The Most Dangerous Time to Ride a Motorcycle

Philadelphia Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorney

The majority of fatal motorcycle accidents happen during the day, and almost all occur when it’s not raining. If you’re a motorcycle rider, you should not be complacent just because visibility and road conditions may be good. You could be seriously injured in a motorcycle accident on even the nicest days. The most dangerous times to ride a motorcycle are when traffic is the heaviest and when more people on the road are driving while impaired.

For more than half a century, the attorneys at Raynes & Lawn have fought for life-changing results for people who were injured in motorcycle accidents. We are committed to holding negligent drivers responsible for the harm they have caused our clients. If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a motorcycle crash, the Raynes & Lawn lawyers can help you get the financial compensation you need to pay the expenses you have stemming from the injury and to help compensate for your losses, including lost income. You may also be eligible for compensation for your pain and suffering and other losses that affect the quality of your life. Contact the experienced personal injury trial attorneys at Raynes & Lawn to find out how we can help you get all the financial compensation that the law provides.

Most Fatal Motorcycle Accidents Happen During Daylight

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that 59% of fatal motorcycle accidents take place during daylight. Only 37% take place in the dark. A small number take place at dawn and dusk — 1% at dawn and 4% at dusk.

One in Five Fatal Motorcycle Accidents Takes Place From 6 to 9 P.M.

Statistics reported by the Insurance Information Institute show that 21.1% of fatal motorcycle accidents take place in the evening from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The next most common times for fatal motorcycle crashes are from noon to 3:00 p.m., when 15.8% occur, and from 9:00 p.m. to midnight, when 14.5% happen. The time when the least amount of fatal motorcycle accidents happen is between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m., when only 3.9% of all fatal accidents take place.

Considering both weekday and weekend accidents, the time slot that had the most fatal motorcycle accidents was 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. on weekends. The time with the least fatal accidents was 3:00 to 6:00 a.m. on weekdays.

Fatal Motorcycle Accidents Happen About as Often on Weekends as on Weekdays

The NHTSA data shows that about half the fatal motorcycle crashes take place on a weekday and half on the weekend. In 2018, there were 2,578 motorcycle fatalities on weekdays and 2,397 on weekends. However, because there are more weekday hours than weekend hours, the number of fatal motorcycle accidents is actually 1.7 times higher per hour on weekends than on weekdays.

Motorcycle riders aged 40 to 49 were slightly more likely to have fatal accidents on the weekends. All other age groups were more likely to have fatal accidents on weekdays, although the difference was not large. The age group with the most fatal accidents overall was the 50+ group, followed by the group of riders under 30.

Weather Conditions and Fatal Motorcycle Accidents

The vast majority of fatal motorcycle accidents happen when the weather is clear or cloudy. Only 3% take place in the rain and only 1% in the fog.

Motorcycle Accidents Are More Common in the Summer

Most motorcycle accidents happen during June, July, and August, according to data from Progressive Insurance, which found that the number of claims was 78% higher in July than the average of all other months. Summer Saturdays are particularly dangerous.

What Do the Statistics Tell Us About When Motorcycle Crashes Happen?

• Serious motorcycle accidents are most likely in the evening, when there is a lot of traffic, and least likely in the wee hours of the morning, when the roads are the emptiest.
• Weekend evenings have the worst fatal motorcycle accident rate, when more people on the road are likely to be driving while impaired.
• The number of serious motorcycle accidents is lower during the night than during the day and much lower when it’s raining than when it’s not, probably because traffic is lighter at night and in the rain.

Overall, the numbers show that the most dangerous times to ride a motorcycle are when traffic is the heaviest and when drivers are more likely to have been drinking. Serious motorcycle accidents, however, can happen at any time. If you or a loved one were injured in a motorcycle accident, the experienced accident lawyers at Raynes & Lawn can give you the help you need to get fair financial compensation.

How to Be Safer While Riding a Motorcycle

There are simple steps motorcycle riders can take to increase their safety:

• Wear a helmet. This will greatly reduce your risk of dying or being injured in a motorcycle crash. The fatality rate is 73% lower for motorcycle riders wearing helmets. The risk of severe injury is 85% less. Motorcycle riders without helmets are three times more likely to suffer a brain injury than those wearing helmets.
• Don’t drink and ride. In 39% of single-vehicle fatal motorcycle crashes and 18% of multiple-vehicle motorcycle crashes, the motorcycle driver was impaired by alcohol.
• Wear clothing that can protect you if you are thrown from your bike.
• Don’t ride in other drivers’ blind spots.
• Keep your motorcycle properly maintained.
• Don’t tailgate, don’t ride between lanes, and don’t weave through traffic.

Finding a Philadelphia Motorcycle Attorney Near Me

The personal injury lawyers at Raynes & Lawn understand how a serious injury disrupts the lives of motorcycle accident victims and their families. We stand up for our clients and fight to recover full compensation and to hold defendants responsible for the injuries they cause. For a free consultation with a Philadelphia motorcycle accident attorney, call us at (800) 535-1797 or fill out the contact form on our website. We will provide a case evaluation at no charge to help you understand your legal rights and options.

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