Ohio Motorcycle Accident Statistics

Motorcycle traffic accident deaths in Ohio jumped 35 percent in the three-year period from 2006 to 2008, according to that state's 2008 Ohio Traffic Crash Facts Book. In his introduction to the report, Henry Guzman, public safety director, called increasing motorcycle fatalities one of his department's biggest concerns.

In 2008, of 564,336 vehicles involved in crashes, 5,075, a little under 1 percent, were motorcycles. Fatalities for motorcycle occupants were 213 out of 1,093 for all vehicle types, nearly 20 percent. The ratio for non-fatal injuries was less than 4 percent.

Report Includes Error Assignment

The Ohio report includes a "person in error" category that shows the motorcycle operator in error in 142 of 208 fatal crashes, and 2,134 of 3,678 non-fatal injury crashes. There is no reporting of what errors were committed.

An interesting category in the report is death and injury according to age. It refutes the common perception that young motorcyclists are the most likely to be involved in a crash. The distribution is fairly even, with no age range standing out markedly. Ages 36 to 40 are the safest, my a slight margin, and 46 to 50 the most dangerous, again by a slight margin.

State Sponsors Safety Courses

Reading the Ohio report, as well as other studies, confirms that operating a motorcycle safely requires special skills beyond those needed to drive an automobile. In fact, the state of Ohio, like many other states, sponsors motorcycle safety training courses to teach these skills.

Consult a Motorcycle Accident Attorney

Even if you have the training and the skills to safely operate a motorcycle, if you have been involved in a motorcycle crash, you need special legal skills on your side. You will be faced with medical bills, loss of income, and property damage, and the general perception of motorcyclists will not be favorable to your case. That's why you need to contact an experienced personal injury attorney familiar with the special needs of motorcycle crash victims.

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