They’re not the same and knowing the difference could save someone’s life.
Thousands of riders suffer life-changing injuries every year that car drivers never experience. Believe me when I say the stats are staggering. But they’re out there. And if you’re riding a motorcycle, understand how different your legal options are after an accident.
Here’s the reality of motorcycle accidents vs car accidents:
When most people think about car crashes, they don’t fully comprehend how different they are from crashes involving motorcycles. Everything from the severity of the injuries to dealing with insurance companies shakes out in a totally different way with motorcycles.
Allow me to explain…
Motorcycle Accidents vs Car Accidents: The Differences
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Motorcycle Accidents Are Far Deadlier
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Motorcycles vs Cars: Physical Differences That Matter
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What Causes Car Accidents vs Motorcycle Accidents?
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Insurance Companies Treat Motorcycle Claims VERY differently
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Why Motorcycle Accidents Lead to Longer Recovery Time
Motorcycle Accidents Are Far Deadlier
Motorcycles are much more dangerous than cars.
As reported by the NHTSA, motorcycle accidents kill riders at a rate 28x higher than someone riding in a passenger vehicle. Twenty-eight times! Riders have a 5.1% chance of dying in a crash per 100 million miles traveled. Car occupants have a risk of fatality of just.18%.
That’s pretty insane when you really think about it.
If you’ve been injured or had loved ones killed in a motorcycle accident you know exactly what I’m talking about. That’s because motorcycles offer no protection from the impact of a crash.
Cars have several safety features like airbags, seatbelts, crumple zones, and a steel framework. Motorcycles have none of that.
If you ride a motorcycle, you’re exposed to all dangers around you. That means if you crash, you’re crunched between your bike and whatever you hit. This often leads to serious injuries that require help from a motorcycle accident attorney in Detroit to sort through insurance companies and receive compensation you deserve to recover.
Because of this fact, motorcycle accidents cause many more injuries that could potentially result in death than car accidents. Nationwide, motorcycles only make up 3% of registered vehicles. But they account for 15% of ALL traffic fatalities.
Motorcycles vs Cars: Physical Differences That Matter
Cars have a steel framework that loosely cushions the passenger area. Cars have airbags, seatbelts, and wheel stability. Not to mention cars have multiple pounds of protection around the entire vehicle.
Motorcycles offer ZERO of these things.
Let’s break down how each vehicle protects its occupants.
Motorcycle riders have…
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No structure to slow down or absorb impact
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No airbags
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Nothing keeping them inside the vehicle
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Less stability with only two wheels on the ground
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TOTAL exposure to external objects
When you drive a car, you may end up with whiplash or broken arms and legs. But you’ll likely walk away without life altering injuries. When riding a motorcycle, that collision may cause head trauma, spinal cord injuries, broken bones (everywhere), and road rash.
What Causes Car Accidents vs Motorcycle Accidents?
When it comes to causes, we see another major difference between these two crash types.
Motorcycle Accident Causes
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Visibility
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Left-turn Collisions
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Road Hazards
Visibility is always a concern for motorcyclists. Other vehicles often don’t see them, even when right in their path. Cars making left-hand turns directly into the path of a motorcycle happen too often. Finally, road hazards can lead to a crash if not avoided in time.
Speeding is another leading cause that factored in roughly 35% of all motorcycle fatalities from 2015-2019.
Car Accident Causes
Here’s what causes most car wrecks…
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Distracted Driving
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Speeding
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Driving Under the Influence
There’s overlap in these causes, but one major difference is what happens when a car crashes into another car. Both drivers usually leave with minor injuries that can be treated. But when a car hits a motorcycle at the same speed, the motorcycle rider can suffer serious injuries and death.
Insurance Companies Treat Motorcycle Claims VERY differently
Dealing with insurance companies is already a pain for anyone involved in a vehicular accident. But with motorcycles, they treat your claim totally different.
Not only are injuries more severe and require more compensation, but insurers view motorcyclists differently.
People hate seeing someone riding a bike.
Simple as that. They view you as someone who’s “living on the edge” and probably caused the crash. You’ll have to fight hard to prove your case if you don’t have a knowledgeable motorcycle accident attorney on your side.
Insurance companies try to minimize your injuries and blame you for the accident. Having an attorney who deals with motorcycle accidents every day can help you navigate the complex issue.
Why Motorcycle Accidents Lead to Longer Recovery Time
When someone is injured in a car wreck, they usually recover within a few months. They might have to undergo surgery and physical therapy, but most incidents result in a full recovery.
Motorcycle accidents are much different.
Due to the exposure and lack of protection riders have, they’re typically hospitalized for longer periods of time. They tend to suffer from serious injuries that take months, if not years, to recover.
Breakdown of recovery time from both accidents:
Car Accident Recovery Time
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Whiplash
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Sprains and Strains
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Cuts and bruises
Motorcycle Accident Recovery Time
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Traumatic Brain Injuries
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Spinal Cord Damage
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Multiple Broken Bones
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Road Rash
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Amputations
What Can You Do to Prevent Motorcycle Accidents?
Now we came here to talk about you motorcycle riders out there. If you ride, always assume drivers don’t see you. Wear all the safety gear and take as many motorcycle rides as you can.
It’s also helpful to know what drivers should keep in mind when sharing the road with motorcycles.
Motorcycle Riders Should…
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Wear a helmet
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Wear reflective gear
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Keep your headlights on
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Avoid blind spots
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Take safety courses
Drivers Should…
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Look twice before changing lanes
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Look for motorcycles at intersections
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Never turn left in front of oncoming traffic
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Allow motorcycles space to brake
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Remember motorcycles can stop quicker than cars
Final Thoughts on Motorcycle Accidents vs Car Accidents
Motorcycle accidents kill riders at a rate 28x higher than car accidents. The risk of dying in a motorcycle accident is 5.1%, while that number is only.18% for car drivers and passengers.
Motorcycles provide no protection during a crash while cars have several features designed to keep its occupants safe. Finally, motorcycle injuries take longer to recover from and cost more money to treat.
If you’ve been involved in a motorcycle crash and need legal assistance, contact one of our motorcycle accident attorneys today.