Motorcycles have a reputation as dangerous vehicles. Are they really as dangerous as everyone claims? Compare this: in 2010, only 4,300 people died in motorcycle accidents, where 22,000+ people died that year in car accidents. On the other hand, over the course of 100 million driven miles, motorcycles rack up 35 crashes compared to 1.7 car crashes.

In a motorcycle crash, the driver is much more exposed than in a car. Motorcycles collide with cars more often than with stationary objects, which makes the velocities involved that much higher. Bikers are often significantly unprotected — lacking helmets, protective gear or thick clothing — where someone in a car is riding inside a box designed to save lives. Bikers end up with damage to nerves, joints, the head and even skin in road rash.

Motorcycles are most often driven by students and manual laborers. Those people under 40 years of age are 36 times more likely to be killed on motorcycles than in cars. It’s quite clear that motorcycles are a dangerous vehicle to drive. The reason, statistics seem to say, is a combination of unsafe driving habits, unsafe vehicles and a lack of protective gear.

Infographic authored by Sutliff & Stout, motorcycle accident lawyers. To view the original post, check out the original Motorcycle Accident infographic.