|
< Back to Previous Page
Motorcycle Fatalities Are Up
While motorcycle fatalities are up for all age groups, motorcyclists 40 and older account for an alarming number of motorcycle fatalities. In the last 10 years, motorcycle fatalities have increased nearly 250 percent in the 40-and-older age group, and more than 350 percent in the 50-and-older age group.
Contact a Motorcycle Attorney Today!
Part of the reason for this increase in these “baby boomer” fatalities is the demographic shift of motorcycle riders and the increasing horsepower of the bikes they're riding. Two decades ago, the rider who pulled up next to you was probably about 24 years old and riding a small dirtbike or dual-purpose bike. Now, that rider is more likely to be about 40 years old, and riding a larger, more powerful cycle. In fact, research shows that in the last 10 years, there has been a decline in the purchase of motorcycles with under 500-cc engines. However, there has been a 60 percent increase in the purchase of 501-cc to 1,000-cc motorcycles, and more than a 125 percent increase in the purchase of bikes with 1,001- to 1,500-cc engines. And it's the older riders who are buying the majority of the larger bikes.
Other contributing crash factors can include inexperience; many older motorcyclists are returning to riding after years away from the sport, but they're relying on the skill sets they had when they were 20 years old, instead of taking a motorcycle safety refresher course. Older riders' eyesight, hearing and reflexes have also changed and these changes can have a direct impact on motorcyclists' riding ability. Increasing age also brings with it a greater degree of fragility so that in any given crash, an older motorcyclist may suffer more-severe injuries than a younger motorcyclist might, and these injuries usually take longer to recover from.
Contact a Motorcycle Attorney Today!
|
Motorcycle Accident Newsroom
