On June 23, 40-year-old motorcyclist Francisco Oscar Ramirez of Doraville, Georgia, was killed in front of a Family Dollar store when an oncoming driver tried to make a left-hand turn into the store’s parking lot and struck him.
According to The Hurt Report, a 1981 national study on motorcycle accident cause factors, “The most frequent accident configuration is the motorcycle proceeding straight then the automobile makes a left turn in front of the oncoming motorcycle.” Other common factors contributing to motorcycle accidents include the following:
- Head-on collisions ― In most motorcycle accidents, another driver hits the motorcyclist from the front
- Hitting fixed objects ― This accounts for about a quarter of all motorcycle deaths
- Vehicle failure ― This was present in 3% of motorcycle accidents
Common motorcycle crash injuries
Lower-extremity injuries (to the legs, pelvis, knee, thigh and feet) comprise the majority of accident-related injuries to motorcyclists. After lower-extremities, upper-extremity and head injuries are the most frequent. Most fatal motorcycle injuries involve the head and chest (rib fractures, bruising, and lung punctures). Although wearing a helmet cannot prevent all head injuries, it is the single most important way to reduce the chance of brain injury. Other serious injuries involve road rash and damage to the spine and internal organs.
The cost of living with a serious injury
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average total cost of a motorcycle accident in 2005 was $151,098. This included the cost of hospitalization ($42,197) and work loss costs ($108,901).
Need help after a motorcycle accident?
If you are the victim of a motorcycle accident, you need a lawyer who is caring and professional, but will fight aggressively to get you the most compensation possible. To discuss your case and determine the best course of action, call us today at (877) 851-4261.