Georgia Injury Law Blog
Motorcyclists in Georgia form a small percentage of the total number of registered motor vehicles in the state, but account for a significantly higher number of fatalities every year. This unfortunately should not come as a surprise as a collision between a motorcycle and another vehicle usually results in serious or fatal injuries to the motorcyclist given the lack of outer vehicle protection.
In July, the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety released new data for motorcycle accidents across the state. The data is based on traffic accident statistics in Georgia in 2019. The data finds that motorcyclists form just a small percentage of motor vehicle accidents in the state, accounting for just 1 percent of all motor vehicle crashes. However, they form 11 percent of traffic accident deaths and 21 percent of all driver deaths.
According to the data, the North Georgia area, which encompasses the metropolitan Atlanta region, accounts for the majority of all motorcycle crashes in Georgia. The metro Atlanta region specifically accounts for the highest share of all motorcycle accidents in the state.
The data found that motorcyclists in the 25 to 34 age group in 2019 were the most likely to suffer life-threatening injuries. About a quarter of them required EMS transport, while about 27 percent required an ER visit. This age group also accounted for more hospitalizations than any other age category with a quarter of all victims having to be hospitalized after the crash. Overall, 2019 was a bad year for motorcyclists in Georgia with 170 motorcyclists killed in crashes in the state. This translates into 84 deaths for every 100,000 registered motorcyclists in Georgia.
That was an increase of 22 percent from 2017, when there were 139 motorcyclist deaths in the state. The increase between 2010 and 2019 was approximately 33 percent. The increasing trend in motorcycle accidents, injuries, hospitalizations and deaths has also been accompanied by a spike in the number of registered motorcycles during this time with those numbers increasing by 4 percent between 2010 and 2019.
More people now choose the ease and convenience of two wheels compared to previous decades, but safety data indicates that the risks for motorcyclists continue to remain significantly higher. A larger population of distracted motorists who are too preoccupied by their phones, GPS systems, and in-car entertainment systems, and non–electronic distractions like passengers in the car are ensuring that motorcyclist fatalities continue to remain high. In addition, an increase in speeding motorists in recent times also does not bode well for the safety of motorcyclists in Atlanta. If you are a motorcyclist, always wear safety gear and never underestimate the importance of a well-fitting certified helmet. In 2019, 91 motorcyclist lives were saved by helmet use.
Motorcycle accidents can result in injuries that require extensive hospitalization, rehabilitation, therapy and other medical expenses. If you or a loved one have been injured in a motorcycle accident, talk to an Atlanta motorcycle accident attorney at the Katz Personal Injury Lawyers, and determine if you have legal options to a claim for damages for your losses. You may eligible for compensation that includes your medical costs, lost income, lost earning capacity in the future and other types of damages. Talk to an attorney at our firm, and determine if you have legal rights to a claim.