What States Have the Highest Motorcycle Accident Rates?

At Law Tigers, we’re committed to informing motorcyclists about accident risks and protecting them in the aftermath of someone else’s carelessness. With that in mind, we’ve taken a deep dive into motorcycle accident rates across the country. We did this by comparing the latest year of available data through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and cross-referencing it with data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) on registered motorcycles from the same year. That allowed us to arrive at a ranking of states by the rates of motorcycle fatalities per number of registered motorcycles. Below are the five deadliest states by our metrics.

Texas

One death per 730 registered motorcycles

Arkansas

One death per 831 registered motorcycles

Louisiana

One death per 916 registered motorcycles

Nevada

One death per 966 registered motorcycles

South Carolina

One death per 941 registered motorcycles

All the Data

Here’s the full list of the data we used to determine the above information. Note that the first number represents fatalities; the second, the number of motorcycles registered in the state; and the third, the number of deaths per registered motorcycle.

Alabama: 87; 171,830; 0.00005

Alaska: 8; 22,048; 0.00036

Arizona: 221; 226,581; 0.00098

Arkansas: 91; 75,583; 0.00120

California: 620; 941,548; 0.00066

Colorado: 140; 201,921; 0.00069

Connecticut: 65; 88,084; 0.00074

Delaware: 20; 26,934; 0.00074

D.C.: 4; 4,873; 0.00082

Florida: 639; 657,042; 0.00097

Georgia: 214; 231,600; 0.00092

Hawaii: 31; 34,754;  0.00089

Idaho: 24; 73,904; 0.00032

Illinois: 138; 287,170; 0.00048

Indiana: 118; 238,313; 0.0005

Iowa: 45; 170,264; 0.00026

Kansas: 50; 101,014; 0.00049

Kentucky: 101; 123,532; 0.00082

Louisiana: 87; 79,690; 0.00109

Maine: 30; 60,476; 0.0005

Maryland: 76; 119,334; 0.00064

Massachusetts: 56; 155,802; 0.00036

Michigan: 168; 245,187; 0.00069

Minnesota: 78; 212,677; 0.00037

Mississippi: 48; 52,496; 0.00091

Missouri: 147; 126,161; 0.0012

Montana: 36; 72,738; 0.00049

Nebraska: 28; 58,582; 0.00048

Nevada: 87; 84,002; 0.00103

New Hampshire: 31; 87,928; 0.00035

New Jersey: 92; 157,675; 0.00058

New Mexico: 54; 65,674; 0.00082

New York: 176; 365,769; 0.00048

North Carolina: 215; 252,175; 0.00085

North Dakota: 20; 35,796; 0.00056

Ohio: 198; 405,827; 0.00049

Oklahoma: 89; 120,152; 0.00074

Oregon: 96; 134,137; 0.00072

Pennsylvania: 207; 404,904; 0.00051

Rhode Island: 10; 28,183; 0.00035

South Carolina: 162; 152,469; 0.0011

South Dakota: 10; 53,119; 0.00019

Tennessee: 144; 179,376; 0.00080

Texas: 537; 392,069; 0.00136

Utah: 46; 101,112; 0.00045

Vermont: 12. 23,751; 0.00051

Virginia: 114; 192,498; 0.00059

Washington: 128; 244,107; 0.00052

West Virginia: 40; 51,753; 0.00077

Wisconsin: 79; 307,381; 0.00026

Wyoming: 17; 25,366; 0.00067

Why Motorcycle Injuries and Fatalities Happen So Often

In road accidents, motorcycles carry additional risk. Bikes are small and often difficult to see for drivers in larger vehicles. Additionally, motorcycle accidents have a higher fatality rate because there are no seat belts, airbags, and other safety devices that protect most auto drivers and passengers.

You can reduce your risk of a motorcycle injury by following these safety tips:

·    Keep your bike in good condition. Make sure your motorcycle is ready for the road by checking hand and foot brakes, tire pressure, fluid levels, headlights, and other essentials before you set off.

·    Always wear a helmet, regardless of your state’s regulations. Riders who wear proper motorcycle helmets are almost 70% less likely to sustain a head injury and over 40% more likely to survive a motorcycle accident.

·    Ride carefully. Keep enough distance from other vehicles on the road and stay out of larger vehicles’ blind spots. Obey speed limits, traffic signs, and lane markings. Be especially careful at intersections and other high-risk spots.

·    Make yourself visible. Wear bright clothing during the day and reflective gear when riding after dark.

·    Stay alert. Never mount your bike under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications that might affect your coordination or judgment. Likewise, avoid riding when you are excessively tired. 

If you suffer a motorcycle accident, seek medical attention immediately. Talk to a lawyer if you believe your injury occurred because of another driver’s negligence or failure to obey traffic rules.

Law Tigers: A Tough Legal Team Fighting for American Bikers

The national motorcycle accident rate is more than just a number. It represents real people suffering from devastating physical, emotional, and financial consequences.

Law Tigers have over 30 years of experience defending the rights of injured riders and their families across the U.S. To date, we have recovered over $800 million in compensations for motorcycle injuries and wrongful deaths.

For a free case evaluation with a motorcycle attorney near you, call 1-888-863-7216 24/7. You only pay if we win your case.