Motorcyclist Injuries in North Carolina

A Comparison of Helmet Use Among Motorcyclist Fatalities in the Southeastern United States: 2010

Source: National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, Fatal Analysis Reporting System, 2010Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

• North Carolina has one of the highest percentages of helmet use in the Southeast.

• Helmet use is nearly 36 percent higher in North Carolina (93.7%) than the Southeast (69%) and 65 percent higher than the United States as a whole (56.7%).

Source: National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, Fatal Analysis Reporting System, 2000-2010Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

Rates of Motorcyclist and Motor Vehicle Fatalities by Year per 100,000 Registered Vehicles: North Carolina,

2000-2010

Number of Motorcyclist Fatalities Expected with a Repeal of the Helmet Law: North Carolina, 2001-2010

Source: National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, Fatal Analysis Reporting System, 2001-2010Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

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Number of expected deaths without a helmet law.

Motorcycle helmets saved an estimated 877 lives over ten years.

Source: CDC WISQARSAnalysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit*Costs expressed in 2010 North Carolina prices

Observed and Expected Costs Associated with a Repeal of the Helmet Law: North Carolina, 2010

Estimated Lifetime Costs Associated with Motorcyclist FatalitiesCosts Associated with

Actual Number of Fatalities

Costs Associated with Number of Excess

FatalitiesMedical Cost $2,807,000 $1,646,000Work Loss Cost $250,261,000 $146,750,000Total Combined Costs $253,068,000 $148,396,000

In 2010, helmets saved nearly $148 million in costs* associated with motorcyclist fatalities.

Source: State Center for Health Statistics, Hospital Discharge File, 2011 (Provisional)Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

Hospitalization Charges Associated with Motorcyclist Injuries: North Carolina, 2011*

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• In 2011, more than $75 million dollars in hospitalization charges were associated with motorcyclist injuries.

• $19 million (26 percent ) were charged to Medicare or Medicaid.

*Charges may not reflect final costs.

Source: State Center for Health Statistics, Hospital Discharge File, 2011 (Provisional)Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

Motorcyclist Hospitalizations with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): North Carolina, 2011

*ICF: intermediate care facility; LTF: long-term care facility; SNF: skilled nursing facility

Of the 1,101 motorcyclist hospitalizations, 25 percent (275) had a TBI. Motorcyclists with TBI were 8 times more likely to die compared with those without a TBI. In addition, the average charge for TBI patients was $83,428 compared to $63,688 for other motorcyclist injuries.61%

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