Jun 15, 2021 in News Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle Accidents: Can Ontario and Alberta Reduce Motorcycle Fatalities from 2020 Peaks?

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a multitude of unpredictable trends and events, including some - like drastic spikes in motorcycle fatalities in Alberta and Ontario last year - that impact personal injury lawyers. Alberta reported 21 deaths in 2020, up from just 11 in 2019 and 16 in 2018. The Alberta Motorcycle Safety Society (AMSS) believes the 90 per cent increase was caused in part by sweeping COVID restrictions. ?All of the training centres shut down, and as well, the government structure for registering your bike and getting your licence all either shut down or were really, really hard to get into,? said Marty Forbes of the AMSS to the Edmonton Journal. ?Motorcycles were the last priority and of course you only have half a year to do it, if that.? Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers has represented seriously injured accident victims, including victims of motor vehicle collisions, for more than 50 years. During that time, we have come to understand the unique risk factors associated with motorcycle accidents, including the relatively little protection motorcyclists have compared to other road users. ?Motorcycle crashes peak in the summer as warmer weather and conditions bring more riders onto the road,? the RCMP explained in a recent news release. ?Motorcycles are smaller than passenger vehicles, harder to see and do not offer the protection of a frame, seatbelt or airbags.? In Ontario, the OPP reported 42 fatalities on roads they patrolled last year, up from just 27 fatalities in 2019. Seventy per cent of the fatal accidents in Alberta were single-vehicle collisions believed to be caused by speeding, stunting, and loss of control, behaviours that would have been discouraged in training centre sessions. The hope now is that fatal accidents in both Alberta and Ontario will return to pre-pandemic levels in 2021. In order for this to happen, all drivers must adhere closely to the rules of the road. ?Obeying the speed limits, riding safely, excessive speeds and sudden lane changes, sudden stops things like that can make it very difficult for other drivers to perceive and react to a motorcycle,? said Const. Melissa Rancourt of the Greater Sudbury Police Service to CTV News Northern Ontario in May. ?It also makes it very difficult for the rider to react to changing road conditions, such as debris or other traffic.? Other motorists should be particularly aware of motorcycles in intersections and should always leave a following distance of at least three to four seconds behind motorcycles on highways.

Contact Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers

If you or a member of your family has been injured in a motorcycle accident, contact Neinstein Personal Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced motorcycle accident lawyer. Our team will happily review your case, lay out your options, and explain your next steps.   Image: Shutterstock