With spring right around the corner, Wisconsin's roadways will see an increasing amount of motorcyclists out enjoying the warmer weather. While this is something to eagerly look forward to if you are a motorcycle owner, it is also something to be cautious about. The fact of the matter is, injuries and fatalities in motorcycle accidents are not uncommon in Wisconsin.

Motorcycle Crash Statistics

Current reports show that between 2013 and 2017 there were 11,007 crashes involving motorcycles. Out of those crashes, 394 people died and 10,217 were injured. The report also showed that, out of those killed, 383 were motorcyclists. A recent news story reported that crashes involving motorcycles occur approximately every 4 hours in Wisconsin, on average.

Unfortunately, these statistics aren’t showing signs of changing. According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, 2018 had 85 fatal crashes that resulted in 92 fatalities. And so far, 2019 has had 67 fatal crashes resulting in 69 fatalities, with 32 of them happening in February alone.

Motorcycle veterans – those that have been riding for a long time – may be less likely to experience a crash, but they may also be more susceptible to serious and life-threatening injuries. In fact, one study determined that thoracic injuries were significantly more common in those aged 60 or older than in younger riders. Learn more about the risks for older riders, and how you can seek compensation if yourself or someone you love is injured in a motorcycle accident.

A Closer Look at the Statistics

Published in the journal Injury Prevention, the study compared nonfatal injuries among older riders to those of younger riders. Also analyzed were fatal injuries, hospitalizations, and the frequency of crashes. Overall, riders in the 20 to 39 age group experienced a total of 921,229 accidents from 2001 to 2008, while older riders (those over the age of 60) experienced only 65,660 incidents. However, the number of thoracic injuries were significantly higher in the 60-plus age group. These same riders were also more at risk for other serious and life-threatening injuries, partly because of their weaker bone structure, lack of elasticity in the chest wall, and pre-existing health conditions.

With the weather warming, motorcyclists are dusting off their bikes, pulling out their gear, and making plans for the open road. They have waited months to once again experience the rush, the feel of the wind whipping against their bodies, and the vibrations of the bike. However, the sense of freedom that they experience comes at a hefty price: the risk of a motorcycle accident that could very well cost them their lives. To remind us all of that risk—riders and drivers alike—cities and organizations across the country have planned events over Motorcycle Safety Month, which takes place in May.

Ride Safe During Motorcycle Safety Month and Beyond

In 2012, nearly 5,000 motorcyclists were killed in traffic accidents. An alarming percentage of those were due to intoxication while riding. Others might have avoided fatality, had they been wearing a DOT approved safety helmet or applicable safety gear. In addition, another portion may have failed to ensure they followed traffic and safety regulations, such as not sharing a lane with a car or failing to make themselves as visible to other motorists as possible. If you are a rider, do not make the same mistakes and remember that, first and foremost, you have to assume personal responsibility for your own safety.