Motorcycle Safety in Montana: A Year-to-Year Fatality View
In the past decade, fatal motorcycle crashes have increased significantly across Montana. If you ride a motorcycle in Montana, or someone you love does, understanding these trends matters because they reveal where the biggest dangers lie and what factors keep leading to preventable deaths.
If you suffered an injury in a motorcycle accident, our Montana motorcycle accident lawyers will fight for you and for your future. Call Doubek, Pyfer & Storrar, PLLP at 406-442-7830 today. Our attorneys hold motorcycle endorsements and know the rules of the road when it comes to rider safety. We know how to hold negligent drivers accountable, so motorcyclists get the compensation they need to recover after a serious crash.
Montana’s Motorcycle Fatality Trends: The Numbers
The wide-open roads that attract riders to Big Sky Country also present unique hazards, such as long distances between towns, wildlife crossings, sudden weather changes, and rural roads with limited lighting.
Perhaps this is why Montana consistently ranks among the most dangerous states for motorcyclists per capita. According to the Montana Department of Transportation, the state has seen fluctuating but generally increasing motorcycle fatality rates over the past 15 years.
Between 2010 and 2015, Montana averaged about 20-25 motorcycle deaths annually. By 2016-2020, that average jumped to roughly 25-30 deaths per year. More recent years have shown continued concern, with 2021 recording 32 motorcycle fatalities and 2022 seeing 28 deaths.
What makes these numbers particularly concerning is that Montana has a relatively small population. When you calculate deaths per 100,000 registered motorcycles, Montana often exceeds the national average.
Why More Montana Motorcyclists Are Being Hurt by Negligent Drivers?
What’s Behind the Increase in Motorcycle Deaths, and Why Riders Aren’t to Blame:
Vehicle Blind Spots – Many drivers fail to check their blind spots before changing lanes, which easily hides a motorcycle from view. Riders are often struck or forced off the road simply because a driver didn’t look.
Left-Turn Violations – One of the most common and deadly motorcycle crash scenarios occurs when a driver turns left in front of an oncoming rider. The motorcyclist has the right of way the driver just failed to see or properly judge the rider’s speed.
Distracted Driving – Drivers who are texting, using GPS, eating, or otherwise distracted often fail to notice motorcycles until it’s too late. A rider doing everything right can be hit by someone who wasn’t paying attention.
Unsafe Lane Changes – Some drivers drift between lanes or switch lanes without signaling, cutting off motorcyclists who are exactly where they should be. These sudden moves give riders little time or space to avoid a collision.
Following Too Closely – Motorcycles can stop quickly, but many drivers tailgate or fail to leave enough space behind a rider. Rear-end collisions happen when drivers simply don’t respect a motorcycle’s stopping distance.
Failure to Yield at Intersections – Drivers who roll through stop signs, rush right-on-red turns, or pull out from side streets frequently strike motorcyclists who have the right of way. These crashes happen when drivers assume the road is clear without actually checking.
Impaired Driving – Alcohol, drugs, or fatigue affect a driver’s judgment and reaction time, often with devastating consequences for riders. Even the safest motorcyclist can’t compensate for a driver who should never have been on the road.
Speeding and Aggressive Driving – Drivers who speed, weave through traffic, or act aggressively around motorcycles create sudden and unpredictable hazards. Riders are often hit because the driver left no room or time to react.
Opening Car Doors Into Traffic (“Dooring”) – A driver or passenger who opens their door without checking for motorcycles can cause a sudden and violent impact. Riders in urban or downtown areas are especially at risk.
Improper Passing – Some drivers try to pass a motorcycle too closely or at unsafe times, forcing the rider out of their lane. These reckless maneuvers leave motorcyclists vulnerable with nowhere to escape.
Failure to Signal or Use Headlights – Drivers who don’t signal turns or lane changes, or who fail to use headlights, create unpredictable situations that make it impossible for riders to anticipate their movements.
Misjudging a Motorcycle’s Speed or Distance – Because motorcycles are smaller, many drivers incorrectly assume they are farther away or moving slower than they are. This misjudgment often leads drivers to pull out or turn directly into a rider’s path.
Backing Up Without Checking – Drivers leaving parking spots or driveways frequently look only for cars, not motorcycles. Riders can be struck by a vehicle backing up blindly into their path.
Unsafe Driving in Poor Weather Conditions – Drivers who don’t clear fogged windows, fail to use headlights, or drive too fast for weather conditions often cause crashes involving motorcyclists. Riders who adjust for weather can still be hit by drivers who do not.
How Riders Can Stay Safe — Even When Others Don’t Drive Safely
Wear Proper Protective Gear — Helmets Save Lives – Montana law only requires helmets for riders under 18, but wearing a DOT-approved helmet significantly reduces the likelihood of severe injury. Research shows helmets reduce the risk of death by 37% and head injury by 69%, and even though many crashes are caused by negligent drivers, a helmet can help protect you from the impact you didn’t cause.
Stay Alert on Rural Montana Roads – Rural highways can have gravel, wildlife crossings, frost heaves, and limited shoulders, all things a rider can’t control. Staying alert, reducing speed in low-visibility areas, and scanning ahead can help you react to hazards faster while still recognizing that a negligent driver on a rural road remains a major threat.
Avoid Riding Impaired – Even though many motorcycle crashes are caused by car and truck drivers, choosing not to ride after drinking helps you stay fully aware of surrounding traffic. Staying sober gives you the best chance to avoid a distracted or reckless driver who may drift into your lane or fail to yield. In roughly 30-40% of Montana’s fatal motorcycle crashes, the rider had a blood alcohol concentration above the legal limit. So stay sober while riding!
Get Professional Training: It Helps You Respond to Other Drivers’ Mistakes – Completing a motorcycle safety course or refresher training improves emergency braking, cornering, and hazard avoidance. Training doesn’t prevent a negligent driver from causing a crash, but it gives you the best tools to respond when someone cuts you off, pulls out in front of you, or merges into your lane.
Make Yourself Visible to Drivers (Because Many Fail to Look) – Even though it’s a driver’s responsibility to check their mirrors and blind spots, riders can improve visibility by using headlights during the day, wearing reflective gear, and avoiding lingering in blind spots when possible. Visibility doesn’t eliminate driver negligence — but it helps counteract the fact that “I didn’t see the motorcycle” is one of the most common driver excuses.
Defensive Riding Around Intersections – Left-turn collisions happen when drivers misjudge a motorcycle’s distance or speed. Slowing slightly, positioning yourself for maximum visibility, and covering the brakes approaching intersections can help you avoid a driver who suddenly turns across your lane.
Maintain Safe Following Distance, Especially Behind Larger Vehicles – Riding with extra space around you helps you escape when a vehicle suddenly brakes, changes lanes, or drifts into your path. This margin of safety is especially important in Montana where wildlife, farm equipment, and distracted drivers are common.
Prepare for Montana’s Changing Weather – Sudden temperature drops, high winds, and afternoon storms can affect traction and visibility. Wearing weather-appropriate gear and planning for changing conditions can help you stay stable and predictable to other drivers who may not be driving cautiously enough for the weather.
Regular Motorcycle Maintenance Helps You Avoid Other Drivers’ Mistakes – Good brakes, tires, and functioning lights don’t prevent driver negligence, but they help you respond quickly when a driver fails to yield or swerves into your path. A well-maintained bike gives you the best chance to avoid a collision caused by someone else.
The Most Dangerous Times and Places to Ride
Montana’s motorcycle fatalities show clear patterns. Summer months account for the majority of deaths, which makes sense given increased riding activity. However, the risk per ride actually increases in spring and fall when temperature swings can create unexpected ice patches or wet roads.
Weekend crashes are more common and more likely to involve alcohol. Friday through Sunday accounts for approximately 60% of fatal motorcycle accidents in Montana.
Certain highways see repeated incidents. US Highway 93, which runs north-south through western Montana, has been the site of numerous motorcycle fatalities. Interstate 90 and Highway 2 also appear frequently in crash reports.
What This Means for Your Legal Rights
If you’ve been injured in a motorcycle crash or lost a family member, Montana law gives you specific rights to pursue compensation. Many times, other drivers try to blame the motorcyclist for the crash so it is important to know your rights. The state follows modified comparative negligence rules, meaning you can recover damages even if you were partially at fault, as long as your fault doesn’t exceed 50%.
Common causes of action in motorcycle accident cases include:
- Negligent drivers who failed to yield, check blind spots, or maintain proper following distance, etc.
- Government entities that are responsible for dangerous road conditions
- Manufacturers in cases involving defective motorcycle parts or safety equipment
- Establishments that over-served alcohol to impaired riders or drivers
Montana’s statute of limitations gives you three years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit, or three years from the date of death for wrongful death claims. However, claims against government entities have much shorter notice requirements, sometimes as little as 180 days, so time is critical.
Compensation Available After a Motorcycle Crash
Montana motorcycle accident victims can recover both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, future earning capacity, and property damage to your motorcycle. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, permanent disability, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.
In wrongful death cases, surviving family members can seek compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and the deceased person’s pain and suffering before death.
An experienced Montana motorcycle accident attorney can investigate your crash, identify all liable parties, calculate your full damages, and negotiate with insurers who have teams of lawyers protecting their interests. Most motorcycle accident attorneys work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless they recover compensation for you.
Contact Our Montana Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Today
Montana’s roads can be challenging, but your safety shouldn’t be jeopardized by negligent drivers, dangerous conditions, or impaired motorists. If a motorcycle crash has turned your life upside down, the personal injury attorneys and motorcycle-endorsed riders at Doubek, Pyfer & Storrar, PLLP are here to help.
Call Doubek, Pyfer & Storrar, PLLP today at 406-442-7830 or fill out our confidential contact form to discuss your case and explore your legal options.
