A tragic crash took the life of an Auburn teen when he ran his motorcycle into a tree, according to the California Highway Patrol. Joshua Lewis, 17, was riding west on Taylor Road between Loomis and Newcastle when he lost control on a curve, crossed into the eastbound lanes and off the road where he struck a tree. He was transported to a local medical center but died of his injuries a short time later.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the rate of fatal crashes for motorcycle riders is 72 per 100,000 registered motorcycles, nearly six times the fatality rate for the number of registered cars. Per vehicle mile, a motorcycle rider is 35 times more likely to be killed than an occupant in a passenger vehicle.
Why is there such a huge statistical difference in the death rate for motorcycle riders and that of car occupants? The primary reason is simply physical reality. A car’s occupants have several safety features between them and a fatal crash, including air bags, seat belts and the car itself which can absorb a great deal of shock. The fact is that a motorcycle rider has little to no protection beyond a helmet that may not offer any help when the rider is traveling at a relatively high rate of speed.
The statistics for motorcycle accidents and deaths are chilling when one realizes that motorcycles represent such a small percentage of vehicles on the road for such a high number of deaths. According to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 435 people killed on motorcycles and 10,723 injured in California in 2011, representing 11.4 percent of all fatalities and four percent of all injuries in vehicle accidents that year. In at least 37 percent of these accidents, another driver was at fault.
What Should I Do If I Am The Victim of a Motorcycle Crash?
If you are the victim of a motorcycle crash, you may be entitled to payment of compensation from the person responsible for your accident. A personal injury attorney may be able to help you file a lawsuit and collect monetary damages for your pain and suffering, your medical bills and lost wages and any other expenses associated with your motorcycle crash.
