As the spring season arrives in West Virginia, many people are eager to get out on the open road on their motorcycles. Unfortunately, while enjoying this hobby and mode of transportation, bikers may encounter any number of dangers. From car doors opening in their paths to vehicles turning in front of them and more, motorcyclists can find themselves in harm’s way in the blink of an eye.
Sadly, records from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration point to a deadly trend for motorcyclists in West Virginia. In 2018, the most recent full year for which data is available, both the number of bikers killed in accidents and the percent of bikers relative to all vehicular fatalities increased. In 2017, a total of 26 motorcycle riders died in accidents, representing 8.5% of the state’s total accident deaths that year. In 2018, a total of 39 riders were killed in crashes, accounting for 13.2% of all vehicular fatalities.
Stereotypes would have people believe that the bikers who get into accidents are young and reckless. This, however, is not accurate. In each of the five years spanning from 2014 through 2018, fatalities among bikers in either their 50s or older outnumbered fatalities among bikers in their 20s. During that time, 27 people in their 20s died compared to 36 riders in their 50s and 32 riders in their 60s or older.
If you would like to learn more about how you can get the help you need after a motorcycle accident has happened, please feel free to visit the biker’s rights and assistance page of our West Virginia motorcycle accident and personal injury website.
