The Road is Getting Deadlier for Texas Motorcyclists
Every time you gear up for a ride, you’re facing odds that are getting worse by the year. How much deadlier? In 2023, there were 599 motorcyclists killed on Texas roads; more than any year in the last decade. While 2024 saw a slight dip in fatal motorcycle accidents, it was still well above the 10-year average.
Why? What’s causing so many wrecks, and why are there more fatalities than ever before? The Car Crash Captain looks into the data and what can be done to stay safe out there.
A Decade of Danger – Deaths are Rising
From 2014 to 2021 there was an average of around 7,500 motorcycle crashes per year. This resulted in an average of 470 deaths. That changed in 2022 when wrecks spiked to 9,528 that year, and 563 fatalities. The crash rate and fatality rate has stayed high (9,016 in both ’23 and ’24 with 599 and 585 deaths respectively). These aren’t just numbers on a screen – each one is a person. A family shattered, a life altered, and a world suddenly filled with hurt.
What’s going on? Why the spike?
Why So Many Fatal Motorcycle Accidents?
There are many factors that need to be accounted when we look at why so many people are dying on the roads.
It’s not just speeding either. That is always a factor, but we have to dig a little deeper to figure out what’s going on.
1 – Dallas, Houston, and Austin lead the state in crash volume. These densely populated areas mean more traffic and ultimately more wrecks.
2 – Distracted driving continues to be an issue. Motorcycles are already hard to see; distracted drivers are even more likely to not see them.
3 – Younger riders are skipping the helmet and putting themselves at more risk.
4 – Texas has a lot of rural highways. Poor lighting, livestock, and two-lane highways can lead to wrecks.
What Riders and Families Should Know
Without a major cultural change (looking three times for bikers) wrecks are going to keep happening. Because the risk is great, riders need to protect themselves.
Make sure your insurance is top-of-the-line. After a wreck you don’t want your loved ones to have to worry about anything, so health insurance, life insurance, and underinsured motorist coverage is essential.
Wear your safety gear. Many people would be alive today if they just put on that helmet.
Be extra aware when on two wheels and four. It takes an extra second to double check for motorcycles, and you can save a life when you do it.
After a Crash Time Isn’t on Your Side, But We Are
Herbert Law Group wants to make sure you’re taken care of. Texas roads are more dangerous than ever for motorcyclists. If you, or someone you love, has been injured or killed in a crash, you need to act quickly to ensure you find justice.
Insurance companies want to pay out as little as possible. Most of the time their offers aren’t going to be sufficient.
Herbert Law Group has the experience to push back; we know how to be aggressive when we need to be so that you receive compensation that fully covers your needs.
Call us at 214-414-3808, and we’ll have a short conversation about what needs done and get you squared away. You can also contact us through our form, and we’ll get back to you quickly.