Let’s start with the facts, compiled by the New Jersey Department of Law & Public Safety.

• Between 2003 and 2007, 377 motorcyclists died on New Jersey roads.
• Between 2003 and 2007, motorcycle registrations increased by 17 percent.
• Annually an estimated 2,500 motorcycles are involved in crashes in New Jersey.

Recklessness is an element in motorcycle accidents, suggesting that New Jersey drivers should be enrolling in safe driving trainings to increase awareness of how to diminish risk while still enjoying the uniqueness of the ride.

• 22 percent of motorcycle fatalities involved riders without a motorcycle endorsement.
• 21 percent of motorcycle accidents involved excessive speeds.
• 27 percent involved alcohol use.

New Jersey mandates that cyclists wear helmets at all times. P.L. 39:3-76.7

Wearing a helmet saves lives. Riders without helmets are three times more likely to die from head injuries, no matter the speed, than are riders wearing a DOT approved helmet at the time of impact.

In 2003 Pennsylvania repealed its mandatory helmet law, permitting drivers over the age of 21 to make this a personal decision, so long as they had at least two years of experience or had taken a safety cycle program. Since 2003, the number of deaths in motorcycle crashes has increased 35 percent. In 2012, 210 motorcyclists died in Pennsylvania from fatal crashes, and only 100 of those who died were wearing helmets.

Motorcycle accidents are costly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last year estimated that a motorcycle death can cost $1.2 million and a serious injury $172,000, including medical expenses, the cost of emergency medical services and lost wages and productivity. If you or a family member has been involved in an accident involving a motorcycle, consult with an experienced personal injury attorney to protect your interests and to secure the full range of your insurance benefits.