Older motorcycle riders more susceptible to injury
On behalf of of Frederick & Hagle posted in Motorcycle Accidents on Friday, February 8, 2013.
In Illinois, it is the responsibility of all drivers to share the road. This means that not seeing a motorcyclist is not a sufficient explanation for hitting them and causing injuries that are often permanent and disabling. Negligent behavior that results in a motorcycle accident in Illinois can mean that the offending driver will be hit with a personal injury lawsuit in which the victimized motorcycle rider could stand to seek monetary compensation for their medical expenses, lost wages, ongoing care and other related costs.
It appears that there has been an increase in the number of motorcyclists that are over the age of 60 hitting the open road. A study published recently indicates, however, that these motorcyclists are often those that are most likely to suffer injury in the event that they are involved in a motor vehicle accident in Illinois or elsewhere across the country.
A less resilient body and delayed reaction time could explain why motorcyclists of this age set are three times more likely to require hospitalization following a collision, and two and a half times more likely to have to grapple with serious injury following a collision. However, when negligence is at play, those factors do not impact a victim’s ability to financially recover.
The bottom line is that drivers in Illinois need to be more aware of motorcyclists because of the damage that can result when negligence is thrown into play. While the weather is not ideal for a ride on a motorcycle at present, the temperatures will begin to rise again in the coming months as motorcyclists start their engines after winter to take to the road again.
Source: BBC News Health, “Older motorcyclists ‘more likely to be injured,'” Anna-Marie Lever, Feb. 6, 2013
