Motorcycle Accident Statistics & Numbers For 2023 (2023)

Motorcycle riders are more exposed and less protected on the road. The following motorcycle accident statistics bear this out.

82,528 Motorcyclists Were Injured in 2020

In 2020, a total of 82,528 motorcycle riders sustained injuries. A total of 468 injuries occurred per 100 million vehicle miles traveled over the course of that year.2

More Than a Third of Motorcycle Accidents Involve Unlicensed Drivers

Motorcycle accidents often involve untrained drivers. An estimated 36% of fatal motorcycle accidents involve riders who do not have a valid license to drive a motorcycle.1

While state requirements vary with regards to licensure, all states do require a motorcycle endorsement as a supplement to a standard driver’s license.3 Motorcyclists are usually required to pass both written tests and driving tests on a motorcycle to earn this endorsement.

August Is the Most Dangerous Months for Motorcyclists

Motorcycle accident statistics show the risk of a crash is not uniform year round. In fact, August is the most dangerous month for motorcyclists, with 14% of all fatal motorcycle crashes occurring over this month. By contrast, just 3% of fatal motorcycle crashes happened in January–the safest month.4

Better weather in the summer months is the likely explanation for the fact these months present the highest risk of a deadly accident.

Few Motorcyclists Are Hurt in the Rain

Rainy weather is a deterrent for riding a motorcycle, which helps to explain why so few motorcycle collisions occur during precipitation. Just 2% of motorcycle accidents happen when it is raining outside.5

There Were 5,579 Motorcyclists Killed in 2020

2020 was a bad year for motorcycle riders. A total of 5,579 were killed in fatal traffic accidents. This was the highest number of motorcycle accident deaths since the the Fatality Analysis Reporting System was first started in 1975.2

Motorcycle Accidents Accounted for 14% of All Traffic Deaths

Motorcycle riders account for 14% of all traffic facilities, despite the fact only 3% of all registered vehicles are motorcycles. Motorcycle crashes also account for 18% of all occupant fatalities and 4% of all injuries to vehicle occupants.5

2,143 of Motorcycle Accident Deaths Occurred When Not Wearing a Helmet

Failure to wear a helmet is one of the biggest risk factors for motorcycle riders. In fact, 2,143 motorcycle accident fatalities occurred when riders were not helmeted.5 Helmets can help to protect against head injuries, which have a high fatality rate.

34% of Motorcycle Fatalities Involve Speeding

Driving too fast is another risk factor. More than a third of fatal motorcycle accidents (34%) involve a motorist traveling at excess speed.2 Driving too fast increases the risk of a collision due to increased stopping distance and decreased control. It also increases the risk that a crash which does occur will be fatal because crash energy and forces increase as speed increases.

27% of Motorcycle Accident Deaths Involved Alcohol

Drink driving is a well-known risk-factor for all types of accidents, including motorcycle collisions. More than a quarter of deadly motorcycle accidents (27%) were alcohol-involved crashes. This includes single-vehicle accidents, which account for 41% of alcohol-impaired motorcycle crashes and which resulted in 880 motorcyclist deaths in 2020. By contrast, just 18% of alcohol-impaired motorcyclist crashes were multi-vehicle accidents, although these accounted for 556 deaths of motorcycle riders during the same year.2

Alcohol-Impaired Motorcycle Crashes Increase at Night

Drunk driving increases during the evening hours, making this an especially dangerous time for motorcycle accidents. Forty-percent of alcohol-impaired motorcycle crash deaths occur during the evening hours. And, motorcycle accidents are three times as likely to involve an impaired driver during the nighttime compared with during the day.2

On the Weekend, the Most Common Time of Day When Motorcycle Fatalities Occur Is 6pm-9pm

For motorcyclists, weekend evenings are a dangerous time on the road. A total of 24% of fatal motorcycle accidents happen between 6 and 9 p.m., with 676 deaths occurring during just this time period alone.4

During the Week, the Most Common Time of Day When Motorcycle Fatalities Occur Is 3-6 p.m.

Crashes happen earlier on weekdays, perhaps because more motorcycle riders are on-the-roads earlier during commuting hours during the workweek. A total of 26% motorcycle fatalities occurred between 3 and 6 p.m.. During this period, a total of 1,263 deaths occurred.4

There Were 30,263 More Car Accidents Than Motorcycle Accidents in 2020

Although motorcycle crashes are more dangerous than car accidents, there are fewer of them. In fact, there were 30,263 more auto accidents in 2020 than motorcycle accidents during the same year. Of course, this doesn’t mean drivers of cars are more likely to be involved in a crash. There are significantly more car accidents than motorcycle accidents simply because there are many more cars than motorcycles on the road.6

76% of Motorcycle Accidents Are a Collision From the Front

When motorcycle accidents happen, they usually involve a motorcyclist being hit from the front rather than rear-ended. Just 7% of two-vehicle crashes involving a motorcycle occurred when the motorcyclist was struck from behind. More than two thirds (76%) were head-on collisions.4

65% Who Ride on a Motorcycle Wear a DOT-Compliant Helmet

Helmets significantly reduce the risk of a fatal motorcycle accident, especially when those helmets are in compliance with Department of Transportation requirements. That’s why it’s good news that the majority of people who ride motorcycles wear them. This includes 67% of riders and 52% of passengers.7

6% Wear a Non-Compliant Helmet While Riding a Motorcycle

DOT-compliant headlines are designed to maximize the protection a motorcyclist receives in a collision. But any helmet is better than no helmet, even if it is not in full compliance with Department of Transportation regulations. A total of 6% of motorcycle riders and 4% of passengers wear non-compliant helmets, but they remain safer than those who wear no helmet at all.7

Helmets Are 37% Effective in Preventing Fatalities for Motorcyclists [NHTSA, pg 7]

Although helmets do not prevent every motorcycle accident death, they are fairly effective at reducing the likelihood of fatalities. For every 100 motorcycle riders who lose their lives in accidents, 37 could have been saved if they had a helmet on at the time of the incident.2

18 States Require Motorcyclists to Wear Helmets

Although motorcycle helmets save lives, only a small number of states require all riders to wear them. The locations with a broad mandate for helmet use include the following7:

• Alabama
• California
• District of Columbia
• Georgia
• Louisiana
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Mississippi
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Oregon
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia

Three States Have No Motorcycle Helmet Requirements

While some states require motorcycle helmets for all riders, three states do not ever mandate helmet use. These locations are the following7:

• Illinois
• Iowa
• New Hampshire

29 States Require Helmet Use Under a Certain Age [IIHS]

The majority of states have helmet laws that fall in the middle in terms of strictness. A total of 29 locations throughout the U.S. require helmets for motorcyclists under a certain age. The specific requirements vary by state, with some mandating helmet use for riders under age 17, 18, 21 or 25.

Here are the rules by state for when helmets are mandatory.8

• 17 and under: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming
• 18 and under: Delaware,
• 20 and under:Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah,
• 25 and under: Missouri

Motorcycle crash victims must understand the laws applicable where their collision occurred. Collision victims should contact an experienced attorney in the location where their crash took place to get help pursuing a claim for compensation. Find out how to find the best attorney in the state where you live including the following:

• Best personal injury lawyers in New York City
• Best personal injury lawyers in Houston
• Best personal injury lawyers in Los Angeles
• Best personal injury lawyers in Dallas
• Best personal injury lawyers in San Antonio
• Best personal injury lawyers in San Diego

States Without Motorcycle Helmet Laws Have Higher Fatality Rates

Since helmets prevent motorcycle deaths, it should not come as a surprise that locations without mandates requiring helmet use have higher fatality rates.

In fact, 57% of motorcycle riders who lose their lives in states with no helmet laws were not wearing head-protection at the time of the incident. By contrast, in states where helmet laws are mandated, just 11% of motorcyclists who lose their lives in accidents were not wearing a helmet at the time of the incident.2

The State With the Most Motorcycle Accidents Is New Hampshire

New Hampshire is the most dangerous state for motorcycle riders. A quarter of all deadly accidents in the state involve motorcyclists.9

The State With the Least Motorcycle Accidents Is Alaska

Alaska is the least deadly location for motorcyclists. Just 6% of deadly accidents in Alaska involve motorcycle riders. The fatality rate may be especially low in Alaska as the climate of the state is not conducive to motorcycle riding due to very cold temperatures.9

35% of Motorcycle Fatalities Happen at an Intersection

Some locations are deadlier than others for motorcycle riders. More than one third (35%) of motorcycle accident deaths occur at intersections.2

Intersections can be dangerous due to many vehicles coming together. Because of their small size, motorcyclists may not be as visible to drivers who could turn into their path. Drivers may also underestimate how fast a motorcyclist is approaching.

61% of Motorcycle Fatalities Happen in Urban Areas

Urban areas are more dangerous for motorcyclists compared with suburban or rural locations. Just over six in 10 motorcycle accident deaths occur in urban areas. Higher traffic and more condensed streets explain why motorcycle accidents are more likely to occur in urban areas compared with suburban or rural locations where there are fewer people on roads and wider, more open spaces.2

The Most Motorcycle Fatalities Happen on Non-Interstate Roads

Interstates are the safest place for motorcycle riders, as just 8% of motorcycle accidents occur on these roads.2

25-29-Year-Olds Are Most Likely to Die in a Motorcycle Accident

Motorcycle accident deaths predominantly occur among young people. The majority of motorcyclists who lost their lives in fatal crashes were between the ages of 25 to 29. In total, 706 people within this demographic group lost their lives in 2020. This is more than any other group. These young drivers have less experience and are more likely to take risks, both of which explain their higher rates of death while riding.4

Men Account for 92% of Motorcycle Deaths

Men are significantly more likely to lose their lives in a motorcycle accident. In fact, while 5,112 men died in motorcycle accidents in 2020, just 460 females lost their lives during that same year. Females made up just 8% of deadly motorcycle accident victims.4

99% of Male Motorcycle Deaths Are the Driver

When men die in a motorcycle accident, they most likely were the ones operating the motorcycle at the time of the collision. Of the men who died while riding in 2020, 5,084 were driving the motorcycle at the time of the incident. Just 26 were passengers at the time of the fatal crash. These male passengers account for only 1% of all male motorcycle deaths.4

61% of Female Motorcycle Deaths Are Passengers

While men who die in motorcycle accidents were more likely to be driving at the time, the opposite is true for women. Only 39% of all fatal motorcycle accidents involving females occurred when the woman was driving. These accidents accounted for 178 deaths in 2020, while 282 women who died on a motorcycle were passengers at the time of the incident.4

Motorcycle Accident Fatalities Have increased 20% Over the Last Decade

The roads have become substantially more dangerous for motorcycle riders in recent years. In 2011, just 4,630 fatal motorcycle accidents occurred compared to 5,579 in 2020. Many factors, including an increase in distracted driving prompted by smartphones as well as an increase in the size of passenger vehicles, help to explain why motorcyclists face a greater danger.2

Motorcycle Accident Injuries Have Increased 1% Over the Last Decade

Although there has been a dramatic increase in fatalities in motorcycle accidents, there has not been a corresponding increase in motorcycle accident injuries. In 2011, 81,706 motorcyclists were hurt in collisions compared with 82,528 injured victims in 2020. This reflects just a 1% rise in the number of injuries resulting from motorcycle crashes over the past decade.2

Motorcycle Helmet Use Has Decreased by 6% Since 2000

A decline in motorcycle helmet use can also help to explain why fatalities have increased in recent decades. While 71% of riders wore a helmet while on their motorcycle in 2000, this number was down to just 65% in 2020.10

Whether a motorcyclist is wearing a helmet or not, they have legal rights if someone causes a crash that harms them. A motorcycle accident lawsuit enables collision victims to pursue a case for compensation and recover monetary damages for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress and other economic and non-financial losses.

1. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Motorcycle Safety
2. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Traffic Safety Facts: Motorcycles
3. American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. Motorcycle Licensing
4. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Motorcycles and ATVs
5. National Safety Council. Injury Facts: Motorcycles
6. Forbes Advisor. Car Accident Statistics for 2023
7. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.Traffic Safety Facts: Motorcycle Helmet Use in 2021
8. IIHS. Motorcycle Helmet Use Laws by State
9. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool
10. Insurance Information Institute. Facts + Statistics: Motorcycle Crashes