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Is It Dangerous To Ride A Motorcycle In St. Petersburg?

This article's title may be a bit misleading. Of course, riding a motorcycle in St. Petersburg can be dangerous, but so can riding one in other parts of the country. For that matter, getting into a car or commercial truck comes with risks too. However, today's focus is only on motorcycle accidents.

Sure, people operate bikes in and around St. Petersburg all the time without incident. That doesn't mean disasters cannot strike, though. After all, motorcyclists share the streets with other drivers. If a negligent motorist is in the same vicinity when a person is out and about riding, that can cause an accident. Let's look at some stats to see if driving a motorcycle is really as dangerous as many people believe. 



Motorcycle Accident Fatalities


Motorcycles aren't enclosed like vehicles. Thus, when bikes are struck by cars, their riders are thrown through the air, and hit the ground hard. Then again, they can get flung into guardrails, trees, and buildings too. Not to mention, motorcyclists can land on roads and get run over by vehicles. With all that being said, it should be easy to see how people die in such incidents.

But don't merely take these words for it. We're providing some stats here so that you can see the dangers for yourself. According to the Insurance Information Institute, there were 8,317,363 registered motorcycles in the country in 2020. That same year, 5,579 fatalities came about in accidents. The research reveals that's a fatality rate of 67.08 per 100,000 registered motorcycles.

Motorcycle Accident Injuries


Thankfully, not every motorcycle accident results in a death. Sometimes, people are able to walk away from crashes with nothing wrong. But on other occasions, they're left with significant injuries like fractures, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries. In 2020, the research from the Insurance Informatin Institute reveals there were 83,000 injuries caused by motorcycle crashes. With 8,317,363 registered bikes that year, that's equal to an injury rate of 992 per 100,000 registered motorcycles.

Does The Time Of Day Matter?


Obviously, people get out on the roadways at different times. However, if you're riding a motorcycle in St. Petersburg or somewhere else, it may be best to avoid hitting the streets on two wheels at certain times. For instance, the III research shows that between the hours of 3 pm and 6 pm on weekdays in 2020, there were a total of 716 motorcyclists killed. Meanwhile, between 6 pm and 9 pm were the most dangerous on weekends. That span and those days were responsible for 676 deaths in that same year.

Should You Hire A Motorcycle Accident Attorney?


Have you been severely injured in a motorcycle accident? Or did a negligent driver claim the life of a family member riding their bike? If you answered yes, you might have the grounds to seek compensation. Recovering restitution can help you with medical bills, final expenses, and more. So, don't delay. Instead, put the St. Pete Lawyer in your corner. He will put his experience to the test, fighting for what you deserve.