Motorcycle Accident Injury Settlements
Motorcycle Accidents on the Rise
Do you ride a motorbike? If so, you’re among a growing number of Ontario residents who have taken up the sport. There are a number of reasons why motorcycling is gaining in popularity, including:
- A significant rise in the number of women who are taking up the sport. It’s estimated that 12% of riders are now female – a significant jump in numbers over the past decade. Companies are now designing bikes and gear especially for women, encouraging even more of them to hit the road.
- A good motorbike costs much less than most motor vehicles, making it an attractive alternative for those who can’t afford a car.
- Motorbikes also use less fuel, so are both more economical and more environmentally friendly to run than cars.
- Baby boomers who retire early are adopting motorbikes as an exciting mode of leisure travel that allows them to really see the sights.
- Popular culture is embracing the romantic myth of the biker, as evidenced by the TV show Sons of Anarchy and a number of other film and television dramas.
- If you have to commute to work, being confined inside a car for hours every day can feel suffocating. Riding a motorcycle, by comparison, gives riders a feeling of freedom. Many people have begun commuting to work on bikes in the summer months.
- Motorcycles, like everything else, go in and out of fashion. At the moment, motorbikes are “cool” with leather jackets and boots, distressed biker jeans, and other classic looks back in style.
- There’s a social aspect to biking, with clubs for all sorts of people springing up across the province.
While riding a bike can be exhilarating, economical, and fun, there’s a downside to the sport’s current popularity: motorcycle accidents are on the rise in Ontario.
Grim Statistics
The Ontario Provincial Police report said that 2016 was the worst year on record for motorcycle deaths. By July 12th of last year, 25 people in the province had been killed in motorbike accidents. In Canada, an average of nearly 200 people per year die in motorcycle accidents, a number that amounts to one in every ten traffic deaths. This means that a motorcyclist is approximately 14 times more likely to die on the road than the driver of a car. OPP Sgt. Dave Rektor gave up riding in 2015, after OPP officers had been called to three fatal motorbike crashes during a single week. "I wasn't willing to take the risk anymore," he said. "I'd been to one too many crashes.”
Why are the statistics so high? One reason may be that the rise in motorcycles on our roads corresponds with a rise in all types of vehicles: Canada’s roads are becoming more crowded, and that means more accidents.
The failure of motorists to notice bikers is the leading cause of motorcycle accidents, and distracted drivers are often to blame. Cell phones, GPS devices, smoking, eating/drinking, attending to children, talking to passengers, and even daydreaming can cause drivers to overlook motorcycles in their own lane or passing lanes.
Bikers also have to shoulder some of the blame: it’s been shown that 50% of all motorcycle accidents in Canada involve inexperienced riders who have been biking for less than six months. An Ontario survey covering the years 2009 – 2013 shows that 25% of motorcycle deaths involved alcohol, and 12% involved exceeding speed limits. And a disproportionate number of accidents also involve riders over the age of 40, suggesting that those boomer retirees may be inadequately prepared.
But, as Sgt. Rektor notes, “Regardless if you're in the right or in the wrong, if you're in a collision on a bike, you are going to be at the receiving end of serious injuries and/or death."
If You Have Had an Accident
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a motorcycle accident, you will want to consult a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. You will want to file a benefits claim with your insurance company, and you may also want to explore the possibility of making a torts claim, depending on the circumstances of the collision.
The time following an accident can be very traumatic: one way or another, your family’s life will be forever changed. Dealing with the exacting paperwork required by insurance companies can be next to impossible for a layperson; trying to complete it after an accident merely adds more worries to an already stressful time in your life.
It’s important to find a lawyer that you can trust, and who will go above and beyond to meet your needs. Look at websites to find a personal injury lawyer who serves your area, and whose philosophy appeals to you. If you prefer to use a language other than English, look for a law firm that offers services in your native language. Find a lawyer who will be easy to contact when you need him/her. Find a lawyer who communicates well with you, and who will be in your corner.
If you have been injured in a motorbike accident, call an Ontario personal injury law firm today, and learn more about your options. Statistics show that motorcycle accidents are on the rise, but if you follow the rules of the road, you will be able to enjoy riding a motorbike for years to come.