Motorcyclists have long been considered the daredevils of the road. While there is some truth to that, the fact is that motorcyclists are also incredibly vulnerable to injury and death in accidents. If you're a motorcyclist, it's crucial to know that drinking and operating your motorcycle can be particularly dangerous.
In this article, we'll take a closer look at why drinking is so risky for motorcyclists.
Alcohol Impairment Is One of the Top Contributing Factors in Motorcycle Accidents
As many people are well aware, alcohol and operating a vehicle are a recipe for disaster. Drinking before driving any type of motor vehicle can significantly increase your risk of a crash. Studies show that alcohol is a risk factor that weighs even more heavily in motorcycle crashes than other motor vehicle crashes.
Here is some eye-opening information from 2020, presented by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):
- 5,268 motorcyclists were killed in traffic crashes. Of those motorcycle operators, 27% were legally drunk (BAC of .08 g/dL or higher).
- When you look at the percentages of alcohol-impaired drivers involved in fatal crashes, motorcyclists had the highest percentage (27%) compared to passenger cars (23%) and light and large trucks (22%).
This means that over one-quarter of the motorcyclists killed in crashes were intoxicated at the time. Additionally, when fatal crashes occurred that involved alcohol-impaired drivers, the crashes were more likely to involve an alcohol-impaired motorcyclist than an alcohol-impaired car or truck driver.
Risk Factors Unique to Motorcyclists Increase Their Risk of Crashes and Injury
If you are involved in a crash while riding a motorcycle, you run a high risk of obtaining a catastrophic or fatal injury. If alcohol is in the mix, your risk of injury or death increases.
Motorcyclists can experience unique risk factors that may increase the likelihood of bodily harm:
- Helmet use (or lack thereof). Intoxicated motorcyclists typically use helmets less than sober riders, increasing the odds of injury and death.
- Little bodily protection. While a car or truck can provide a significant barrier during a collision, there isn't much that can protect a motorcyclist beyond thick clothes, a helmet, and a few other pieces of essential safety gear.
- Alcohol promotion. Many breweries market their beverages at venues and events targeted at motorcycle riders. Drinks at these locations tend to be easily accessible, increasing the danger of riding under the influence.
Contact Our Experienced Auto And Motorcycle Lawyers Today
If you have suffered a severe injury from a negligent driver, contact the experienced attorneys at Portner & Shure, P.A. for a consultation: (410) 995-1515. We are dedicated to helping our clients recover the compensation they deserve.
