According to the findings of a new study, there may be a connection between the price of gas in the United States and the risk of motorcycle accident injuries. In a study published this month in the journal Injury Prevention, researchers from the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health examined data from California’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System on fatal and non-fatal motorcycle injuries occurring between 2002 and 2011. According to the report, the researchers found a correlation between higher gas prices and an increased rate of motorcycle accidents. If you have been injured in a motorcycle accident in Atlanta, Marietta, or elsewhere in GA, consult our personal injury lawyers at Rechtman & Spevak today to explore your compensation options.
Motorcycle Accident Injuries & Fatalities
Motorcycle accidents are a major concern in Georgia and throughout the United States, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 4,612 motorcycle riders were killed in 2011 alone, a two percent increase from 2010. In fact, statistics show that while motorcycles represent just two percent of all registered vehicles in the U.S., motorcycle fatalities account for about five percent of all traffic accident deaths each year. Because of their small profile and the limited protection they afford riders, motorcycles are 35 times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident on U.S. roadways than passenger cars, a statistic that has brought nationwide attention to the risk of serious injury or death motorcyclists face every time they hit the road.
Reducing the Risk of Motorcycle Accidents
“Motorcycle fatalities and severe and minor injuries in California were highly correlated with increasing gas prices from 2002 to 2011,” wrote lead researcher He Zhu in the final report. “In 2008, the number of fatalities and injuries reached 13,457 – a 34% increase since 2002, a time period in which inflation-adjusted gasoline prices increased about $0.30 per gallon every year.” Based on their findings, the researchers determined that rising gas prices accounted for 800 deaths and 10,290 injuries from motorcycle accidents in California during the nine-year period. “Aside from mandatory helmet laws and their enforcement, other strategies [to reduce the risk of motorcycle accidents] may include raising risk awareness of motorcyclists and investment in public transportation as an alternative transportation modality to motorcycling,” Zhu concluded.
Our Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Can Help
In addition to identifying the connection between rising gas prices and motorcycle accidents, the researchers also reported that more than 90% of those involved in the motorcycle accidents were men, nearly half were middle-aged, two-thirds were white, and one out of every five was uninsured. If you have suffered injuries in a serious motorcycle accident in Georgia, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal motorcycle wreck, contact our reputable attorneys at Rechtman & Spevak today for legal help. With our qualified motorcycle accident lawyers on your side, you may be able to file a personal injury or wrongful death suit against the person found at-fault in the accident, in order to pursue the compensation you deserve for your losses.
