Older Motorcyclists Have The Highest Risk Of Death In A Motorcycle Accident

The Association for the Advancement of Automotive Medicine recently studied injury patterns and severity for both young and older motorcycle accident victims who were hospitalized. The data showed that in recent years, fatal motorcycle accidents have been on the rise for all age groups. However, for older riders aged 40 and above, they are particularly deadly.

Every year, there are just under 10,000 motorcycle accidents reported in Florida. The grand majority of them end with serious injuries, and hundreds of riders are killed. Florida routinely is in the top ten most dangerous states in the nation for fatal motorcycle accidents due to the many deaths that take place every year. However, over the past decade, the rate of motorcycle crashes has risen across the nation. There are several reasons why crashes happen, including alcohol consumption, speeding, or being hit by other vehicles.

If you were in a motorcycle accident in Florida, then it is very likely that the damages you sustained were significant. To increase the chances of recovering the highest possible amount of compensation, you are welcome to call a Tampa personal injury attorney at Fulgencio Law.

Why Older Motorcyclists Are Vulnerable to Fatal Accidents

There has been a steady rise in injuries and fatalities from motorcycle accidents. While motorcycle registrations are also increasing, the rate of motorcycle-related fatalities is far greater than the registrations. When motorcycle accidents happen, multiple thoracic injuries are reported, most commonly among older riders. Rib fractures are the number one type of thoracic injury that older riders suffer in a motorcycle accident. Thoracic injuries carry an increased risk of mortality.

Anatomic changes in the body that come with age, such as decreased bone density and rib angles, may be one reason why older riders who suffer thoracic injuries have such deadly outcomes and high incidences of rib fractures.

Another reason why older drivers may have the most severe outcomes after motorcycle accidents is that older motorcyclists tend to ride larger motorcycles. When a motorcycle has a large engine, the risk of sustaining a head or thoracic injury is increased. Specifically, older riders that had the most adverse outcomes had motorcycles with 1000+ cc engine size. Younger riders do not tend to ride motorcycles with larger engines.

Of all the ways that a motorcycle accident can happen, older riders have more overturning accidents or accidents where highway structures are struck. As the aging motorcycle population continues to ride motorcycles, there is expected to be a corresponding rise in mortality for those injured in motorcycle accidents.

Some have suggested that the development of a protected vest may be beneficial towards lessening the incidence and the severity of thoracic injuries for all riders, but especially older riders.

Call Fulgencio Law Today

Motorcycles are a popular pastime for many people, but particularly for those individuals who are among the baby boomer generation. Since older riders face such a high risk of dying in a crash, countermeasures to increase safety should be researched and developed to protect this demographic.

After a motorcycle accident, you can call Fulgencio Law at (813) 463-0123 to speak with an experienced lawyer during a free consultation.