New York Motorcycle Accident Statistics

There were 5,426 motorcycle accidents in the state of New York in 2007, according to Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) statistics. Of the total, 164 were fatal accidents, claiming 172 lives. The breakdown for these fatalities was 162 motorcycle drivers, nine passengers, and one pedestrian. There were 4,727 accidents classified as non-fatal, but with personal injury, and 535 without injury, but with reportable property damage.

Injury Accident Statistics

In non-fatal accidents, 4,830 motorcycle drivers were injured, along with 579 passengers, 71 pedestrians, 15 bicyclists, and eight others whose status was not specified.

The DMV report lists the severity of non-fatality personal injury accidents as 1,082 serious, 1,467 moderate, 1,870 minor, and 96 of unknown severity.

Fatal and Injury Accidents - 2004 - 2008
	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008
Total Accidents	4,509	4,892	4,912	5,426	5,396
Fatal Accidents	144	168	190	164	184
Injury Accidents	4,146	4,515	4,272	4,727	4,593
Property Damage	219	209	450	535	619
Fatalities	151	172	195	172	188
Persons Injured	4,890	5,304	4,951	5,503	5,290

Weekends, State Routes, City Streets Found to be Most Dangerous for Riders

Weekends in 2007 were more dangerous than weekdays for motorcycle accidents, with 1,085 on Saturdays and 1,045 on Sundays. Ordered by descending number of accidents, the weekdays were Friday (759), Tuesday (667), Thursday (647), Monday (615), and Wednesday (608).

State routes and city streets were the most frequent motorcycle accident sites. Noticeably fewer accidents occurred on county routes and town routes. Parkways and other interstates were at the bottom of the list.

Causes of Motorcycle Crashes

The DMV report listed failure to yield right of way as among the most significant human factors in motorcycle accidents. Many car and truck drivers involved in collisions with motorcycles say they just didn't see the motorcycle until it was too late. Although there is a widely held belief that motorcyclists are nearly always to blame for collisions with larger vehicles, accident reports show they are often innocent victims.

Contact a Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you or a friend or loved one has been involved in a motorcycle accident that was not your fault, you need the assistance of an experienced personal injury attorney to help you receive the compensation you need to deal with the aftermath.

The motorcycle accident lawyers of Proner & Proner have experience helping victims of New York motorcycle accidents.