If you have been injured in a Rancho Mirage motorcycle accident, know that these accidents are all too common in California. Southern California has been especially harmed by the effects of motorcycle-involved accidents and deaths over the last two decades.
It is a sad but well-established fact that the fatality rate for motorcycle accidents in the United States is approximately 28 times higher than the fatality rate for accidents involving motor vehicles. As motorcycle fatalities have doubled since 1997, recent legislative changes have only heightened concern for motorcyclists in California.
In 2015, California state data reveals that an estimated 13,402 Californians were injured in motorcycle accidents, and 504 motorcycle victims suffered fatal injuries. The outsized bulk of these injuries were suffered in the southern part of the state.
Southern California Motorcycle Accident Statistics
Of the 13,402 injured California motorcycle accident victims in 2015, 3,851 of those injuries occurred in Los Angeles County alone. And, 128 of the 504 motorcycle accident fatalities occurred in the same California county as well. The counties of Orange and San Diego also each accounted for well over 1,000 of the motorcycle accident injuries.
These figures, in tandem with other southern California counties with high numbers of motorcycle accident injuries, make it clear that motorcycle injuries and fatalities are overwhelmingly suffered in southern California.
Most Motorcycle Accidents in Rancho Mirage and California Are Caused by Negligence
One of the most common causes of accidents on the road is driver inattention. The California Office of Traffic Safety, in fact, estimates that four out of every five accidents involve driver inattention of some kind, better known as distracted driving.
As such, many of the injuries suffered by motorcycle accident victims in Rancho Mirage and across the state are hit by negligent, distracted drivers. This is a national trend, not just one that affects California.
Common Motorcycle Accident Injuries
It goes without saying that California motorcyclists need to wear a helmet to have maximum protection from being hit by other vehicles on the road. Indeed, California law explicitly requires motorcycle riders to wear a helmet.
However, there is no getting around the fact that motorcycle riders are especially vulnerable to serious or life-threatening injuries when struck by another vehicle. Common injuries in Rancho Mirage motorcycle accidents include:
- Head and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Road rash
- Muscle and structural damage
How The Ledger Law Firm Helps Motorcycle Accident Victims
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Rancho Mirage motorcycle accident, a Rancho Mirage motorcycle accident attorney at Ledger Law is ready to take your call. Our nationally recognized law firm has offices across the state, and we have recently opened a new Rancho Mirage headquarters to better serve accident victims in the area.
Contact us online for a free case evaluation to discuss your accident and find out whether you are entitled to compensation after speaking with a Ledger Law motorcycle accident lawyer in Rancho Mirage.
