Anyone can become injured due to a motor vehicle accident, and those who operate motorcycles are no exception. In fact, motorcycle crashes carry a higher fatality rate than crashes involving either cars or trucks.
With that said, there are certain behaviors that put people more at risk of sustaining serious physical trauma from an accident.
Those who do not wear helmets
In South Carolina, the law says that only people who are under the age of 21 need to wear a helmet when operating or riding a motorcycle on public highways. This law allows people over the age of 21 to make their own decisions regarding whether or not to wear a helmet. However, it is important to note that people who do not wear helmets have a much higher chance of getting severely hurt and sustaining a traumatic brain injury if they happen to crash.
Those who drive over the speed limit
Driving faster than is safe for road conditions increases the risk of not only getting in an accident but also facing a serious injury from that accident. When someone crashes into something at a high rate of speed, they feel the impact far more than if they were traveling at a lower speed. It is wise to adhere to speed limits or even drive a little under the limit if the weather is bad.
By being aware of factors that contribute to sustaining a serious or fatal injury, motorcyclists can take steps to decrease the likelihood of that happening.
