Charlotte Motorcycle Accident Statistics

Motorcycle ownership tends to be more common in cities with warm climates and easy access to recreational opportunities. Charlotte, North Carolina, satisfies both of these criteria. However, as Charlotte motorcycle accident statistics illustrate, an increase in motorcycle use generally leads to an increase in motorcycle crashes.

Riders injured in collisions with other motorists can seek compensation from the at-fault driver and their insurer. Chandler Volta Personal Injury Lawyers can help you pursue fair compensation for your motorcycle accident injuries and other losses. Call (704) 980-9999 to schedule a free consultation.

How Chandler Volta Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident in Charlotte, NC

How Chandler Volta Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Motorcycle Accident in Charlotte, NC

Our law firm is dedicated to providing exceptional client service to accident victims in Charlotte, NC. Our lawyers have over 80 years of combined experience seeking accountability from at-fault parties and their insurers on behalf of injured people. Since the firm’s founding, we’ve successfully recovered more than $35 million for our clients.

After a motorcycle accident caused by a negligent driver, our Charlotte personal injury lawyers can provide the following legal services:

  • Talking to you about your injuries and the cause of your crash
  • Gathering evidence to prove the other driver’s liability for your injury-related losses
  • Preparing an insurance claim and working with insurance adjusters to settle it
  • Taking the other party to court if their insurer refuses to make a fair offer

Motorcycle accidents are notorious for causing serious or fatal injuries. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with our motorcycle accident lawyers in Charlotte, NC and learn more about the compensation you may be entitled to pursue under North Carolina law.

How Common Are Motorcycle Crashes in North Carolina?

According to the state’s annual Crash Facts report, North Carolina had 3,866 total motorcycle accidents in 2024. Statewide, motorcycle accidents accounted for 0.7% of all traffic crashes that year. The motorcycle crashes in North Carolina in 2024 included 194 fatal accidents and 2,948 non-fatal injury accidents.

Based on these figures, it can be calculated that motorcycle accidents accounted for over 6% of the state’s fatal crashes and over 2% of its injury collisions. Compared to their crash rate of 0.7%, motorcyclists were much more likely to suffer injuries or death in a crash scenario.

The state’s numbers match nationwide motorcycle injury trends. Across the U.S., motorcyclists are around 28 times more likely to die in a crash and around five times more likely to suffer injuries than vehicle occupants on a per-mile basis. In other words, even when you account for the shorter trips riders take, they’re still more likely to be hurt or killed in the event of a mishap.

Local Motorcycle Crash Statistics in Charlotte

North Carolina doesn’t provide statistics for individual cities. However, it does report county-level statistics in its Crash Facts report. In 2024, Mecklenburg County had 316 total motorcycle crashes, including 17 fatal crashes, 236 non-fatal injury crashes, and 63 property-damage-only crashes. These crashes resulted in 18 deaths and 281 non-fatal injuries.

Charlotte maintains a crash dashboard that tracks the number of fatal and serious-injury accidents in the city. A serious injury occurs when the victim has a visible injury that incapacitates them. As a result, serious injuries almost always require ambulance transportation to a hospital.

Some common motorcycle injuries that may be classified as serious include:

  • Head trauma causing unconsciousness
  • Paralysis
  • Severe leg swelling leading to complications that may require amputation
  • Severe lacerations
  • Major bone fractures

In 2024, the city experienced 182 total fatal and serious injury accidents. Of those, 21 involved a motorcycle.

Based on these numbers, nearly 12% of fatal and serious injury traffic crashes in Charlotte that year were motorcycle-related. This percentage is shocking considering that only 0.7% of crashes across the state involved a motorcycle.

Common Causes of North Carolina Motorcycle Crashes

The most common causes of motorcycle accidents differ slightly from those of automobile crashes. For one thing, motorcycles are more prone to single-vehicle crashes than automobiles. Riding a motorcycle requires greater skill, including physical strength and balance, than driving a car. Inexperienced riders can easily lose control and crash.

Multi-vehicle crashes involving motorcycles are often caused by careless automobile drivers. Many drivers don’t notice motorcycles because they simply aren’t looking for the smaller vehicles. For example, a driver might sideswipe a motorcycle while changing lanes because they failed to check their blind spots.

Additionally, negligent drivers may misjudge the speed or distance of a motorcycle due to its size. As a result, they may turn in front of or merge into an oncoming rider, mistakenly believing that they had more time or room to maneuver.

Contact A Charlotte Motorcycle Crash Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Careless or impaired automobile drivers often bear the blame for motorcycle accidents in Charlotte. Contact Chandler Volta Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your accident and the legal strategies we can use to seek compensation from the at-fault driver. Our Charlotte motorcycle accident attorneys offer free consultations. 

Motorcycle Accident Resources