Personal Injury | June 12, 2023 by JOSHUA D. ANDERSON
According to Washington State’s Traffic Safety Commission, riders of motorcycles only make up 3% of the people traveling the byways and highways in Washington State. However, they also make up 15% of the reported deaths and almost 20% of serious injuries. This data was taken from the agency’s findings over a recent five-year period.
About 75 motorcyclists die each year in road collisions in Washington. Moreover, the stats show that the data has remained at this level for more than ten years. Needless to say, riding a motorcycle is risky. The risk is even greater when riders do not wear their helmet or they speed or they drink or take drugs and ride.
In fact, about 57% of all motorcycle fatalities result from driver impairment from drugs or alcohol. Moreover, over half of the fatalities were related to speeding. Most of the riders (91%) involved in motorcycle accidents are male.
If you were in a motorcycle crash and suffered injuries, seek help from a Washington State motorcycle accident attorney immediately.
When you choose to ride a motorcycle in Washington State, it is important to obtain a license endorsement. The state strongly encourages this requirement, as riders with endorsements tend to have lower fatality rates and fewer driving violations on their records.
Approximately 75% of riders involved in fatal motorcycle collisions did not have an endorsement or had not completed rider training. If you currently lack an endorsement, it might be advisable to consider enrolling in a rider training program offered by various schools across the state.
You should also make it a practice to wear your helmet. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) supports this practice, as the majority of motorcycle riders who perish in accidents suffer from head injuries.
Furthermore, state law mandates that both the rider and the passenger of a motorcycle wear a helmet. It is essential for riders and passengers to adhere to the regulations outlined by the Washington State Highway Patrol. This includes securing the helmet with a chin or neck strap that must be fastened securely.
Remember, not only are you more vulnerable to getting hit by a motorist, but you’re also at an increased risk for injury when traveling over rough patches of road or coming into contact with gaps or openings in bridges or pavement.
Are you a motorcycle rider who lives in Auburn, Bonney Lake, Buckley, Enumclaw, Orting, Puyallup, or Sumner, Washington? Have you been involved in an accident where the other party was at fault?
If that’s the case, you might want to consider reaching out to a personal injury attorney. taking the time to address your accident claim could potentially lead to receiving the compensation you may need. this compensation could potentially assist in covering various costs, such as medical expenses, pain and suffering, and potential loss of income.
When it comes to assigning fault in personal injury accident claims, Washington follows a pure-comparative negligence system. Under this system, each party involved in the accident is entitled to collect damages based on their respective degree of fault. Even if you are determined to be 99% at fault, you can still potentially receive compensation amounting to 1% of the overall settlement.
Similar to many other states, Washington also mandates that motorcycle riders and other motorists carry liability insurance. This requirement is in place to ensure that they can cover the costs incurred by the other party if they are responsible for an accident. These costs may include medical expenses or damages to the other vehicle.
Learn more about your rights in Auburn, Bonney Lake, Buckley, Enumclaw, Orting, Puyallup, or Sumner, Washington, by talking to a legal professional today. Review your claim with Anderson Law, PLLC, now.
Attorney Joshua D. Anderson grew up in Enumclaw, Washington with a close-knit family who instilled in him the values of faith, family, and hard work. Since a young age, Josh knew he wanted to be an attorney so he could advocate for others and always knew his focus would be personal injury. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of San Diego and graduated Cum Laude from Seattle University School of Law. While pursuing his degree, Josh served as an extern for the Seattle City Attorney’s Office.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by Founding Partner, Joshua D. Anderson who has more than 20 years of legal experience as a personal injury attorney.