Companies finally focusing on motorcycle safety

Motorcycle safety is becoming a hot industry, according to some experts. A number of companies are developing new technologies that could help prevent motorcycle accidents in South Carolina and elsewhere.

While automobile safety has been big business for decades, relatively few advancements have been made in motorcycle safety over the same period of time. However, federal crash statistics show that motorcycle riders are alarmingly vulnerable during crashes, and companies are finally starting to take action. For example, Bosch is working on multiple technologies, including adaptive cruise control, that could increase motorcycle safety. Meanwhile, Canadian-based Damon X Labs and Israel-based Ride Vision are also developing safety technologies that could prevent motorcycle crashes.

While there is some crossover between automobile and motorcycle safety technologies, motorcycle riders typically have different needs than car drivers. For example, automatic braking is becoming increasingly common in cars, but such technology could injure or even kill a motorcycle rider. Also, the vast majority of motorcycle crashes occur during good weather, so technologies that reduce the risk of crashes during snow or rain aren’t a top priority. Instead, companies are exploring technologies that provide better vision for riders, such as 360-degree camera systems.

In 2016, fatal motorcycle accidents were 28 times more likely per mile traveled than automobile fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Riders who are lucky enough to survive a motorcycle accident often suffer severe injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, broken bones and spinal ailments. In order to recover medical expenses and other damages, it may be advisable for an injured victim to file a personal injury lawsuit against the party responsible for the crash. An attorney could review the case and work to obtain the highest settlement possible for the victim.