• 27
  • May
    2011

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) recently released a preliminary report on motorcyclist traffic fatalities by State. California continued its reputation as a dangerous place for bikers, as data showed it to have the third highest amount of motorcycle-crash deaths in the country for the first half of 2010 - only Florida and Texas had more.

The Bay Area has a particularly high propensity for motorcycle accidents, as a large number of bikers are on the roads battling traffic congestion, curvy coastal roads and motorists that fail to "see" motorcycles before turning into traffic. Few places offer a ride as scenic as the San Francisco Area, but few places present as much danger, either. Thankfully, the GHSA reported some good news to Bay bikers, too.

California appears to have achieved a significant drop in motorcyclist fatalities in 2010 from the prior year. In the first six months of 2009, California had 201 deaths. In 2010, that number dropped to 166. While the decline is promising, keep in mind that this report only includes the first 6 months of 2010, and the data is preliminary.

Regardless of improvement, the Bay Area still has too many motorcycle crashes, fatal and nonfatal. Drivers in cars, trucks and taxis continue to treat bikers as second-class motorists. Just days ago, a driver rear-ended a motorcyclist on Lombard Street. Rather than stopping, calling an ambulance and assisting the injured biker, the motorist continued driving for several blocks before stopping. This incident is emblematic of the treatment that many San Francisco motorcyclists endure daily.

Remember to ride safe and assume that other motorists don't see you out there on the road. If you or a loved one is seriously injured or killed in a crash, contact a Bay Area personal injury attorney who is experienced in litigating biker accident cases, so that you can hold the at-fault party responsible for all the expenses and damages resulting from the collision.

Sources: 1) GHSA.org, "Motorcyclist Traffic Fatalities by State," 2010 preliminary data. 2) SFAPPEAL.com, "Driver on Lombard Strikers Motorcyclist, Keeps Going With Accident Victim on Hood" May 26, 2011.