What Percentage of Motorcycle Riders Get in Accidents?

July 23, 2025 | Motorcycle Accident

What Percentage of Motorcycle Riders Get in Accidents?

You don’t need to ride every weekend to understand the appeal of riding a motorcycle. There’s something about the wind, the openness, and how the road feels when you’re not behind a windshield. But that freedom comes with trade-offs, mainly regarding your safety in a crash.

In a recent year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that over 6,000 motorcyclists were killed across the United States, making up nearly 15% of all traffic deaths, despite bikes representing a tiny fraction of vehicles on the road. 

Here in Pennsylvania, the numbers hit even harder: there were 219 rider fatalities in 2024, or nearly 1 in 5 of the state’s total traffic deaths. Still, there’s been some progress. Statewide crash and fatality numbers dropped slightly from the year prior, a reminder that good gear, better habits, and smarter policy can save lives.

With nearly 788,000 licensed riders in the Commonwealth, there were almost 3,300 total motorcycle crashes in 2024. Those numbers may seem small until it’s your friend, your family member, or your own ride that doesn’t end the way it should.

What Causes Most Motorcycle Accidents?

When motorcycle crashes occur, they often follow predictable patterns. 

Recognizing these common scenarios can help riders stay safer and help families understand when negligence may be involved:

  • Driver alcohol impairment. Nationally, 41% of fatally injured riders in single-vehicle crashes were alcohol-impaired. 
  • Speeding. In fatal crashes, speed plays a role in many U.S. motorcycle deaths.
  • Left-turn collisions. Drivers often fail to yield or misjudge a bike’s speed in multi-vehicle motorcycle crashes.
  • Lane-splitting/aggressive maneuvers. Illegal and impulsive actions in congested traffic increase the likelihood of a crash.
  • Involvement with trucks. Large vehicles often don’t see bikes, resulting in underride crashes that can be fatal.
  • Pedestrian involvement. City riding brings the risk of unpredictable pedestrian movement.
  • Reckless riding. High-speed lane changes or signal violations increase the likelihood of accidents.

In our work with injured riders across Pennsylvania, we see many of the same patterns repeat: drivers who weren’t paying attention, turned left without looking, or didn’t see the motorcycle until it was too late. 

While not every crash is someone else’s fault, many result from another driver’s negligence, not rider error. When someone fails to yield, texts behind the wheel, or ignores traffic laws, that split-second decision can have life-altering consequences.

Who’s Really at Fault in Motorcycle Crashes?

Not every motorcycle crash is caused by another driver, but many are. According to federal data, many motorcycle crashes involve only the rider. These often happen on curves or at higher speeds, especially when road conditions change fast.

In multi-vehicle collisions involving motorcycles, the other driver is often at fault. Whether it’s a car turning left at an intersection, a distracted driver drifting into a lane, or someone misjudging a bike’s speed entirely, riders often pay the price for someone else’s mistake.

Understanding this breakdown matters because knowing who’s at fault shapes what happens next, from insurance claims to potential lawsuits.

Motorcycle Accidents Often Involve More Serious Injuries

Motorcycles offer much less protection in a crash than cars or trucks. Without a metal frame, airbags, or seat belts to protect them, riders are directly exposed to impact forces. 

When something goes wrong, injuries are often severe. In our experience, these are the types of injuries we see in the clients that come through our doors:

  • Traumatic brain injuries: Helmets reduce head injury by 69%, yet TBIs remain frequent.
  • Spinal cord trauma: Occurs in severe injury cases, often causing paralysis.
  • Fractures: Many nonfatal crashes involve leg or foot injuries.
  • Internal damage: Internal bleeding and organ injuries may go undetected without medical evaluation. 

PennDOT reports show that almost 60% of injured riders wore helmets. While over 40% of fatalities involved unhelmeted riders, helmets may improve outcomes, but they don’t eliminate risk.

Contact Our Harrisburg Motorcycle Accident Lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates After a Wreck

The moments after a crash can feel like a blur. Adrenaline spikes, and your mind races through a hundred questions at once. But what you do next can make a major difference in your recovery, and in whether you can get the compensation you deserve.
If you get hurt in a motorcycle wreck, contact our motorcycle accident attorneys at Marzzacco Niven & Associates for a free consultation.

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