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Motorcycle Accident Statistics (2026)

By the FindMyAccidentLawyer Data Team · Updated October 19, 2026 · 25 sourced statistics · CSV · JSON · Cite this page

Motorcyclist deaths in U.S. traffic crashes totaled 6,228 in 2024, according to NHTSA. That was a 2.2 percent drop from 6,366 in 2023. Motorcyclists made up 16 percent of all traffic deaths in 2024. NHTSA estimates 86,887 motorcyclists were injured that year.

The numbers at a glance

  • 6,2286,228 motorcyclists were killed in U.S. motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2024, a 2.2 percent decrease from 6,366 in 2023. Source
  • 86,887An estimated 86,887 motorcyclists were injured in U.S. traffic crashes in 2024. Source
  • 16%Motorcyclists made up 16 percent of all U.S. traffic fatalities in 2024. Source
  • 28Per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2024, the motorcyclist fatality rate (28.00) was almost 27 times the passenger car occupant fatality rate (1.05). Source
  • 0.7%Motorcycles made up 3 percent of registered vehicles in the U.S. in 2024 but accounted for only 0.7 percent of vehicle miles traveled. Source
  • 34%Nationwide, 34 percent of motorcyclists killed in U.S. traffic crashes in 2024 were not helmeted, based on known helmet use. Source
  • 1,529In 2024, 1,529 motorcycle riders killed in U.S. traffic crashes (26 percent) were alcohol-impaired, with a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher. Source
  • 642Florida had the most motorcyclist deaths of any state in 2024 (642), followed by Texas (582) and California (522). Source

How many motorcyclists die in U.S. crashes?

NHTSA and IIHS report the same 2024 death count because both draw on federal fatal crash records. For all road users combined, see the national car accident statistics.

Who dies on motorcycles, and where?

Riders account for nearly all of the dead, and most deaths happen in urban areas. These numbers come from NHTSA's 2024 data.

How risky is riding compared with driving a car?

Raw death counts hide the gap. Measured per mile traveled, NHTSA finds motorcyclists far worse off than people in cars or light trucks.

Do helmets and helmet laws change the numbers?

Helmet use varies sharply by state law. IIHS tracks which states require helmets for every rider, and our state accident law guide covers other rules that differ by state.

How much do alcohol, speeding and licensing matter?

Impairment, speed and missing licenses appear again and again in fatal rider records. Our drunk driving statistics cover impairment across all vehicle types.

What kinds of crashes kill motorcyclists?

Most fatal motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle, and one turning pattern stands out. Large trucks are a separate case, covered in our truck accident statistics.

  • 3,790motorcycles2024

    NHTSA reports that in 2024, collisions with motor vehicles in transport were the most harmful event for 3,790 motorcycles in fatal crashes in the U.S., 60 percent of the total.

    Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts 2024 Data: Motorcycles

  • 1,532crashes2024

    In 45 percent (1,532) of the 3,396 two-vehicle fatal crashes involving a motorcycle in 2024, the other vehicle was turning left while the motorcycle was going straight, passing or overtaking.

    Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts 2024 Data: Motorcycles

Which states have the most motorcyclist deaths?

Florida has the highest count of any state. A rate per person points to a different state.

Which states have the most motorcyclist deaths?

The 15 states with the most motorcyclist deaths in 2024, with the rate per 100,000 residents. All 50 states and D.C. are on the state-by-state page.

motorcyclist deaths by state, 2024
#State2024 countPer 100,000 people
1Florida6422.75
2Texas5821.86
3California5221.32
4Ohio2221.87
5Arizona2192.89
6Pennsylvania2171.66
7North Carolina2121.92
8New York2091.05
9Tennessee1882.60
10Michigan1841.81
11Georgia1821.63
12Colorado1652.77
13South Carolina1542.81
14Illinois1501.18
15Missouri1452.32

Source: FindMyAccidentLawyer analysis of the NHTSA FARS 2024 data file (Annual Report File) and U.S. Census Bureau 2024 population estimates.

Frequently asked questions

How many motorcyclists were killed in the U.S. in 2024?

NHTSA counts 6,228 motorcyclist deaths in 2024, down 2.2 percent from 6,366 in 2023. Of those killed, 5,950 were riders and 278 were passengers. IIHS reports the same total.

What share of traffic deaths are motorcyclists?

NHTSA says motorcyclists made up 16 percent of all U.S. traffic fatalities in 2024. They made up 20 percent of all motor vehicle occupant fatalities.

How many motorcyclists are injured each year?

NHTSA estimates 86,887 motorcyclists were injured in U.S. traffic crashes in 2024. The figure is an estimate from its CRSS crash sample.

Is the number of motorcyclist deaths rising?

IIHS reports the 2024 count is about triple the number in 1997 and 23 percent higher than in 2019. The 2024 count is still lower than 2023, when NHTSA counted 6,366 deaths.

How much more dangerous is a motorcycle than a car?

Per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2024, NHTSA's motorcyclist fatality rate of 28.00 was almost 27 times the passenger car occupant rate of 1.05. It was over 44 times the rate for light-truck occupants, which was 0.63.

Why are motorcycle deaths so high if few people ride?

NHTSA says motorcycles were 3 percent of registered vehicles in 2024 but only 0.7 percent of vehicle miles traveled. Motorcyclists still made up 16 percent of traffic deaths.

How many motorcyclists killed were not wearing helmets?

NHTSA reports 34 percent of motorcyclists killed in 2024 were not helmeted, based on known helmet use. The share was 48 percent in states without universal helmet laws and 11 percent in states with them.

Which states require motorcycle helmets?

As of August 2026, IIHS says 17 states and the District of Columbia have universal helmet laws. Three states (Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire) have no helmet requirement.

How many people wear DOT-compliant helmets?

NHTSA's survey found observed use of DOT-compliant helmets was 73.8 percent in 2023, the highest in the survey. It was not statistically different from 66.5 percent in 2022. Use was 82.7 percent in states requiring all riders to wear helmets and 65.9 percent elsewhere.

How many helmet-related deaths could laws have prevented?

IIHS estimates over 22,000 motorcyclists died during 1976 to 2022 because of lower helmet use in states without universal helmet laws. IIHS words it as a floor, not an exact count.

How many fatal motorcycle crashes involve alcohol?

NHTSA reports 1,529 riders killed in 2024, or 26 percent, had a BAC of .08 g/dL or higher. Among riders who died in single-vehicle crashes, 40 percent were alcohol-impaired.

How common is speeding in fatal motorcycle crashes?

NHTSA says 37 percent of motorcycle riders in fatal crashes in 2024 were speeding. For passenger car drivers the share was 22 percent.

How many fatally injured riders lacked a motorcycle license?

NHTSA reports 35 percent of motorcycle riders in fatal crashes in 2024 did not have a valid motorcycle license. The average age of riders killed was 40.

What is the most common type of fatal motorcycle crash?

NHTSA says collisions with motor vehicles in transport were the most harmful event for 3,790 motorcycles in fatal crashes in 2024, or 60 percent. In 45 percent (1,532) of 3,396 two-vehicle fatal crashes, the other vehicle was turning left while the motorcycle went straight, passed or overtook.

Which state has the most motorcyclist deaths?

FARS 2024 data show Florida had the most at 642, followed by Texas at 582 and California at 522. Per person, Wyoming had the highest rate among the 50 states at 4.08 deaths per 100,000 people.

Can I use these statistics?

Yes. The statistics are free to use under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license (CC BY 4.0). Credit FindMyAccidentLawyer and link back to this page. Each fact card also names the original publisher, so you can cite the source directly.

Cite or link to this page

Free to use under CC BY 4.0. Please credit FindMyAccidentLawyer with a link. Updated October 19, 2026.

FindMyAccidentLawyer. (2026, October 19). Motorcycle Accident Statistics (2026). https://findmyaccidentlawyer.com/data/car-accident-statistics/motorcycle-accidents

Methodology and sources

Most figures cover calendar year 2024 and come from NHTSA, with injury numbers estimated from CRSS. Motorcyclists exclude people on motorized bicycles. Helmet-use survey figures are from 2023, the latest NOPUS data found. IIHS helmet-law status is as of August 2026. State counts are FindMyAccidentLawyer's analysis of NHTSA FARS data, and the state rate divides those counts by Census Vintage 2024 population.

Every number on this page links to the official report it came from. We checked each figure against the source text before publishing, and we recheck the sources every month. The page date changes only when a number changes. Spotted an error? Email profile@findmyaccidentlawyer.com.

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