What are some facts about motorcycle accidents in West Virginia?

On Behalf of | Aug 5, 2019 | Motorcycle Accident Injuries |

Summer is in full swing, which means there are many motorcycles on the roads in West Virginia. It is important for motorcyclists to drive safely and obey laws, but it is equally important for other vehicles on the road to watch out for them. It is too easy to overlook a motorcycle and end up in an accident. The statistics about motorcycle accidents in the state, according to WAJR, tell the story.

Above everything else, the main contributing factor to motorcycle accidents in the state is speed. This includes both vehicles not following set speed limits. With the mountainous terrain found here, it can be unsafe even under good road conditions to avoid an accident if you are speeding. In fact, 23.9 percent of all motorcycle accident deaths are due to speeding.

Another major factor in crashes is not staying in your lane. When you cross the center line, whether intentionally or unintentionally, you assume risk. This is especially true if you cross the line and do not pay attention to oncoming traffic. Other drivers do not expect a vehicle coming from the other direction to be in their lane, which only increases the chances of an accident.

Looking at more figures about motorcycle crashes, you will see that 10.5 percent of all accidents resulting in death involve motorcycles in the state. In addition, alcohol does often play a role. About 32 percent of motorcyclists killed in accidents had a blood alcohol content of .01 or more. This information is for education and is not legal advice.