California Motorcycle Accident Statistics

In California, there were 11,262 motorcycle collisions in 2007. Of these 463 included fatalities; the other 10,799 were non-fatal personal injury collisions.

Los Angeles County had the largest number of motorcycle collisions, 85 of which were fatal, with 2,792 non-fatal injury collisions. San Diego County had 50 fatal collisions and 985 injury collisions. Orange, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties, in descending order of accident totals, were the remainder of the top five.

Fatal and Injury Accidents - 2003 - 2007
Year	Fatal Accidents	Injury Accidents
2003	369	9,254
2004	352	9,056
2005	411	9,061
2006	429	9,765
2007	463	10,799
Motorcyclists Killed and Injured by Age - 2007
AGE	Killed	Injured
0-4	2	8
5-14	3	166
15-24	102	2,739
25-34	96	2,654
35-44	96	2,168
45-54	110	2,129
55-64	42	978
65-74	10	223
75-84	3	37
85 and over		6
Not stated	1	64
TOTAL	465	11,172
California Counties with the Most Fatal and Injury Accidents in 2007
	Fatal Accidents	Injury Accidents
Los Angeles County	85	2,792
San Diego County	50	985
Orange County	24	752
San Bernardino County	28	627
Riverside County	41	562

Age Data Cited in Study

Among motorcyclists old enough to legally drive on public streets, those 15 to 24 years old had the largest combined number of death and injury collisions (102 and 2,739). They were followed by those 25 to 34 (96 and 2,654), and 35 to 44 (96 and 2,168). The age group 45 to 54 had the next lowest combined number of collisions, but the most fatalities (110 and 2,129).

The Los Angeles area was previously the site of a federally-funded study into the cause of motorcycle collisions. In that study, the majority of collisions were caused by an automobile driver failing to yield the right-of-way to a motorcyclist, often by turning left into the path of a motorcycle moving straight through an intersection.

Defensive Motorcycle Driving is Essential

The study also showed that many automobile drivers are unaware of motorcycles, especially those drivers who have never ridden a motorcycle. Safety experts stress that one of the best defensive strategies for a motorcyclist is to assume that automobile drivers are not looking for motorcycles on the road.

Consult a Motorcycle Accident Attorney

If your best defensive motorcycle driving wasn't enough to keep you out of an accident, you need to be compensated for your medical expenses, loss of income, and property damage. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney familiar with the special circumstances of motorcycle accidents.

The motorcycle accident attorneys of Proner & Proner have experience helping victims of California motorcycle accidents.