Motorcycle Accidents: Facts and Statistics

The majority of motorcycle crashes involve at least one other motor vehicle. Even when a motorcycle rider does everything they are supposed to do when they are supposed to do it, other vehicles on the roadway are a very real threat to their safety. Regrettably, the drivers of most vehicles do not have the safety of motorcyclists in mind while they are behind the wheel.  

Single-bike collisions, meaning accidents where only a motorcycle was involved in the accident, occur less frequently but still manage to comprise about 42% of all motorcycle accidents. These wrecks typically involve reckless driving, driving too fast, or drivers who are under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. 

Listed below are some nationwide facts about motorcycle accidents.  

Motorcycle Crash Facts

• 74% of motorcycle accidents were frontal collisions.

• Motorcycle and automobile accidents combined are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries, responsible for nearly half of all new spinal cord injuries every year.
• An estimated 80% of reported motorcycle crashes result in injury or death.
• In 2018, there were 82,000 motorcycle injuries in the U.S.

• Motorcycles are involved in 11% of all accidents on the road in the U.S.
• In traffic accidents where the use of alcohol or drugs were involved, injuries took place in 90% of collisions involving motorcycles, compared to 33% of car or truck accidents.  

Annual Motorcycle Fatalities

Anytime an accident involving a motorcycle occurs, the possibility of being ejected from the vehicle is much greater, and traumatic brain injuries become far more likely. This is one of the main factors that cause severe injury or death to be more common in motorcycle crashes than any type of vehicle collision.  

• In 2018, 4,985 motorcyclists were killed on U.S. roadways.

• In 2017, motorcyclists were exposed to a risk that is 27 times higher than the occupants of a passenger vehicle of being killed in a traffic accident per vehicle mile traveled.  

• Mississippi is the most fatal state for motorcycle accidents, followed by Texas and South Carolina.
• Head injury is the number one cause of death in motorcycle crashes.’
• 5 people died at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in 2020, a 3% increase from 2019.

• Motorcyclists make up only 3% of the entire motor vehicle fleet, yet account for 14% of all traffic-related fatalities.

• In 2017, 59% of female motorcyclists who died in crashes were passengers.
• Riders over the age of 40 comprise the greatest share of motorcyclist fatalities nationwide.

As with every kind of personal injury case, the endless number of variables makes your claim unique. Someone with a case that sounds very similar to yours could end up with a very different outcome than what you should expect. This is just one of the many reasons why hiring a skilled attorney is beneficial to your Florida personal injury claim. 

Your attorney will know the most thorough and efficient way of collecting vital evidence that proves you were not at fault for the accident. Establishing this fact is essential to the success of your Tampa personal injury case.

If you have sustained injuries during any kind of accident that was caused by another person’s negligence or carelessness, there is evidence out there that will substantiate your claim. A reputable personal injury attorney from Fulgencio Law will be able to help you. Call us at (813) 463-0123 to schedule your free Tampa personal injury consultation today.