For many Californians, riding a motorcycle can be liberating. Unfortunately, that freedom can sometimes come at the price of safety since there is less protection between them, the road, and other drivers.

Statistics show that if you are a motorcyclist who is involved in an accident with another vehicle, you are more likely to suffer severe injury or death than the passengers in the other vehicle. The question is: how much more?

The odds of surviving a motorcycle crash are hard to pinpoint since they depend on many factors such as speed, road conditions, the number and type of vehicles involved, the manner of collision, and the safety gear worn by the riders.