Colorado Motorcycle Accident Rates by Month
Colorado has been blessed with four distinct seasons, and each season has its impact on the ability of motorcyclists to get out on the road. As a result, it also impacts the number of motorcycle accidents that we see on Colorado’s roads.
In the summer, when more motorcyclists are on the road, we see a considerable increase in motorcycle accidents, both in number and as a percentage of total traffic accidents. However, the motorcycle fatality rate doesn’t exactly mirror the expected seasons.
Overall Accident Rates by Month
There are about 20,000 traffic accidents in Colorado each month. Of these, a relatively small number involve motorcycles. Using data from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), the table below breaks down the number of accidents by month in 2023, the number of motorcycle accidents, and the percentage of accidents that are motorcycle accidents each month.
| Month | Total Accidents | Motorcycle Accidents | % Motorcycle Accidents |
| January | 19876 | 27 | 0.14% |
| February | 17780 | 59 | 0.33% |
| March | 18327 | 102 | 0.56% |
| April | 15934 | 172 | 1.08% |
| May | 20052 | 260 | 1.30% |
| June | 19705 | 290 | 1.47% |
| July | 20222 | 402 | 1.99% |
| August | 21289 | 352 | 1.65% |
| September | 19955 | 286 | 1.43% |
| October | 21985 | 199 | 0.91% |
| November | 19983 | 123 | 0.62% |
| December | 20480 | 53 | 0.26% |
As you can see, the total accidents per month range from a low of just under 16,000 accidents in April to just under 22,000 accidents in October.
The number of motorcycle accidents increases in the spring and remains high through the fall. The rate of motorcycle accidents drops off considerably over the winter, when most riders put their bikes in storage. The number of motorcycle accidents in July is about 15 times greater than the number of motorcycle accidents in January.
Motorcycle accidents are always a relatively small proportion of the total number of accidents, never reaching 2% of the total number of accidents. Since motorcycles represent over 3.5% of registered vehicles in Colorado, this suggests that motorcycle riders may be safer drivers than those in passenger cars.
Fatal Accident Rates by Month
Although motorcycles are involved in a relatively small number of total accidents, CDOT data from 2023 shows that they are involved in a relatively high number of fatal accidents.
| Month | Total Fatal Accidents | Fatal Motorcycle Accidents | % Fatal Accidents Are Motorcycle Accidents |
| January | 33 | 0 | 0.00% |
| February | 35 | 7 | 20.00% |
| March | 34 | 6 | 17.65% |
| April | 53 | 9 | 16.98% |
| May | 44 | 14 | 31.82% |
| June | 55 | 19 | 34.55% |
| July | 79 | 26 | 32.91% |
| August | 50 | 16 | 32.00% |
| September | 59 | 18 | 30.51% |
| October | 55 | 8 | 14.55% |
| November | 32 | 3 | 9.38% |
| December | 38 | 6 | 15.79% |
Improvements in car safety mean that most accidents involving passenger cars and trucks aren’t fatal. In fact, CDOT data never indicates that the overall fatal accident rate never exceeds 0.5%. In other words, in general, less than one in 200 vehicle accidents includes a fatality. However, the fatality rate of motorcycle accidents approaches 12%, or nearly one in 8. As a result, motorcycle accidents represent a relatively high proportion of fatal accidents. At the peak of motorcycle riding season, from May through August, motorcycle accidents account for about a third of all fatal accidents on Colorado roads.
The Most Dangerous Season for Motorcycles
Most motorcycle fatalities occur in the summer, but motorcycle accidents are more likely to be fatal at other times of year. Over the peak motorcycle riding months of May through September, the percentage of motorcycle accidents that include a fatality is only about 6%. However, during the winter months of December, January, and February, the likelihood that a motorcycle accident will be fatal is much higher: 9%, even though in 2023 there was no fatal accident in January.
In addition to tracking monthly accident data, CDOT highlights data from holidays. This data reveals a surprising culprit when it comes to the most accidents over a holiday. It turns out the most dangerous holiday for driving in most years is Labor Day. This is also true for motorcycles. In 2023, there were 72 motorcycle crashes over the Labor Day weekend, nearly a fourth of the total for the month. Four of those accidents were fatal, again accounting for nearly a quarter of the monthly total.
It’s Getting More Deadly for Motorcycles
Motorcycle accident lawyers have noticed an alarming trend: Colorado roads are getting more dangerous for motorcyclists. The table below contrasts the 2015-2023 proportion of motorcycle fatalities with the 2024 figures.
| Month | Total Fatalities (2015-2023) | Total Motorcyclist Fatalities (2015-2023) | % Fatalities Are Motorcyclists | Total Fatalities (2024) | Total Motorcyclist Fatalities (2024) | % Fatalities Are Motorcyclists |
| January | 377 | 20 | 5.31% | 38 | 0 | 0.00% |
| February | 322 | 26 | 8.07% | 43 | 3 | 6.98% |
| March | 369 | 58 | 15.72% | 51 | 8 | 15.69% |
| April | 477 | 90 | 18.87% | 45 | 8 | 17.78% |
| May | 468 | 109 | 23.29% | 63 | 16 | 25.40% |
| June | 597 | 170 | 28.48% | 62 | 20 | 32.26% |
| July | 615 | 162 | 26.34% | 78 | 24 | 30.77% |
| August | 604 | 148 | 24.50% | 61 | 21 | 34.43% |
| September | 606 | 155 | 25.58% | 76 | 29 | 38.16% |
| October | 564 | 94 | 16.67% | 43 | 7 | 16.28% |
| November | 440 | 29 | 6.59% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| December | 390 | 23 | 5.90% | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Through 2015-2023, in no month did motorcyclists exceed 30% of the total traffic accident fatalities. However, in 2024, motorcycle deaths passed this threshold four times. From 2015-2023, motorcycle fatalities accounted for 20% of the total from January to October, but in 2024, motorcycle fatalities accounted for nearly 25% of the total fatalities.
Plus, seven of the nine complete months of 2024 exceeded the average monthly fatalities from 2015-2023. In addition, the deadliest year for motorcycle riders in Colorado was 2022, with 2024 likely to be second, and every year since 2019 has had more motorcycle fatalities in Colorado than in all previous years.
A Motorcycle Accident Attorney Has Your Back in a Dangerous World
If you were injured or lost a loved one in a motorcycle accident in the Denver area, Pushchak Law can help. Often, when a motorcyclist is hurt or killed, another driver is to blame, and we can hold that other driver responsible so that they will pay the expenses related to your injury or loss. Mr. Pushchak has made motorcycle accidents a primary focus of his practice, and this specialization will give you the edge you need to maximize the value of your compensation.
When you work with Denver motorcycle accident lawyer Brian Pushchak, you will benefit from our Informed Decisions™ Approach. This starts with us taking the time to listen to your circumstances and your needs. Is it most important that you get the most money possible from your lawsuit, or is it more important for you to get money now? We can give you advice on how to make the most of your circumstances, including strategic approaches for dealing with bills and debt.
We do this because we truly care about you, and the most important thing to us is that you get the results you need from your lawsuit. We will give you our personal contact information so you can always get a hold of us if you have any questions, concerns, or decisions to make about your case. We are at your service with our expertise and knowledge, but the case remains yours. You are always in charge.
To learn how a motorcycle accident attorney can help after your accident, please contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Pushchak Law serves clients in Denver and the surrounding areas.
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