Study Compares Off-Road Vehicle and Motorcycle Crashes
A recent study published in the Journal of Surgical Research compared statistics in crashes involving off-road vehicles to motorcycles. Examples of standard off-road vehicles include dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), also known as four-wheelers. This study is important because there has been a rapid rise in the number of off-road vehicles being used on city streets. Of note, in many locations, riding off-road vehicles on city streets is illegal.
The researchers looked at the type and severity of the injuries stemming from accidents involving either off-road vehicles or motorcycles. They also studied the fatality rates in these two types of accidents. By better understanding the traumatic injuries that individuals sustain in these collisions, medical professionals and patients can be better prepared for the treatment process during medical care.
The Design of the Research Study: Off-Road Vehicles vs. Motorcycles
According to the researchers, this study was the first of its kind to be published in a peer-reviewed academic journal. With the changing vehicle distribution on major city streets, this information is essential in planning for the future.
The researchers looked at more than 1,500 individuals who suffered injuries in accidents involving either off-road vehicles or motorcycles. All of these accidents took place in a paved road in either an urban or a suburban area.
The study leaders divided the accidents by the type of vehicle involved. They also categorized the injuries of the individuals by type and severity. Finally, the researchers tracked helmet usage along with fatalities. They plugged the information into statistical software to uncover the trends.
The Results of the Research Study
Once the data was collected and analyzed, the information revealed several important trends. First, there were some similarities between off-road vehicle collisions and motorcycle accidents. Both types of road traffic accidents had similar rates of traumatic brain injuries. The individuals who were diagnosed with neurological damage also had similar levels of consciousness between the two types of accidents. Of note, if the individual was not wearing a helmet, they were more likely to suffer a TBI if they were using an off-road vehicle than a motorcycle.
There were also a few crucial differences between the two accidents. First, those riding motorcycles were more likely to die in a crash when compared to off-road collisions. This was uncovered despite the statistic showing that 90 percent of motorcycle riders wore a helmet, compared to under 40 percent of those riding an off-road vehicle. Motorcycle riders were more likely to suffer chest injuries while those using an off-road vehicle were more likely to suffer facial fractures. Finally, the average age of those riding a motorcycle was 39, while the average age of off-road vehicle riders was 26.
Conclusions of the Research Study
The researchers had some interesting findings based on the research. The difference in helmet usage rate and accident fatality numbers appear to be backward. Motorcycle riders were more likely to wear a helmet yet were also more likely to die in an accident. The researchers believe this might be due to motorcycle riders being a little bit older than those riding an off-road vehicle. Individuals of advanced age are less able to tolerate serious injuries. There might also be differences between the accidents that were not identified in the study.
The researchers were concerned about the lack of helmet use in off-road vehicle users, which likely contributed to the higher incidence of facial injuries. More needs to be done to promote helmet use among this study population. Research should also be done to improve the current designs of helmets moving forward.
Watch YouTube Video: Motorcycle Crashes Caught on GoPro & Dirt Bike Fails and Mishaps. The video below shows a compilation of motorcycle and dirt bike crashes.
Motorcycle Accident Attorneys in Sacramento
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento Motorcycle Accident Attorney. This study shows that people need to use extreme caution when using both off-road vehicles and motorcycles in an urban area. If someone you know has suffered major injuries in a motorcycle accident due to the negligence of another person or entity, please contact me today at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free, friendly legal advice.
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