Alabama saw 71 motorcycle deaths in 2020, despite bikes making up only 3% of vehicles, they caused 15% of traffic fatalities. Most crashes happen at night on rural roads, with alcohol and speeding as top causes. The state ranks 32nd nationally for motorcycle deaths.
Motorcyclists in Alabama face higher fatality risks despite making up a small fraction of vehicles on the road.
If you’re trying to understand how dangerous motorcycle riding is in Alabama, or how the state compares to others, you’re in the right place. This article outlines everything you need to know to protect yourself or a loved one from becoming part of these statistics.
At Applebaum Accident Group, we connect injured riders with skilled attorneys and medical providers who know how to handle serious motorcycle cases. If you’ve been involved in a crash, our network can guide you through your next steps, without the confusion or delay that insurance companies often create.
Want a clearer breakdown of the stats, causes, and what they mean for your rights on the road? Keep reading.
Key Motorcycle Accident Statistics in Alabama
This article presents motorcycle accident statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with a focus on both national trends and specific data from Alabama.
- 71 riders lost their lives in 2020, placing Alabama in the middle tier nationally for motorcycle deaths.
- Though motorcycles make up just 3% of registered vehicles, they account for 15% of all traffic fatalities.
- Most fatal crashes happen at night, especially on undivided rural roads.
- Helmet use in fatal accidents is under 50%, despite Alabama’s helmet law. Riders who comply still face high risk from head injuries.
- Older riders (40+) now account for nearly half of all fatalities, a shift from past trends focused on younger riders.
What State Has the Highest Motorcycle Accident Rate?
- Florida leads the nation in motorcycle fatalities annually, driven by high rider volumes, dense traffic, and year-round riding weather.
- California and Texas follow close behind, for similar reasons (IIHS).
- While Alabama ranks 32nd, its rate still reflects a disproportionate danger to motorcyclists compared to car occupants.
- Population density and climate play a significant role in higher accident volumes, but rural infrastructure in states like Alabama also creates deadly risk.
What Percentage of Motorcycle Riders Have Accidents?
- National data shows motorcyclists are 37 times more likely to die in a crash than people in passenger vehicles.
- Statistically, about 25% of riders will be involved in an accident during their riding years.
- A major study reported 104,000 motorcycles involved in crashes in 2006 alone, a number that’s only grown since.
- In Alabama, this elevated risk is magnified by road conditions, lack of visibility, and driver negligence.
Where Do Most Motorcycle Accidents Occur?
In Alabama, motorcycle accidents tend to happen where road infrastructure creates the most risk:
- Rural highways in Cullman, Morgan, and Madison counties have a high number of fatal incidents.
- Undivided roads with narrow shoulders leave little margin for rider error or sudden obstacles.
- Nationally, intersections are danger zones, especially where drivers fail to see motorcycles making left turns or lane changes.
What makes Alabama different is how frequently these crashes occur in rural areas, not cities. With less lighting and longer emergency response times, a nighttime crash on a country road can quickly turn fatal.
Top Causes of Motorcycle Accidents in Alabama
The factors behind Alabama’s motorcycle statistics often trace back to behaviors and conditions that go unchecked:
- Drivers fail to yield or change lanes without signaling, cutting off motorcycles that are harder to spot.
- 27% of fatal crashes involve alcohol use by either the rider or another driver.
- Speeding contributes to more than one-third of deaths, especially in single-vehicle crashes.
- Environmental issues like glare, potholes, or loose gravel are especially dangerous for two-wheeled vehicles.
- Brake-checking and road rage, while rarely reported in formal stats, regularly lead to near misses and collisions.
Motorcycles don’t have the luxury of built-in protection. When other drivers act recklessly, the results are often catastrophic for riders.
Addressing Riders Worries for You to Take Care
If you’re feeling nervous about what happens after a motorcycle accident, you’re not alone. Here are a few fears we’ve seen time and again:
- In Alabama, fault can be disputed aggressively, yes, even if fault hasn’t been formally assigned yet.
- Unfortunately, some victims discover too late that their insurance made decisions on their behalf.
- Lack of immediate documentation can complicate claims and delay justice.
What You Can Do:
- Wear a helmet, every time, every ride.
- Install a dash cam to help back up your version of events.
- Document the scene thoroughly, photos, video, and contact info for witnesses.
- Notify your insurer, but don’t make recorded statements without legal guidance.
- Speak to an attorney before signing anything from insurance adjusters.
How Alabama’s Laws Make It Tough for Riders
Alabama applies one of the strictest legal standards in the country, contributory negligence. This means if you’re found even 1% at fault, you may be barred from receiving any compensation.
- You only have two years to file a claim. Miss that deadline and your case could be dismissed.
- Helmet laws are mandatory, but if you’re injured without one, even if it didn’t affect the accident, it can be used against you to diminish your claim.
This legal climate makes it critical to act quickly and strategically if you’ve been injured on a motorcycle in Alabama.
When to Call for Help
After a crash, the decisions you make in the first 48 hours could shape the outcome of your case for years to come. But most victims have no idea where to begin, or worse, they’re misled by insurance adjusters who prioritize cost-cutting over care.
Applebaum Accident Group is here to change that.
Get Connected to the Legal Help You Deserve
Motorcycle accident statistics in Alabama are more than numbers, they’re real lives changed in an instant. And too many riders don’t get the legal support they need to recover physically, financially, and emotionally.
Applebaum Accident Group was created to solve that problem. Here’s how we help:
- We connect you with attorneys who specialize in motorcycle injury claims, no guessing, no wasted time.
- We match you with medical providers familiar with PIP law and post-accident recovery, especially valuable if you’re still within the 14-day treatment window.
- We protect your claim from being misrepresented or undervalued, because you deserve more than a rushed settlement and generic advice.
You don’t have to navigate this alone.
👉Contact Applebaum Accident Group if you’ve been injured and we’ll put you in touch with the right professionals who take your case, and your recovery, seriously.
