What Accounts for Higher Fatalities in Rural Motorcycle Accidents?

Motorcycle accidents consistently result in a greater risk of injury and fatality compared to accidents involving other vehicles, due in large part to the inherent exposure and lack of protection that motorcycles offer their riders. 

Automobiles have body shells and safety features such as crumple zones, airbags, seat belts and reinforced cabins. By contrast, motorcycles afford virtually no such protections. Riders are fully exposed to the force of an impact, to being ejected from the motorcycle or to colliding with another vehicle or stationary object, any of which can heighten the risk of grave injury or death.

Although traffic congestion and population density in cities can result in a higher overall number of motorcycle crashes, studies consistently show that rural motorcycle accidents are often more lethal. This higher fatality rate on rural roads arises from distinct, interrelated factors:

• Speed — Rural roads frequently have higher speed limits than city streets, allowing cars, trucks and motorcycles to travel much faster. Collisions that take place at these elevated speeds produce significantly greater kinetic force, leading to more severe and often non-survivable injuries. Impact at high velocity can overwhelm the limited protective gear a motorcyclist might be wearing, which makes survival far less likely than in lower-speed urban crashes.

• Environmental hazards — Roads in less populated areas are often not well-maintained, leading to increased chances of encountering loose gravel, potholes, uneven surfaces or unexpected debris. Animal crossings, such as deer suddenly appearing in the roadway, are unpredictable and dangerous. Poor or nonexistent lighting on rural roads further reduces visibility at night, making it harder for riders to spot and react to obstacles in time to avoid a collision. Collisions with large, fixed objects such as trees, utility poles and roadside barriers are also more common in rural settings, and these crashes have a higher likelihood of being fatal.

• Delay in emergency response times — In urban areas, emergency services can typically arrive on the scene of an accident quickly due to proximity and infrastructure. In contrast, the remote nature of many rural areas means that it may take substantially longer for ambulances or paramedics to reach an injured motorcyclist. In incidents involving traumatic injuries, quick medical intervention can be vital for survival. Delays in treatment in rural locations often result in outcomes that might otherwise have been preventable with more immediate care.

Even when riding defensively, adhering to speed limits and wearing the most protective gear possible, motorcyclists can fall victim to the dangers inherent to rural areas, particularly when other drivers act negligently. In the aftermath of an accident, securing the counsel of a knowledgeable motorcycle accident attorney becomes vital. A skilled attorney understands the complex factors involved and can help injured individuals or their families seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, property loss and other damages. 

Pulverman & Pulverman, LLP, based in Santa Barbara, California, represents motorcyclists throughout the Central Coast of California who have been injured in accidents caused by negligent drivers. Call us at 805-962-0397 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.