Statistically speaking, yes, motorcycles are more dangerous than cars. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), relative to miles traveled, motorcyclists are 5 times more likely to get hurt and 28 times more likely to die in motor vehicle accidents than occupants of passenger cars.
Based on crash data published by the New York City Police Department (NYPD), motorcycle accidents don’t happen as often as car accidents. In January 2026, 64 motorcycles were involved in NYC traffic accidents, compared to 5,011 passenger vehicles (not including SUVs and station wagons). However, motorcycle crashes tend to result in more severe physical injuries and are more likely to result in fatalities.
What Makes Motorcycles Dangerous?
There are a lot of reasons why motorcycle accidents tend to be more severe than car accidents.
Motorcycles Offer Less Protection
Motorcyclists don’t have the benefit of a large steel frame surrounding them as they’re riding through New York City. There aren’t seat belts to hold them in place or airbags to deploy to mitigate the impact of a collision.
Instead, motorcyclists are exposed to the elements, with relatively few safety features to protect them. Newer motorcycles are equipped with more safety features – including automatic clutch and shift gears, electronic throttle controls, satellite and GPS tracking devices, and adaptive headlights. Riders can also increase protection by installing motorcycle crash bars, wearing protective clothing, and wearing a motorcycle helmet at all times.
Motorcyclists Can Be Difficult to See
Cars and SUVs are a lot bigger than motorcycles. When you’re driving, it can be easy to see another passenger vehicle in your mirrors or approaching your blind spots. Motorcycles, on the other hand, are shorter and narrower. Riders can blend into traffic and be difficult to see, which can increase the chances that they’re struck by a driver who’s changing lanes, making a turn, or attempting to pass a slower-moving vehicle.
Rider visibility can decrease in the early evening and at night. Riders are encouraged to affix reflectors to their motorcycles and to wear reflective clothing if they’re going to be out after dark. Some newer motorcycles have vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems (V2V) installed. V2V allows the motorcycle to communicate its GPS position, speed, and direction to other vehicles on the road. This can increase motorcyclist visibility and reduce the likelihood that a rider is struck by a car in traffic.
Motorcycles Are Less Stable and More Difficult to Operate
There’s a reason New York City requires riders to obtain a motorcycle license or endorsement – motorcycles are inherently more difficult to operate than passenger vehicles. There’s a learning curve to riding a motorcycle safely, during which a rider has to learn how to balance the heavy vehicle, time the use of the clutch, brakes, and throttle, and navigate safely around other vehicles.
Since motorcycles only have two wheels, they’re less stable and more susceptible to tipping over, especially on slick ground, on ice, in windy conditions, or at high speeds. When a motorcyclist is careless, the stakes are higher.
What Types of Injuries Do Motorcyclists Typically Suffer in NYC Traffic Accidents?
While occupants of passenger vehicles and motorcyclists can get hurt in New York auto accidents, motorcyclists tend to suffer the worst consequences. Injuries commonly seen in NYC motorcycle accident victims include:
- Burn injuries and road rash: These are especially common when a motorcyclist is dragged on the pavement or thrown from their bike.
- Crushing injuries: These can happen when a rider is caught beneath their motorcycle or sandwiched between their bike and a motor vehicle.
- Brain injuries: Wearing a motorcycle helmet can reduce the chances of suffering a severe TBI or dying in a motorcycle accident, but a well-equipped rider can still sustain concussions and other moderate brain injuries.
- Broken bones: Riders can suffer broken bones if they’re struck directly by a motor vehicle, crushed between their vehicle and a car or fixed object, or thrown during the collision.
- Leg injuries: Motorcyclists can suffer serious injuries to their legs and knees, which are largely unprotected.
- Amputation injuries: Riders can suffer the loss of limbs if they’re forcibly crushed during an accident or removed by sharp debris generated by the crash.
Motorcycle accidents in New York City can also be fatal and result in a rider’s or passenger’s wrongful death.
Call The Platta Law Firm for Help if You’ve Been Hurt in a Motorcycle Accident in NYC
Riding a motorcycle can be a great way to explore and navigate a congested city like New York, but it can also be dangerous. Many times, motorcycle accidents happen because other motorists aren’t paying attention or are unhappy about sharing the road with smaller, often louder, vehicles. When you get hurt in a motorcycle accident because someone else is negligent or reckless, you deserve compensation.
The Platta Law Firm appreciates how much life can change in an instant when you’re hurt in a motorcycle wreck. Our New York motorcycle accident attorneys can help you understand your legal options and fight for the financial award you need to pay for costly medical care, offset a sudden loss of income, and help you cope with the pain and suffering of a debilitating crash. We don’t just win personal injury cases for our clients; we set records in the process. Benefit from a team with 150 years of combined experience that’s won hundreds of millions of dollars from insurance companies and at-fault parties. Your first consultation is free, so contact our NYC law office at (212) 514-5100 today.