Motorcycles and other two-wheel motor vehicles are one of the least expensive and most popular forms a vehicular transportation and as the price of gas continues to rise they will only become more prevalent. As more and more motorcycles enter onto America's roadways, the already high number of motorcycle accidents will also increase. For experienced, licensed and careful riders, the risk of a motorcycle accident will not be much affected, but new and inexperienced motorcyclists are at the greatest risk for harm.

For example, more than 90% of all types of single-vehicle motorcycle accidents involve a motorcycle rider who had no formal training and 33% of motorcyclists who perished as a result of these at sorts of accidents did not have a legal license to operate a motorcycle. Although these statistics may seem to point to rider error, they account for only 25% of all motorcycle accidents.

In either case, motorcycle accidents have a significantly greater likelihood of resulting in death than in automobile accidents, and the rate of motorcycle accidents overall as compared to automobile accidents overall is much higher. Some may believe that this is due to the recklessness of the motorcyclists but nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, 25% of all motorcycle accidents are caused by rider error; 75% of multiple-vehicle motorcycle collisions are due to negligent or distracted driving on the part of the drivers of the other motor vehicles involved.

Most of these multi-vehicle motorcycle collisions occur on short, local trips and at intersections where one or more drivers either failed to see the motorcyclist, or failed to yield to the motorcyclist's right-of-way. Drivers may not have seen the motorcycle because they were using a cell phone, looking at the scenery or maps, interacting unsafely with other passengers and last but certainly not least because they were driving under the influence of alcohol.

Although road defects, animals, inclement weather and vehicular failure may seem like common dangers, the combination of all of these elements is under 8% of all motorcycle accident causes. Low light conditions which decrease the visibility are much more dangerous and most motorcycle accidents happen at twilight or at night.

A motorcycle accident is usually catastrophic, and will result in physical injury as well as vehicular damage. In fact, nearly 100% of all motorcycle accidents, both single-vehicle and multiple-vehicle do cause bodily harm. motorcycle accidents involving high speeds or large vehicles like trucks and SUVs are likely to be fatal for the motorcyclist. Because of the likelihood of high medical expenses after a motorcycle accident it is best to seek the counsel of a motorcycle accident lawyer familiar with cases similar to yours, who is also well-versed in state and local traffic laws.