Motorcyclists are vulnerable to serious injuries in a crash because they lack the protection of an enclosed vehicle. Many motorcycle accidents are caused by the negligence of other drivers.
How Many Riders Are Injured or Killed in Motorcycle Crashes?
As stated by the National Safety Council (NSC):
- Although only 3% of all registered vehicles are motorcycles, and they made up only 0.6% of vehicle miles traveled, motorcycles accounted for 14% of all traffic fatalities in 2021.
- From 2020 to 2021, motorcycle fatalities increased by 8%.
- Deaths from motorcycle accidents have increased by 19% in the past 10 years.
- 5,932 people were killed in motorcycle accidents in 2021.
- Nonfatal motorcycle accident injuries increased by 5% from 2020 to 2021.
III reports that 82,686 motorcycle accident injuries occurred in the U.S. in 2021, at the rate of 837 injuries per 100,000 registered motorcycles. The occupant fatality rate for motorcycles is 30.20 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, as compared to 1.25 for passenger cars and 0.76 for light trucks.