Most Dangerous States for Motorcycle Riders

They say four wheels move the body, but two wheels move the soul. As exhilarating as it may be, however, riding a motorcycle has become increasingly dangerous in recent years.

The latest LendingTree study found fatal motorcycle crashes have increased for five consecutive years — up 26.2% between 2019 and 2023.

Read on for more about crash rates across the country, including key contributing factors, helmet-law impact and more.

Key findings

• Fatal motorcycle crashes are up 26.2% over five years. The number rose from 4,945 in 2019 to 6,242 in 2023 — the highest in our analyzed period.
• Texas has the highest fatal motorcycle crash rate. The Lone Star State saw 15.0 fatal motorcycle crashes per 10,000 registered motorcycles in 2023 — more than double the U.S. average of 7.1. Missouri (13.1) and the District of Columbia (13.0) followed.
• Nearly 2 in 5 fatal motorcycle crashes involve alcohol, and the same goes for speeding. 38.8% of fatal motorcycle crashes in 2023 involved a driver with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.01 or higher, while a nearly identical 38.4% involved speeding.
• Fatal motorcycle crashes are significantly more common in states without universal helmet use laws. 26.2% of all fatal crashes in states without helmet use laws involved a motorcycle in 2023, compared with 18.8% in states with partial helmet use laws and 13.5% in states with universal helmet use laws.
• Fatal motorcycle crashes spike in the summer. Five months each accounted for 11.0% or more of the fatal motorcycle crashes in 2023: May (11.2%), June (11.3%), July (12.2%), August (12.1%) and September (11.6%).

Fatal motorcycle crashes up 26.2% over 5 years

Across the country, the number of fatal motorcycle crashes has been on the rise in recent years. The number of crashes increased every year between 2019 and 2023 (the latest year with data available), climbing 26.2% over those five years.

In 2019, there were 4,945 fatal motorcycle crashes. In 2023, there were 6,242 — the highest number in the period analyzed. The biggest year-over-year jump was 12.1% between 2019 (4,945) and 2020 (5,544). That spike may be attributed in part to the first year of COVID-19 — shutdowns meant more free time to ride motorcycles — but the rate has continued to rise steadily since then as well.

Fatal motorcycle crashes by year

Source: LendingTree analysis of 2019 to 2023 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data using the Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST).

Several factors have likely contributed to the overall rise in deadly crashes in the past five years — including distracted driving and relaxed helmet use laws.

Across the board, drivers distracted by cellphones and other technology are a major threat, claiming 3,275 lives in 2023 alone. Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable in these situations. Their smaller size and lower visibility make them harder for inattentive drivers to see, and they’re far less protected in the event of a collision.

As for helmet use laws, the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act — enacted in 1966 — required states to pass universal helmet laws (everyone on a motorcycle must wear a helmet) to receive certain federal funds. In response, most states implemented the laws.

However, in 1976, those funding requirements were abolished. Since then, states have relaxed their helmet use laws. Currently, only 17 states, along with D.C., require helmets for all riders. Thirty states require them for some riders (generally for those under 18 or under 21), and three states (Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire) don’t require them for any riders.

How much of an impact do these laws make? According to a report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 22,058 motorcyclists’ lives could have been saved if all states required all riders to wear helmets from 1976 to 2022.

Texas has highest fatal motorcycle crash rate

Fatal motorcycle crash rates vary significantly by state, with Texas seeing the most deadly motorcycle crashes in 2023. When we analyzed the numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data using the Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST), the Lone Star State saw 15.0 fatal motorcycle crashes per 10,000 registered motorcycles that year. That’s more than double the U.S. average of 7.1.

Why the higher rate in Texas? The state’s helmet laws could play a role. While Texas does have a partial helmet use law, only those under 21 are required to wear one. If you’re 21 or older and you either have completed a safety course or have insurance that covers motorcycle injuries, you’re not required to wear a helmet.

Other factors may include generally warmer weather year-round that’s conducive to more motorcycling, along with the state’s extensive highway systems — some with speed limits up to 85 miles per hour.

Texas is followed by Missouri (13.1) and the District of Columbia (13.0) with the second- and third-highest crash rates, respectively. Interestingly, while Missouri only has a partial helmet use law, D.C. requires all motorcycle riders to wear a helmet. The high number of crashes in D.C. could, however, be influenced by the area’s notoriously congested roadways.

States with highest fatal motorcycle crash rates

Source: LendingTree analysis of 2023 NHTSA FARS data using the FIRST and 2023 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) data.

At the bottom of the list with the lowest rate of deadly motorcycle crashes is Maine (2.5), followed by Minnesota (3.1) and Wisconsin (3.2). All three states have partial helmet use laws — only those 17 and younger are required to wear a helmet. However, all three have colder climates that likely limit motorcycle riding during much of the year.

States with highest/lowest fatal motorcycle crash rates

Source: LendingTree analysis of 2023 NHTSA FARS data using the FIRST and 2023 IIHS data.

Nearly 2 in 5 fatal motorcycle crashes involve alcohol

Sadly, two of the top factors in fatal motorcycle crashes are ones drivers could have controlled — alcohol and speeding. Alcohol was involved in 38.8% of all fatal motorcycle crashes in 2023, while speed was a factor in 38.4%. This isn’t surprising, as these are two of the top factors in fatal motor vehicle crashes.

However, motorcycles lack many safety features cars have, such as air bags, seat belts and crumple zones, so when there’s an accident, a fatal outcome for motorcyclists is more likely. In fact, according to NHTSA data, motorcyclists were about 28 times more likely to die in a crash in 2023 per vehicle mile traveled than those traveling in cars.

Another top factor involved in fatal motorcycle crashes: young drivers. Those ages 15 to 20 were involved in 12.8% of them in 2023. Rob Bhatt, LendingTree auto insurance expert and licensed insurance agent, says this speaks to younger drivers’ natural tendency to take more risks.

“It takes a while for the prefrontal cortex to develop — the part of our brains that helps us gauge and manage risks,” Bhatt says. “Young people tend to be riskier than adults, and it can have tragic consequences.”

Factors/characteristics in fatal motorcycle crashes

Source: LendingTree analysis of 2023 NHTSA FARS data using the FIRST.

Country roads or the gritty city streets — where motorcyclists ride factors into the rates of fatal motorcycle crashes, too. In 2023, 65.0% of deadly motorcycle crashes occurred in urban areas, versus 34.4% in rural areas.

Bhatt says it follows that with greater population density comes higher crash rates.

“There are simply more things to crash into in an urban area,” he says. “There’s more traffic congestion and more potential to get hit by a careless driver in an urban area than a rural area.“

Crashes more common in states without universal helmet use laws

While helmet laws alone don’t guarantee lower fatality rates — as we saw above with examples like D.C., which has a universal helmet law but still saw one of the highest deadly crash rates in 2023 — they do appear to play a significant role in rates overall. The data we analyzed shows a strong correlation between lax helmet laws and more fatal motorcycle crashes.

How many more? We looked at IIHS helmet use law data from May 2025 and combined fatal motorcycle crashes and fatal crashes in states for 2023 based on three designations: universal helmet use laws (everyone is required to wear a helmet), partial helmet use laws (helmets required for certain riders, typically those under 18 or 22) and no helmet laws.

What we found:

• 26.2% of all fatal crashes that occurred in states with no helmet use laws (Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire) involved a motorcycle.
• 18.8% of all fatal crashes that occurred in states with partial helmet use laws involved a motorcycle.
• 13.5% of all fatal crashes that occurred in states with universal helmet use laws involved a motorcycle.

So, while helmet laws certainly don’t prevent all fatal motorcycle accidents, data suggests they make a significant impact. And helmets — whether required by law or not — have repeatedly been proven to save lives. According to the NHTSA, they’re estimated to be 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries for motorcycle operators and 41% effective for motorcycle passengers.

Fatal motorcycle crashes spike in summer

With no roofs, doors or other structural coverings, motorcyclists are exposed to the elements when they’re out on the road. So, it makes sense that months with more favorable weather would see more motorcyclists circulating — and therefore a spike in fatal motorcycle crashes.

The highest percentages of crashes in 2023 occurred in the balmy summer months of July (12.2%) and August (12.1%). These and other summer months offer longer daylight hours and more ideal weather for hitting the open road.

Conversely, the winter months of January (3.3%) and December (4.4%) saw the lowest percentages of crashes. Colder temperatures, shorter daylight hours and snowy roads likely keep more riders off their bikes in many parts of the country during these and other winter months.

Percentage of fatal motorcycle crashes by month

Source: LendingTree analysis of 2023 NHTSA FARS data using the FIRST.

4 tips on dealing with insurance after a motorcycle crash

Whether you’re a rider, passenger or other driver involved in a motorcycle crash, navigating the insurance process afterward can be stressful. Here are four tips to help make the postcrash process as smooth as possible.

• Gather and document information. Bhatt says if you’re involved in a motorcycle crash, you should follow the general rules of any vehicle crash — move over to a safe place, make sure everyone is OK and exchange information that your insurance company may need, including drivers’ licenses, registration, insurance and contact information. “Smartphones make it easy to document the event,” Bhatt says. “Take pictures of the license plate, any damage and the other person’s documents. The more evidence you have, the smoother the insurance process will be if you need to file a claim.”
• Be mindful of what you say. After a crash, you’re likely to be shaken up, but try to remain calm and not say too much about what happened. “You don’t want to admit guilt or talk too much about what happened on the scene,” Bhatt says. “Something you say offhand could come back to bite you.” Instead, he suggests making some notes for yourself after everything settles down so you have a record of the time of day, the road conditions and your recollection of what happened. This will help you recall details accurately if the insurance companies follow up.
• Make sure you’re properly insured. First off, you need more than car insurance to cover your motorcycle. Some auto policies may offer add-ons, but you will probably need a separate motorcycle policy. Also, Bhatt says there are some relatively inexpensive yet valuable insurance extras that could save motorcyclists money if they’re in an accident, including:
  • Uninsured motorist coverage: This protects you if you’re in an accident with an uninsured driver.
  • Medical payments coverage: This covers your own injuries, regardless of who is at fault — and motorcyclists are at high risk for injury.
• When in doubt, get a police report. Each state has different laws regarding when you’re required to call the police after an accident — usually specifying a certain amount of property damage and accidents with bodily injury. But Bhatt says most insurance companies want to see a police report if you’re filing a claim. “Let’s say someone says they’re not injured at the time, but they file a huge medical claim two weeks later,” he says. “That’s something the insurance company is going to want to know.”

Methodology

LendingTree researchers analyzed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) data using the Fatality and Injury Reporting System Tool (FIRST).

Researchers analyzed data on fatal motorcycle crashes from 2019 through 2023 (the latest available). We combined this with 2023 registered motorcycle data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to calculate each state’s rate of fatal motorcycle crashes per 10,000 registered motorcycles.

We also calculated:

• The annual change in fatal motorcycle crashes from 2019 through 2023
• The percentage of fatal motorcycle crashes in 2023 involving speeding, alcohol or young drivers ages 15 to 20
• The percentage of fatal motorcycle crashes in 2023 occurring in rural or urban areas
• The percentage of fatal motorcycle crashes by month in 2023

May 2025 IIHS motorcycle helmet laws data was used with NHTSA FARS data to find the percentage of fatal crashes in 2023 that involved a motorcycle by helmet use law. The helmet use laws were categorized as follows:

• No helmet use laws: Illinois, Iowa and New Hampshire
• Universal helmet use laws: Alabama, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia
• Partial helmet use laws: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin and Wyoming