It is common knowledge that motorcycles are extremely dangerous and carry a higher risk of severe injury or death than their 4-wheeled counterparts do. What may seem like a minor accident for a car can have disastrous consequences for motorcyclists. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the number of deaths on motorcycles per mile traveled was nearly 24 times larger than the number in cars. Here we take a look at the most common types of motorcycle accidents and why they are so deadly for riders.

1. Head-On Motorcycle Accidents
   
   • Head-on collisions are often considered the deadliest of accidents, even for cars. When two 2-ton vehicles are moving in opposite directions at considerable speeds and collide head-on, the damage is almost always devastating. Now imagine a motorcycle, with no frame or protection, getting into a head-on collision with another vehicle; motorcyclists are often sent flying, resulting in significant injury or even death.
2. Lane Splitting
   • We've all seen motorcyclists speed in between lanes to bypass traffic on the highway. However, lane splitting is extremely dangerous, especially when done at high speeds - as it just takes one untimely lane change to cause a devastating accident.
3. DUI
   • According to an article put out by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, almost 30% of all fatal motorcycle accidents involved a drunk motorcyclist in 2022. Motorcyclists involved in fatal crashes were also found to have the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired drivers than any other vehicle type. 
4. Speeding
   • According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speed is a contributing factor in roughly one-third of all motorcycle-related fatalities in the United States each year. This means that thousands of riders lose their lives annually in crashes where excessive speed played a crucial role. While speeding is perilous in any vehicle, motorcyclists face additional risks due to limited stability, less protection in a collision, and the possibility of being thrown from the bike. Even minor miscalculations in braking distance or cornering become dramatically more dangerous at high speeds.
5. Road Hazards
   • Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to a wide range of road hazards, including things that might seem minor to drivers of larger vehicles—like fallen branches, unexpected debris, or even simple potholes. Unlike cars, motorcycles have less stability due to only two points of contact with the road, and even a small obstacle can cause serious accidents, loss of control, or an ejection from the bike. In fact, what may only be a minor bump for someone driving a car can prove catastrophic for someone on a motorcycle, resulting in severe injuries or worse. Therefore, it is critically important for both riders and local authorities to remain vigilant: motorcyclists must stay alert to changing road conditions, while municipal agencies must quickly address problems such as damaged pavement or unsecured debris. The harsh reality is that these hazardous road conditions can escalate into deadly scenarios for motorcyclists far more easily than they would for other motorists.