Toronto Motorcycle Accident Lawyers Discuss the Dangers Riders Face
In many situations, a motorcycle accident will result in more damage than a car crash. One vehicle clearly offers more physical protection from other motorists and objects than the other.
In fact, motorcycle accidents are five times more deadly than car accidents, according to research conducted at the University of Toronto. The team there crunched some startling numbers that show how devastating motorcycle accidents really are. The hope, the lead researcher says, is that this information will encourage the development and use of more motorcycle safety features.
"We know that the additional risk associated with driving a motorcycle has not translated into improvements in motorcycle safety,” says Daniel Pincus, the study’s author. “So we hope that estimating the medical costs of care for motorcycle crashes may provide an additional incentive to improve safety.”
Serious injuries are common in motorcycle accidents
Here's some information from the U of T study that demonstrates the differences between car and motorcycle accidents. Compared to car accidents, motorcycle accidents:
- Cause 3 times as many injuries
- Are 10 times more severe
- Cause medical bills that are 6 times more expensive
- Cause 5 times as many fatalities
Researchers analyzed records of people hospitalized due to motorcycle accidents in Ontario from 2007 to 2013. The goal was to find patterns, similarities, and trends. In addition to discovering how much more severe a motorcycle accident is compared to a car accident, the study reveals that:
- Motorcycle riders in accidents have an average age of 36.
- Fatal crash victims were more than 80 percent more likely to die in a motorcycle accident than a car wreck.
- The mean cost of a car accident is about $3,000.
- The mean cost of a motorcycle accident is more than $5,800.
- The average motorcycle accident costs the Ontario public health care system 6 times more than a car accident.
Motorcycle accidents in Toronto
Toronto is no stranger to motorcycle accidents. Recent incidents include a fatal DVP collision, a crash involving a police cruiser, and another fatal accident in the West End. In December 2021, a memorial for a man killed in a Toronto motorcycle accident three years ago was organized by Safe Parkside. The community group is pushing for a redesign and safety upgrade for Parkside Drive.
Some neighborhoods are more dangerous for drivers than others. In 2020, Toronto Police responded to multiple fatal crashes in the neighborhoods of Smithfield, Malvern, Mimico (including Humber Bay Shores), Tam O'Shanter-Sullivan, West Hill, Wexford, and Maryvale.
Ontario Provincial Police say that excessive speed and failing to yield the right of way are leading contributing factors to motorcycle deaths.
Injured riders need experienced legal representation
After a crash, motorcyclists often suffer severe injuries, such as:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), including concussions
- Facial injuries that may require plastic surgery
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs) that may cause partial or permanent paralysis
- Painful fractures and broken bones
- Amputations and severed limbs
- Soft tissue injuries (torn rotator cuff, torn ACL/MCL, etc.)
- Biker's arm (injuries to the nerves in the upper arm)
- Severe cases of road rash, which may require surgery
When motorcycle accidents happen in Canada, injured riders have the right to seek compensation for their losses. At Smitiuch Injury Law, our Toronto motorcycle accident lawyers have the knowledge, experience, and resources to help you secure the compensation you need and deserve so you can overcome your crash and stop worrying about your future.
If you were injured or a loved one died in a Greater Toronto Area motorcycle accident, contact us today for a free and confidential case consultation.
