In just 18 counties in mid-Michigan, there are over 85,000 licensed drivers with an endorsement for motorcycles. It’s easy to see why the state’s Senate declared May to be motorcycle safety awareness month. Data from the state’s Office of Highway and Safety Planning shows that 2,464 motorcycle crashes happened between 2012 and 2016.
Of those 2,464 accidents, 103 people were killed and almost 74 percent of the accidents resulted in injuries. The deadliest counties during that five-year period were St. Clair and Genesee. Each had 19 fatal motorcycle crashes. Saginaw County and Bay County had the next highest total of fatalities — 14 and 10, respectively.
Of the 2,464 crashes, 940 of them involved motorcyclists who did not have a motorcycle endorsement. There were 29 fatal collisions that involved a motorcyclist who didn’t have an endorsement.
Over half of the motorcycle crashes were single-vehicle accidents. Striking a deer resulted in another 329 crashes, eight of which were fatal. Birds, such as geese and pheasants, were also struck, resulting in injuries.
Distracted driving was responsible for many of the accidents involving motorcycles, both by the motorcyclists and other drivers. Over 200 crashes involved drugs and alcohol, with 38 involving a fatality.
As you can see, there are many dangers for motorcyclists. However, when a motorcyclist or his or her passenger is injured or killed due to the negligence or recklessness of another driver, there is a way to seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and emotional trauma. An experienced attorney can provide the information you need to pursue such compensation.
Source: mlive.com, “Mid-Michigan’s deadliest county for motorcycles and other biker facts,” Dominic Adams, accessed May 21, 2018
