respect motorcycles on the road

The Impact of Speeding on Motorcycle Crashes and Fatalities

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Across the board, motorcycle crashes are more severe than other types of vehicle collisions. This is due in large part to the limited amount of protection offered by motorcycles. Speeding is an incredibly common factor in motorcycle accidents, causing a significant number of collisions and making many collisions more severe.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a motorcycle collision, it’s time to find out if you’re entitled to compensation for your losses. The team at Reeves & Mestayer can help you figure out your next steps. Call us at 855-558-2977.

The Alarming Statistics

The statistics for motorcycle collisions show just how dangerous this mode of transportation is. There were 5,579 motorcyclist fatalities in 2020, per the NHTSA. Although motorcyclists make up a small number of total drivers, they make up a substantial portion of total traffic fatalities.

Research from the Institute for Road Safety Research indicates that speed is a big factor in crash severity. When drivers move at faster speeds, the collision speed is consequently higher. This is more force the vehicle or body must absorb, which leads to more serious injuries.

While this is bad news for anyone involved in a crash, it’s especially tragic for motorcyclists. Even when they are wearing a helmet and using other safety gear, they still face much higher severe and fatal injury rates than other drivers.

The NHTSA indicates that speed is a factor in a substantial amount of motorcycle accidents. Speed was more likely to be a factor in fatal motorcycle accidents involving riders aged 20 to 39 compared to other age groups.

How Speeding Increases Crash Rates

There are several reasons that speeding ramps up crash rates:

  • Harder to see obstacles: When you are traveling at higher speeds, it’s harder to see the road around you clearly. This is particularly dangerous for motorcyclists. A shocking number of drivers are already unable to see motorcyclists when driving, so if you’re speeding, that risk is even greater.
  • Less time to react: Traveling at higher speeds means you have less time to react to unexpected obstacles. Even if your decision-making skills and ability to make a snap judgment are perfect, you’re more likely to hit an obstacle when speeding.
  • Longer stopping time: The faster a vehicle is moving, the longer it takes to stop. This could mean the difference between narrowly avoiding a collision and actually experiencing a collision at full force.

Keeping Motorcyclists Safe

Since speeding is such a common factor in motorcycle collisions, there are numerous efforts underway to keep riders safe. There’s no one cause of speeding, so this problem requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the multiple causes of speeding.

Education is a key component of any effort to make the roads safer for riders. Some programs focus on helping riders understand the risks they accept when they speed. Others turn to drivers and help them drive more safely around motorcyclists.

Other programs strive to improve road infrastructure in a way that limits speeding and keep riders safer. Speed bumps and lower speed limits are just two examples of ways the authorities are attempting to improve road safety.

Stronger penalties for speeding are a common tactic used in municipalities across the United States, as is enhanced enforcement of speeding penalties.

Fighting for Compensation After a Collision

Getting fair compensation after a motorcycle accident can be a real challenge, thanks to societal bias against motorcyclists. Even if a collision is clearly due to another driver’s mistake, insurance companies may try to pin the accident on the motorcyclist.

You may need to work closely with a motorcycle accident attorney in Biloxi to hold the negligent party accountable. Working with an attorney with extensive experience in motorcycle accidents is your best option, as they will understand the different challenges facing you and know how best to overcome them.

Reach Out to Reeves & Mestayer to Discuss Your Motorcycle Accident Claim Don’t wait too long to start your motorcycle accident claim in Biloxi. The team at Reeves & Mestayer is ready to investigate your accident and advocate for you with the other party’s insurance company. To set up a consultation, just contact us online or call us at 855-5