Motorcycle Accident Information & Motorcycle Accident Lawyers In Idaho

With gas prices running higher and higher, many drivers are turning to two-wheeled vehicles to help avoid the pump. Idahoans are no exception. While there is no proven correlation, it is believed that the increase in riders has contributed significantly to the increase in motorcycle accidents in Idaho. In 2006 accidents involving riders claimed 38 lives, eighteen more fatalities than in 2002. Nationally, motorcycle fatalities in 2006 were at their highest levels since 1981. Every one of the past nine years has seen an increase in motorcycle fatalities.

Motorcycles are inherently less safe in a crash than passenger vehicles. The lack of safety features, like a roof, airbags and seatbelts, contributes to a high instance of injury and death in motorcycle crashes. Lack of training, education and experience also leads to many crashes. While navigating twisting roads, it is very easy for an inexperienced rider to enter a curve too fast and go into a slide. The usual result is the rear tire losing traction and sliding out from underneath the bike leading to a fall. At any speed a bike and rider are going to slide some distance, causing further injury. If there is an obstruction of any sort in the way, extreme injuries and even death may occur. It is also possible for a rider to under-steer through a curve and cause the bike to leave the roadway.

Idaho does not require all riders to wear a helmet, except those under eighteen years of age. They do, however, require all motorcycle drivers pass a written exam. Riders under 21 must also take a rider’s safety course that teaches basic motorcycle skills. If an individual is over 21, they must pass a skills test administered by the state. Skills tested are sharp cornering, weaving, stopping and swerving. They can waive the skills test by completing and passing the safety course.

Overall, motorcyclists make up about two percent of the total drivers in the U.S. However, motorcycle accidents account for around ten percent of the total accidents with fatalities. In 2005 Idaho had 28 motorcycle fatalities, which made up 9.5 percent of the total state fatalities. In 2006 there were 38 biker fatalities, 14.2 percent of the total.

Three quarters of the accidents ending in death involve another vehicle, in most cases a passenger vehicle. Motorcyclists can be hard to see. Most drivers of automobiles do not think to look for two-wheeled vehicles. Even with headlights on during the day and bright clothing, a rider must be constantly on the defensive. Intersections are where most two vehicle motorcycle accidents occur, again, with the other motorist not seeing the rider and violating their traffic rights.

As mentioned above, Idaho allows riders over the age of eighteen to choose whether they want to wear a helmet or not. In 2006 15 of the 38 riders (around 39 percent) killed were wearing helmets, the rest were not. The most severe injuries to riders occur to the chest, head and neck. 1, 658 lives were saved by helmets on a national level. It is estimated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that another 752 lives could have been saved if they had been wearing a safety helmet.

Idaho sits between Canada and Nevada and covers part of the Rocky Mountains and the continental divide. Along with lush farmlands, rivers and mountains make up the majority of the landscape. A fantastic place to be able to ride in season, the countryside of Idaho is peaceful and beautiful. The sights provided by the terrain can be a distraction to both motorcyclists and passenger vehicle drivers. Winding roadways, blind corners and timbered land can reduce the distance that drivers can see. While riding these highways and byways, a motorcyclist must remember to be vigilant for both road hazards and other drivers.

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