Ohio Motorcycle Deaths and Injury Down Still Too Many

Ohio motorcycle deaths are down but there are still too many injuries and deaths that could be avoided.   In fact there is a lead story in the Columbus paper about the decrease of fatal motorcycle accidents in Ohio.

The Dayton paper reported on Ohio motorcycle crashes being down. The Hamilton Journal news reported on motorcycle crashes being down. Here's the actual statistics:

Motorcycle crashes and fatalities

State of Ohio:
2011 to date: 2,919 crashes; 120 deaths
2010: 4,382 crashes; 168 deaths
2009: 4,183 crashes; 161 deaths
Butler County
2011 to date: 82 crashes; 2 deaths
2010: 131 crashes; 6 deaths
2009: 99 crashes; 3 deaths
Hamilton County
2011 to date: 183 crashes; 7 deaths
2010: 259 crashes; 4 deaths
2009: 270 crashes; 8 deaths
Warren County
2011 to date: 41 crashes; 1 death
2010: 80 crashes; 3 deaths
2009: 71 crashes; 5 deaths
Montgomery County
2011 to date: 112 crashes; 2 deaths
2010: 182 crashes; 8 deaths
2009: 156 crashes; 3 deaths
Greene County
2011 to date: 50 crashes; no deaths
2010: 62 crashes; 3 deaths
2009: 57 crashes; 1 death
Source: Ohio Department of Public Safety

 However I would argue that part of the reason is the inordinate rain this summer . In fact with the beautiful days we've had lately there has been a spate of crashes. The run the gamut from the car turning in front of the motorcycle, failing to yield the right of way , to single motorcycle crashes and injury to passengers of motorcycle crashes.  Of course there is still some good riding weather left and the crash date for 2011 is to date. Though with 2919 crashes it does appear that this is a substantial reduction from all of 2010 when there was 4382.

But don't tell this to the families that have lost a loved one to a motorcycle crash wrongfully caused. I've read about plenty of Ohio motorcycle deaths recently .As a motorcycle accident lawyer it's hard to believe the double wammy of motorists acting ignorantly and bikers failing to control their motorcycles. Ricky Perkins was killed when a car came across three lanes of traffic. Timothy Verdinski was killed when a motorist turned in front of him. Both negligent acts of the auto drivers. Melinda Hipsher just died while riding as a passenger when a motorcyclist lost control.

Construction sites can be virtual traps for the motorcyclist. At least now ODOT doesn't use blackout tape for more that two weeks anymore since a motorcyclist I represent was killed as a result of worn and slippery tape.

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