Catastrophic auto accidents in Washington, DC and elsewhere in the United States can have devastating consequences. These include motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycles. If you ride a motorcycle, you may be interested to learn that some states have more negative track records for catastrophic accidents involving motorcycles.

States with the most motorcycle accidents

When considering catastrophic auto accidents, there are 10 states considered most dangerous for motorcycles. These include the following:

• Mississippi
• Texas
• South Carolina
• Florida
• Arizona
• North Carolina
• New Mexico
• Kentucky
• Missouri
• Louisiana

Time of day when most motorcycle accidents occur

If you ride a motorcycle, you should know the most dangerous time of day for motorcycle accidents, not only in the top 10 states but in other locations as well. More than half of all motorcycle accidents in the United States occur between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Generally speaking, this period includes the afternoon commute time, which is one of the busiest times on roadways daily. The more motorists on roadways, the greater the risk to motorcyclists.

Reducing accident risk

There are steps for everyone on the road to take to lessen the risk of motorcycle accidents. A key strategy is to lower speeds. Research demonstrates that lower speeds reduce the risk of motorcycle accidents. This includes reduced speed for both automobile drivers and motorcyclists.

Driving while intoxicated is another major reason why motorcycle accidents occur. Drunk or impaired driving must always be avoided.

Finally, maintaining a motorcycle in prime condition is crucial. Oftentimes, an underlying or contributing cause of motorcycle accidents is a failure to perform regular maintenance. While a failure to repair a vehicle or motorcycle may not be the initial cause of a crash, it can aggravate an accident.

If you were injured in a crash while riding a motorcycle, you could be facing a long recovery and significant medical bills. A personal injury attorney may be able to help you pursue compensation.