The long-weekend brought tragedy to Vancouver Island, where a motorcyclist lost his life after an accident on Sunday.

The crash took place early in the morning on the Island Highway in Nanoose Bay.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation. But the RCMP have said  that the man riding the motorcycle lost control, was flung from his bike and smashing into a sign. He died on impact.

The poor guy was only 33.

It’s nothing short of a tragedy. And my heart goes out to the victim’s family, whose pain I can’t even begin to imagine.

For the rest of us this unfortunate incident is a reminder of just how dangerous motorcycle crashes can be.

According to ICBC  more than 2,200 motorcycle crashes happen in BC every  year. That might sound like a lot.  But it’s a drop in the bucket when you consider that there are more than 120,000 accidents reported accidents per annum.

And while  motorcycles are only involved in a fraction of the collisions in BC, the reality is that these  accidents are amongst the most dangerous.

In BC more than 300 people die in traffic accidents every year.

Of those almost 12% are motorcyclists.

When you consider that motorcycle accidents account for just 2% of the total number of collisions in BC, you can see just how dangerous these incidents are.

Why?

Because even the slightest nudge can spell serious injury to a motorcyclist.

Think about it.

Drivers are cocooned in their reinforced airbag-enabled shells. Motorcyclists on the other hand, have some leathers and a crash helmet.

It’s no wonder then that bikers are eight times more likely to die in an accident.   

So if you’re a rider you need to take a safety first approach by exercising reasonable care, regularly getting your bike checked and wearing protective clothing at all times.

But even if you’ve never set foot on a bike you can still do your bit to keep motorcyclists safe.

As drivers it’s up to us to protect the safety of all other road users, including motorcyclists. So check your blind spot. And keep a safe distance from motorcyclists.  Their lives might depend on it.

At McComb Witten we’re proud of our track record for supporting BC’s motorcyclists. You can find a wealth of information and advice at our website’s dedicated motorcycle section.

And if you have any questions give me a call at 604-255-9018 or e-mail me at [email protected] .

 I’m always happy to help.

Jeff Witten

McComb Witten Personal Injury Lawyers