Motorcycle Accident Information & Motorcycle Accident Lawyers In North-dakota

North Dakota has one of the lowest mortality rates from motorcycle accidents in America. Most states have at least double digit fatalities and some are even triple. In 2006 there were four deaths, and that number was down from six in 2005. These accidents made up right around four percent of the total number of vehicle related fatalities. The only other states with lower numbers were Alaska and Washington D.C. Nationally, the number of motorcycle accidents has grown every year for the past nine years. In 2006, the total number of vehicle accidents actually decreased, from 43,510 in 2005 to 42,642, but motorcycle accidents still increased from 4,576 to 4,810.

The number of motorcycle drivers has also increased over the past several years. As the amount of money you have to spend at the gas pump rises, people are looking for alternative means to get where they need to be. Vehicles with two wheels are typically cheaper on gas than most cars. They are also much less safe, however. More and more safety features are being added to and required for most cars and trucks. There are not really a lot of extra features that you can add to a vehicle on only two wheels. Safety belts are out of the question, and where would you put air bags? It is not surprising to find out that motorcycle riders and their passengers have a 96 to 98 percent chance of being injured in a wreck. There is a 45 percent chance that the injuries sustained will be severe.

About three out of every four motorcycle accidents involve at least one other vehicle. Most of the time the other vehicle is a passenger vehicle that violates the biker’s right-of-way at an intersection. Most often the driver of the passenger vehicle says that they did not see the biker until it was too late to miss colliding with them. Sometimes, they do not see the motorcycle at all. Most states require that headlights be on at all times, including North Dakota, although they do allow modulating headlights. It is also suggested that bikers wear some type of bright clothing to make themselves more visible. Unfortunately, motorcycles are so slim, especially when they are headed right at you, that the slightest little thing can mask them from sight.

The other one-fourth of the motorcycle accidents that occur involve only the motorcycle. 92 percent of the riders involved in motorcycle accidents have no formal training. They are either self-taught or have been taught to ride by family and friends. Motorcyclists usually only have about two seconds to recognize a danger, figure out how to avoid it and then take the steps necessary. Two seconds is not a lot of time and, with no training and very little experience, it is often not enough time. It has been shown that motorcycle training classes can help reduce the number of accidents and the amount of damage done to riders and bikes in a wreck. The state recommends taking a class, but there are no requirements for those over eighteen wishing to get their motorcycle license. The steps to get your motorcycle endorsement are outlined below.

There are a number of factors that can be linked to motorcycle accidents. Most of the single vehicle accidents occur on a curve or corner. Most often the rider enters the corner going too fast. If they try to make the corner by leaning the bike over too far, then the tires are likely to slip out from underneath the bike. If they do not lean far enough to turn the curve, they may leave the roadway or loose control of the bike. Once they have lost control or are sliding along the ground, anything can happen. If the speed of the motorcycle was extreme, injuries are much more likely to be incredibly severe. About two percent of all motorcycle accidents can be directly related to weather. Potholes in the pavement or animals in the roadway account for about three percent. Alcohol use by the biker is recorded in over fifty percent of accidents.

You must first have a valid driver’s license to get your Class M motorcycle endorsement. You then need to pass an eye exam and take a written knowledge test. Once you have completed both of these, you will receive your Class M permit. This is valid for up to six months and will allow to practice on the motorcycle with certain restrictions. You may only ride during the day and you may not carry passengers. Once you feel comfortable and ready, you can schedule an appointment to take a road skills test. Once you pass this test, you can get your final endorsement. One other law it is important to know about when you want to ride a bike is the use of safety helmets. It is only required for riders under the age of eighteen to wear a helmet in North Dakota. All other riders are allowed to decide for themselves.

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