Motorcycle Accidents Ticking Up in Oklahoma and Across the U.S.
Motorcycle accidents have been increasing over the past year, according to authorities, and the problem is getting worse. According to a recent article, in the past four months, there have been at least eight serious motorcycle accidents. With those numbers rising, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol wants to raise awareness to help keep everybody safe on the road.
According to OHP Lt. Mark Southall, motorcycle accidents have been an ongoing problem. He said he wants to see the number of accidents come down. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a 2022 report shows the number of motorcycle crashes has gone up across the nation. 15 percent of all traffic vehicle fatalities were motorcycle collision fatalities, which is very high considering that motorcycles make up 3 percent of all registered vehicles.
According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, in the State of Oklahoma, 80% of motorcycle accidents result in injury or death. Compared to cars, only 20% of crashes led to injury or death. The common causes of these motorcycle accidents were generally speeding and not paying attention.
When it came to single-vehicle motorcycle collisions, speed was the common factor. When it came to multi-vehicle collisions, commuters not being able to see the smaller vehicles accounted for a number of serious injuries and fatalities.
“Speed is a common factor that we see with single-vehicle motorcycle collisions. When we have multiple-vehicle collisions, people not seeing motorcycles is another cause for collisions,” Southall said. Southall said seeing the number of motorcycle accidents increase is saddening.
“I’ve been a witness to seeing motorcyclists kill other people inside cars and it’s a horrible thing to see. It’s a horrible thing to see anybody die anytime, whether it’s a motorcyclist or somebody inside of a car,” Southall said. Southall wants both car drivers and motorcycles to take precautions on the road so that innocent lives aren’t taken.
“We want them to enjoy that. We just want to make sure people do it safely and that other cars as well recognize that motorcycles are going to be here to stay and that they need to operate safely around motorcycles as well,” Southall said.
Southall touted OHP’s motorcycle safety course as a valuable resource for bikers who want to remain safe on their bikes. Southall urges all motorcyclists to use the resources available to them to help bring those numbers down and hopefully save some lives in the process.
Talk to a Tulsa, OK Motorcycle Accident Attorney Today
If you’ve been involved in an accident on your motorcycle and you know the accident isn’t your fault, your next call should be to Levinson Law, P.C. Our Tulsa personal injury lawyers have decades of experience handling accident claims with insurance companies and at-fault drivers. We can help you build the evidence necessary to prove your case, and recover damages related to your injuries. Call our office today to schedule an appointment, and learn more about how we can help.
Source:
fox23.com/news/ohp-stresses-motorcycle-safety-following-number-of-recent-crashes/article_45aba368-7538-11ef-b1df-67958003976e.html
