Helmet Truths: Insurance and crash data

Medical Costs of Motorcycle Accidents

SOURCE DATA: "An Examination of Motorcyclists Injuries and Costs using North Carolina Motor Vehicle Crash and Trauma Registry Data", by Jane Stutts and Carol Martell, UNC Highway Safety Research Center.

Difference in injuries between motorcyclists & other road trauma cases:

"Injured motorcycle operators admitted to trauma center had lower injury severity scores compared to road trauma victims... They required slightly longer hospital stays, but accrued lower hospital charges."

Average medical costs per accident (Level I & II Trauma Centers)

Motorcyclist injuries: $15,801
Other Road Trauma: $17,892
Non-Road Trauma: $9,559

Medical Insurance Coverage (Private or Commercial Policies)

Motorcyclists: 49%
All Road Trauma cases: 51%
Non-Road Trauma cases: 42%

Cases Dependent on Medicare/Medicaid

Motorcyclists: 8%
Other Road Trauma cases: 14%

But, to keep matters in perspective, the National Safety Council also reports that: In 1991 motorcycles represented:

2% of total U.S. vehicles.

1% of total vehicle accidents.

6% of total vehicle fatalities.

.01% of total U.S. fatalities.

2/3 of all motorcycle vs. car accidents are the fault of the car driver.

92% of the motorcyclists involved in accidents had no formal training, 5.5% had no motorcycle license.

Again, training seems to be the key in these statistics from the National Safety Council. But training should not just include motorcyclists. States must train car drivers in recognizing the unique advantages and disadvantages of motorcycles, and that motorcycles have the right to share the road. Washington state driver's booklets are slated to include information on motorcycles. This is a great step forward, as most driver's manuals state only that motorcycles are difficult to see.

Some chapters in ABATE are starting to visit their local schools, presenting educational information to driver's education students.

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