Texas reported 557 motorcycle deaths and 2,468 serious injuries in 2025, according to TxDOT. The reported death total fell from 600 in 2023 and 585 in 2024. That is encouraging, but hundreds of families still lost someone in a single year.
If you are reading this after a crash, statewide numbers may feel far removed from what you need right now. You may be worried about surgery, missing work, or how the insurance company will treat you. These figures provide context. They do not decide who caused your accident or what your recovery should include.
At Baumgartner Law Firm, our focus is the person behind the claim. Our Houston motorcycle accident lawyer page explains how we help injured riders and families. This guide focuses on the data and what it can—and cannot—tell you.
Texas motorcycle deaths: a three-year comparison
The table compares people killed, including motorcycle operators and passengers. It does not count fatal crashes. One crash can kill more than one person.
|
Year |
Motorcyclists killed |
Change from prior listed year |
|
2023 |
600 |
Baseline |
|
2024 |
585 |
15 fewer deaths (2.5% decrease) |
|
2025 |
557 |
28 fewer deaths (4.8% decrease) |
Sources: TxDOT 2023 crash facts, TxDOT 2024 crash facts, and TxDOT’s current motorcycle safety figures. Percentage changes are calculated from these totals.
Across these published totals, deaths fell by 43, or about 7.2%, from 2023 to 2025. That is a decline in the number of deaths. It does not establish that each mile ridden became safer; that would require motorcycle travel data as well.
Data note: The 2023 and 2024 reports reflect records processed through April 9, 2025. The 2025 figure comes from TxDOT’s current campaign page, checked September 7, 2026. Crash totals can change as records are updated. Earlier releases may show different numbers.
Serious injuries remain a major concern
TxDOT’s 2025 campaign figure counts 2,468 riders seriously injured. That is a count of people, not serious-injury crashes or every person hurt on a motorcycle. Keeping those measures separate prevents misleading comparisons.
For a family, the practical questions go beyond the label in a crash report. Can the injured person return to the same job? Will more treatment be needed? Who is helping with daily tasks? Those details deserve attention even when they do not appear in an annual statistics table.
Intersections and left turns deserve close attention
TxDOT’s current safety campaign reports that 37% of motorcycle fatalities happen at roadway intersections. It also says more than half of fatal motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle. The agency warns that drivers may overlook a motorcycle or misjudge its distance and speed.
A driver turning across a rider’s path is one reason visibility matters. For the person investigating the crash, “I did not see the motorcycle” should lead to more questions: What blocked the view? Where was each vehicle? What do photographs or video show?
Those questions offer a more useful starting point than assuming the rider must have been speeding. A statewide pattern can guide an investigation, but the evidence must explain this collision.
What the helmet figures actually mean
TxDOT’s 2024 report states that 37% of motorcyclists killed were not wearing helmets. That is a separate statistic from the intersection figure. It describes helmet use among people who died; it does not measure the chance of death for all helmeted or unhelmeted riders.
It also does not establish who caused a crash. The circumstances of the collision and the role of protective equipment need careful, separate review. A percentage in a statewide report cannot answer those questions for an individual.
How to read Houston and Harris County crash figures
Houston and Harris County are not interchangeable reporting areas. A county total includes places outside the city. Before comparing local figures, check the location, year, vehicle type, and whether the number describes crashes or people.
This guide does not rank Houston roads or counties because a ranking needs a specific, verified dataset. A busy road can have more crashes without having the highest crash rate per mile traveled. TxDOT’s annual crash statistics are a starting point for checking the underlying reports.
Baumgartner Law Firm’s perspective: investigate the rider’s case
Greg Baumgartner founded the firm in 1985. Our approach to serious injury claims is to investigate early and understand how the injury affects the client’s life. For a motorcycle claim, that means giving the facts more weight than assumptions about riders.
Useful evidence may include vehicle damage, witness accounts, nearby video, road markings, and medical records. A photo that shows a blocked sight line may help explain something that a short written description misses.
If an insurer raises lane splitting, address the actual movement of the motorcycle and the available evidence. Our guide to Texas lane-splitting rules and injury claims discusses that issue in more detail. A claim should be evaluated on its facts, not on an unsupported label.
After a motorcycle crash, preserve what you can
Medical care comes first. If you or someone helping you can do so safely, keep photographs, witness details, insurance messages, and the crash-report number. Ask about preserving the motorcycle and riding gear before anything is repaired or discarded.
Tell your lawyer about possible cameras near the scene. Footage may not remain available for long. Keep track of treatment and missed work, too. You do not need every record before asking for help.
Frequently asked questions
How many motorcyclists died in Texas in 2025?
TxDOT’s current motorcycle safety campaign reports 557 rider deaths in 2025. The table above links to the sources used for the three-year comparison.
Are Texas motorcycle deaths increasing?
The published totals used here decreased from 600 in 2023 to 585 in 2024 and 557 in 2025. That short-term decline does not prove a lower risk per mile or predict future years.
Can motorcycle statistics prove who caused my crash?
No. Statistics describe groups of crashes. Your claim requires evidence about what happened, who was involved, and how you were harmed.
Talk with Baumgartner Law Firm about your motorcycle accident
You may have questions that a statistics page cannot answer. We can discuss what happened, the injuries involved, and whether our firm may be able to help.
Call (281) 587-1111 or request a free consultation. There is no obligation to hire us, and you owe no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.
