As a Personal Injury Law Firm in Philadelphia, the Pearce Law Firmhas handled numerous motorcycle accidents in Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania. A Pennsylvania motorcyclist was killed this week when he swerved to avoid another motorcycle accident on Route 181 in Sparta. Sixty-year-old Charles Whipple of Canadensis was riding with other bikers when the motorcyclist in front of him lost control, skidded across the roadway and crashed into the curb. While maneuvering to avoid his fallen comrade, the brakes on Whipple’s motorcycle locked, sending him crashing into a stopped car. Whipple was pronounced dead after arrival at the hospital. The driver of the car and her passenger were unhurt. Police cited the motorcyclist who caused the initial accident with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, failure to keep right and failure to wear a safety helmet.
When Pennsylvania repealed its motorcycle helmet law in 2003, motorcycle deaths rose in the Philadelphia area and across the state. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, fatal head injuries incurred by helmet-less motorcycle riders increased 66%; and serious head injuries requiring hospitalization, by 78%. Head injuries account for the majority of all motorcycle accident injuries and fatalities nationwide. Injuries to other parts of the body account for just 28% of motorcycle accident hospitalizations and 25% of motorcycle deaths.
Another factor driving up motorcycle injuries and fatalities is the growing number of motorcycle riders over the age of 40. Spurred by retiring Baby Boomers, motorcycle registrations have increased by more than 100% over the past 10 years. Unfortunately, older bodies don’t bounce back as quickly as younger ones. You can find out more here. People over 40 who are in a motorcycle accident suffer more serious injuries, require lengthier hospital stays and longer recovery times, and are more likely to die, even from less serious injuries, than their younger counterparts. When an accident results in death due to someone else’s negligence, a wrongful death action can be brought by the survivors and beneficiaries.
If you suffer serious personal injuries in a motorcycle accident, consult an experienced Philadelphia personal injury attorney for a free case evaluation.