Tennessee Motorcycle accidents

Many people are surprised to learn that most motorcycle accidents are usually caused by the negligence of another motor vehicle. In fact, there are studies that maintain that over 80% of multi-vehicle accidents involving motorcycles are caused by the negligence of the driver of an automobile. Often, this occurs because motorcycles can stop much faster than cars and are thus more likely be rear-ended by a negligent driver following too closely or not paying attention.

Motorcycle accidents also occur when the driver of an automobile fails to yield the right of way. Regrettably, motorcycle accident victims are 21 times more likely to die than personal injury victims in a passenger car or truck. In an average year, 166,000 Americans will be hospitalized as a result of a motorcycle accident of which 4,700 will die. Per registered vehicle, the fatality rate for motorcyclists in 2004 was 4.1 times the fatality rate for passenger car occupants.

Statistical trends show that the costs in lives and injuries may be getting worse. In 1997, about 5 percent of the total number of traffic fatalities involved motorcycles; in the 2004 motorcycles accidents accounted for about 9 percent of the 42,800 traffic fatalities.