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Good News for Bikers: Motorcycle Accidents Are on the Decline

There is some great news out there for bikers: Fatal motorcycle accidents in California are on the decline. At Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas, we are always happy to see evidence that people are safer on the roads. Keep reading to find out how much fatal motorcycle accidents have decreased. If you have lost a loved one or if you have been injured in a motorcycle accident, then we urge you to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.

The numbers speak for themselves

Between the years 2016 and 2017 (the most recent full statistics that are available) the number of fatal motorcycle accidents decreased by about 30%. In the country, these accidents decreased overall as well, but by only 5.6%. As a result, California is showing a much larger decline, especially when compared to some of the worst performers, which include D.C., Wyoming, Delaware, and Mississippi.

It is still important to be careful

While we are happy to see this decline, we of course do not want to see bikers stop being cautious. The reality is that there are many reasons for crashes between motorcycles and other vehicles, including distracted drivers and drunk drivers. That said, most motorcycle accidents involve the biker and no one else and the most common contributor to these accidents is speed. For this reason, we hope that bikers will continue to be careful and avoid speeding.

Is the decrease caused by lane splitting?

Experts are wondering if the decrease in fatal accidents is perhaps in part the result of changes to California vehicle codes that allow motorcyclists to lane split. This means they can legally cut between lanes of traffic if traffic is going less than 50 miles per hour. Experts say this could reduce accidents because vehicle drivers are now more aware of motorcycles and because bikers can now legally do something that was once seen as unexpected and risky.

Has our wet winter had an impact on the lower fatalities?

Some people think that it has nothing to do with safety at all and is just happenstance. They believe that the fact that many areas of California had a particularly wet winter meant that there were fewer motorcycles on the road. That said, we are hopeful that there are better things in effect here and that bikers are beginning to ride even safer than ever before.

If you have suffered due to a motorcycle accident then we can help

Have you been injured in a car accident? Are you worried about your long-term medical costs? Do you believe that someone else was at-fault for your accident? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions then we urge you to contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 right away for your free legal consultation.