What Are Some Of The Leading Causes Of Fatal And Personal Injury Motorcycle Accidents?

In October 2010, a motorcyclist lost control of his bike while speeding and weaving in and out of traffic on Beach Boulevard in Buena Park. Witnesses claimed the man was traveling at speeds of more than 100 mph when he sideswiped a passenger vehicle, was ejected from the bike, and fatally struck by oncoming traffic, reported the Los Angeles Times.

Speeding is a major contributor to motorcycle accidents, and has been for quite some time. In 2001, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that speeding was a factor in 42 percent of motorcyclist fatalities. Over the years, the percentage of fatal motorcycle crashes involving speeding continued to increase: 48 percent of the 1,791 motorcycle riders killed in single-vehicle crashes in 2009 were speeding, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Moreover, nearly half of motorcycle fatalities occurred in single-vehicle accidents.

Last July, a single-vehicle motorcycle accident claimed the life of a soldier who had recently returned from Afghanistan and his passenger in Buena Park. While traveling near the intersection of Malvern Avenue and Monticello Avenue, 22-year-old Johnny Carrillo struck a median, skidding out of control before crashing into a pole. He was pronounced dead at the scene, while his female passenger died at a local hospital. Investigators believed alcohol and speeding contributed to the accident.

Drinking and driving has long been a problem among motorcyclists, accounting for 42 percent of fatal single-vehicle accidents in 2009, according to the IIHS. According to the California Highway Patrol, the primary cause for 59 percent of the motorcycle collisions in 2005 were unsafe speed, improper turning, and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Whether operating a motorcycle or a passenger vehicle, avoiding speeding, drinking and driving, and unsafe turning will likely decrease the risk of fatal and injury accidents like the ones that recently occurred in Orange County, explains an attorney.

By: Larry Drexel

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Larry Drexel is a Public Relations manager. To obtain free, informative books or articles he suggests visiting Orange County injury attorney.