Motorcyclist Injuries in North

Carolina

A Comparison of

Helmet Use Among

Motorcyclist Fatalities

in the Southeastern

United States: 2009

Source: National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, Fatal Analysis Reporting System, 2009

Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

• North Carolina has one of the

highest percentages of helmet use

in the Southeast.

• Helmet use is nearly 30 percent

higher in North Carolina (90.3%)

than the Southeast (70.0%) and 65

percent higher than the United

States as a whole (54.7%).

Source: National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, Fatal Analysis Reporting System, 2000-2009

Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

Rates of Motorcyclist and Motor Vehicle Fatalities by

Year per 100,000 Registered Vehicles: North Carolina,

2000-2009

135.6

107.8

138.6118.6125.6

135.1

113.0

135.5144.2

173.0

21.322.426.124.224.725.025.025.324.424.7

0

40

80

120

160

200

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Year

Ra

te p

er

10

0,0

00

re

gis

tere

d

ve

hic

les

Motorcyclist Fatalities All Motor Vehicle Fatalities

Number of Motorcyclist Fatalities Expected with a

Repeal of the Helmet Law: North Carolina, 2000-2009

Source: National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, Fatal Analysis Reporting System, 2000-

2009

Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Year

Nu

mb

er

of

Ex

pe

cte

d D

ea

ths

Actual Number of Deaths Excess Deaths

Number of

expected

deaths

without a

helmet law.

156173

195171

216241 238

319

268 259

Since 2000, motorcycle

helmets have saved an

estimated 828 lives.

Motorcyclist Fatalities and License Compliance:

North Carolina, 2009

1 2 2 1 11 2 14

124

12

5 53

10

15

20

31

17

4

16

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

< 16 16 - 20 21- 24 25 - 34 35 - 44 45 - 54 55 - 64 65+

Age Group

Nu

mb

er

of

Fata

liti

es

Not Licensed

No Motorcycle

License Required

No Valid

Motorcycle

License

Valid Motorcycle

License

Source: National Highway Safety Traffic Administration, Fatal Analysis Reporting System, 2000-2009

Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

Source: CDC WISQARS, 2005

Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

Observed and Expected Costs Associated with a

Repeal of the Helmet Law: North Carolina, 2005

$230,599,817 $141,754,000 Work Loss Cost

$233,384,831$143,466,000Total Combined Costs

$2,785,014 $1,712,000 Medical Cost

Costs Associated with

Number of Excess

Fatalities

Costs Associated with

Actual Number of

Fatalities

Estimated Lifetime Costs Associated with Motorcyclist Fatalities

In 2005, helmets saved nearly $90 million in costs associated with

motorcyclist fatalities.

Source: State Center for Health Statistics, Hospital Discharge File, 2008

Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

Hospitalization Charges Associated with

Motorcyclist Injuries: North Carolina, 2008*

$4.97

$9.32

$3.78

$17.25$20.37

$12.52

$0

$5

$10

$15

$20

$25

Medica

re

Medica

id

Oth

er Federa

l Pro

gram

BCBS

Oth

er Insu

rance

Typ

eUnkn

own/S

elf-Pay

Health Insurance Type

Ho

spit

al

Ch

arg

es

(Mil

lio

ns)• In 2008, more than

$68 million dollars in

hospitalization charges

were associated with

motorcyclist injuries.

• $14 million (21

percent ) were charged

to Medicare or

Medicaid.

*Charges may not reflect final costs.

Source: State Center for Health Statistics, Hospital Discharge File, 2008

Analysis by Injury Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit

Motorcyclist Hospitalizations with a Traumatic Brain

Injury (TBI): North Carolina, 2008

*ICF: intermediate care facility; LTF:

long-term care facility; SNF: skilled

nursing facility

Of the 1,281 motorcyclist hospitalizations, 25 percent

(381) had a TBI. Motorcyclist hospitalizations with a TBI

were 5 times more likely to die than all other

motorcyclist hospitalizations. In addition, the average

charge for TBI patients was $68,998 compared to

$48,107 for other motorcyclist injuries.

62%

19%9%

5% 3% 2%

72%

6%16%

1% 2% 3%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Home

Rehab

Home H

ealth

Death

ICF,

LTF,

SN

F*O

ther/

Unknow

n

Disposition

Pe

rce

nt

of

Ho

spit

ali

zati

on

s

TBI All