How Effective Are Motorcycle Crash Bars?

Out of all the motorcycle crashes reported in the state of Delaware in 2024, a staggering 64% resulted in personal injuries and 5% tragically proved fatal. While motorcycles account for a small fraction of all the vehicles traversing Delaware’s roads, they account for a devastatingly large percentage of traffic injuries and fatalities, leaving many motorcyclists wondering what they can do to keep themselves safe while riding.

Many riders take advantage of safety mechanisms like motorcycle crash bars to help safeguard against tragic consequences in the event of an accident, but how effective are these accessories, really? Here’s a brief overview of how motorcycle crash bars work and a discussion of how effective they are at staving off serious injury during a motorcycle crash.

What are motorcycle crash bars?

Motorcycle crash bars are a common motorcycle accessory that riders use to enhance their safety in the event of a crash. Crash bars are more or less a kind of metal frame that can be affixed to various parts of a motorcycle to absorb some of the impact of a crash and prevent riders’ limbs from being pinned under their bikes in the event of a fall. Some bikes come with crash bars right out of the factory, but others need to have them added later as a kind of aftermarket upgrade.

What do crash bars do?

Crash bars can be a valuable safety mechanism in a wide variety of crash scenarios because they serve as a barrier between the bike and the road, leaving riders less vulnerable to many of the leading causes of serious motorcycle injuries.

When properly designed and installed, motorcycle crash bars can:

• Create space between a motorcycle and the ground in the event of a crash in order to protect the rider’s lower limbs.
• Reduce damage to critical motorcycle components like the engine, fuel tank, or other parts of the body.
• Safeguard legs from exhaust-burn injuries by preventing the rider from coming into direct contact with hot exhaust pipes.
• Stabilize the bike in low-speed tip-overs that commonly occur in parking lot accidents and other minor collisions.

For many riders, motorcycle crash bars provide added protection that can make a world of difference in the event of an unexpected accident or fall.

Are motorcycle crash bars effective?

While crash bars purport clear benefits, they aren’t foolproof by any means. While these accessories can help to curtail certain accident scenarios, they may fall short when:

• A crash occurs at a high rate of speed: Crash bars tend to perform better in slow-speed crashes, where there is less momentum present to throw a rider from their bike or thrust them into other objects at a high rate of speed.
• They are poorly designed: Not all crash bars are created equal. Remember: crash bars are safety enhancements, not cute accessories. When crash bars emphasize form over function, they tend to leave riders vulnerable to more dangers.
• Crashes affect unprotected components: Crash bars mostly guard the lower half of the bike and rider. While they can be incredibly effective at reducing harm in these areas, they don’t protect the entire body of a motorcycle, nor do they offer protection for riders’ heads, arms, or torsos.
• They are incorrectly installed: Regardless of whether crash bars are installed at the factory or added as an aftermarket upgrade, shoddy installation can lead to reduced effectiveness during a crash. If a crash bar bends, breaks, falls off, or otherwise fails, a rider may wind up suffering from a serious injury.

At the end of the day, motorcycle crash bars can be helpful safety tools, but they are not an acceptable substitute for protective gear and safe riding practices. Failing to regularly wear a helmet, gloves, or other safety gear can lead even a seemingly minor accident to turn tragic and leave injured riders and their loved ones struggling to recover.

Legal options for victims of motorcycle crashes

While safety mechanisms like motorcycle crash bars can help mitigate some of the risks associated with motorcycle crashes, riders can still suffer a broad spectrum of damages. If you are involved in a personal injury motorcycle crash, you may find yourself facing a long road when it comes to rehabilitation, insurance negotiation, or even litigation.

An experienced motorcycle accident attorney can help victims of motorcycle crashes fight for compensation and accountability. Even if motorcycle crash bars helped to offset some of the immediate dangers posed by a crash, it is not unusual for both physical and emotional symptoms to develop or worsen over time. A reliable motorcycle accident attorney can help you fight for the compensation you need to move forward after an accident and confidently face any challenges that might arise as a result of your injuries.

In Delaware, motorcycle accident victims who can prove that their injuries were caused by another party’s negligence may be entitled to compensation for economic and non-economic damages, such as:

• Medical bills
• Rehabilitation and long-term care costs
• Lost wages
• Reduced capacity to work
• Long-term disability
• Property damage
• Emotional distress
• Pain and suffering
• Therapy costs

While the state of Delaware generally does not impose any caps on damages in personal injury claims, it’s important to bear in mind that our state follows a modified comparative negligence system when assessing fault in these cases. Under this system, motorcycle riders can collect damages from another at-fault party in their case as long as their level of fault does not exceed 50%.

However, if a rider is found to be partially responsible for their own injuries, their final damage award will be reduced proportionally to their level of fault. For example, if a judge or insurance company determines a rider was 20% to blame for their own injuries, the rider’s final settlement would be reduced by 20%. An experienced attorney can help accident victims better understand the nuances of this system and work with them to ensure they recover the maximum amount of compensation available to them under the law.

Final thoughts

Due to the elevated risks associated with motorcycle crashes, it is absolutely vital for motorcyclists to take steps to protect themselves while riding in the state of Delaware. Crash bars can provide valuable protection in tip-overs and low-speed accidents, but they can’t always safeguard against serious and life-threatening injuries.

Even with the most comprehensive, dedicated safety protocols in place, some riders may still fall victim to tragic accidents with long-lasting consequences. When this happens, experienced legal counsel can serve as the lifeline for riders and family members navigating present and future uncertainty.

At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we understand exactly what it takes to help injured riders fight back against anti-motorcycle bias and fight for the compensation they need to take back control after a crash. If you or a loved one has been injured in a motorcycle accident in Delaware, our team is here to help. Give us a call today or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team, and let’s discuss how we can help you safeguard your future by fighting for the compensation you deserve.