all injuries). However, in a very close second, injuries to the head and neck accounted for 22 percent of injuries. This includes injuries like traumatic brain injury (TBI, also known as a concussion), paralysis, whiplash, and others. Injuries to the chest, back, shoulders, hips, arms, pelvis, and other areas of the body made up the remainder of non-fatal injuries sustained by riders.