Elevated Blood Alcohol Levels Increase the Odds of Death after a Motorcycle Crash

A recent study by several doctors queried a database to determine the effects of alcohol on motorcycle accident victims. The study was done because motorcyclists who drink and drive have a generally higher chance of being killed or suffering a disability than drunk car and truck drivers.

The study, reported in the International Journal of the Care of the Injured, queried the National Trauma Data Bank between the years 2012-2014. The study was conducted in 2019. The doctors looked for patients who were 18 years-of-age or older who suffered a traumatic injury, which required being taken to a hospital, after a motorcycle crash and who also had evidence of alcohol in their blood.

The doctors evaluated the patients based on:

• Sex
• Race
• Injury Severity Score (ISS)
• The Glasgow Coma Scale Motor Score (GCSMOT)
• Systolic blood pressure
• Other factors

The study divided the patient into two groups. The first were those patients who had a blood alcohol level of .08 or more – the nationwide standard for intoxicated driving. These patients were included in the study. The second were those patients with a blood alcohol level of less than .08. These patients were excluded from the study. The study focused on patients who died in the hospital.

The findings of the study

The study examined 113,843 patients who came to the hospital because of a motorcycle crash. 67,183 of these patients were given a blood alcohol test. About 60% of those given the test – tested negative – no evidence of alcohol. 21.14% of those had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of more than .08. 10.34% of patients who tested positive for alcohol had a blood alcohol level of less than .08

The net result was that nearly 30,000 patients had a blood alcohol level of .08 or more. Age, sex, and race didn’t seem to indicate any risk propensity. However, patients with a low systolic pressure and poor ISS and GSMOT did have risk factors.

The doctors determined that:

• “A higher proportion of patients in BAC positive group who tested at or above the legal limit (≥0.08g/dl) sustained higher severity of injury in many body regions including the head.”
• “The patients who tested positive with a BAC above the legal limit had 27% higher odds of mortality when compared to patients who tested negative for BAC after a motorcycle crash.”

In summary, victims of a motorcycle crash who had a BAC of .08 or higher were more likely to suffer a severe injury or death as compared with survivors who tested negative for blood alcohol.

If you were injured or a beloved relative was killed in a motorcycle accident or any vehicle crash, you need immediate help. At Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, our experienced Chicago motorcycle accident lawyers work with investigators wo help determine the cause of the crash and who is responsible. We guide survivors and families through the litigation process. Our attorneys fight to old negligent drivers and other responsible parties accountable for the pain and suffering and economic damages they cause. To speak with an attorney, please call us at 312-600-9585 or use our contact form to schedule an appointment.