All Motorcycle Drivers Can Be Severely Injured in an Accident

Despite the known risks of riding a motorcycle, these bikes aren’t going anywhere any time soon. The unequaled freedom during a ride is exhilarating for so many Americans. Avid riders and those who are enticed to learn aren’t phased by the proven risk for death and injury in motorcycle crashes. 

While all drivers must be cognizant of their environment and the driving behavior or others around them, motorcyclists must be extra vigilant. A motorcycle’s smaller size makes them less visible to other drivers, and it is often difficult for other drivers to tell how fast a motorcycle is approaching when they are making a lane change or other movement on the road. If a driver is impaired, it is significantly more dangerous for motorcyclists because there the driver has much less alert and attentiveness while driving. Unfortunately for motorcyclists, the results of an accident are most often severe and devastating.

Veteran Drivers are Also at High Risk on the Road

Even the most experienced drivers are at risk for serious accidents on the road. While it is extremely important to take training courses so you can learn how to ride a motorcycle and be confident on the road, those with many years experience are not immune from an accident. All it takes is for one driver to miss you coming up in the lane next to them or to even drift a bit out of their lane and into the next and a motorcyclist can go flying off of their bike, facing serious health outcomes.

The Insurance Information Institute reports that in 2017 there were 8,715,204 motorcycles registered in the country. That year there were 5,172 motorcyclist crash deaths. The majority of vehicles on the road are not motorcycles. Motorcycles are approximately 3% of all registered vehicles and they travel about .6% of all vehicle miles traveled throughout the country every year. Yet, in 2017, they made up 14% of all traffic fatalities. Motorcyclists also disproportionately affect males. Men tend to be the majority purchaser and riders of these bikes and in 2017, 91% of all those who died on their motorcycles were male.

How Can You Ride a Motorcycle in Arizona?

You will need to pass a special exam to obtain a motorcycle license which is different than that of a driver’s license for a car in the state of Arizona. Drivers must be at least 16 years of age to apply. Any driver who is under the age of 18 must have had an Arizona instruction permit for a minimum of 6 months and that permit must be valid when the individual is applying. Drivers must complete an approved motorcycle driver education program or parents and guardians must certify in writing that the driver had 30 hours of practice completed at the time of the application.

Arizona Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Have you been injured in an Arizona motorcycle accident that was not your fault? The experienced bilingual team of Spanish-speaking Arizona serious injury lawyers at ELG will instruct you on your options for obtaining compensation. At ELG, our Phoenix motorcycle accident injury attorneys are dedicated to fighting hard so we can obtain the most compensation possible for you.

Call ELG today at (623) 877-3600 to set up your free consultation at either of our locations in Phoenix and Mesa, Arizona.