What 811 Crashes and 38 Fatalities Means for Riders (2025 Iowa Motorcycle Crash Stats)

What’s causing these Iowa motorcycle crashes

Look, we get it. Data can be boring. So we did you a solid and rolled through the numbers for you. Here are a few patterns in the statewide data we wanted to share because they match what we see in real cases.

1) Loss of control is a major driver (118/811 crashes)

A lot of riders go down without another vehicle ever touching them. Curves, gravel, sand, sudden braking, wildlife, or a surprise situation where you have to react fast.

2) Left-turn failures are a serious problem (58/811 crashes)

The “Lethal Left” occurs in one of two situations:

• Oncoming traffic (opposing side of the road coming at you) doesn’t see you and slow down/stop (they blow through a light) or;

A common and deadly motorcycle crash: an oncoming driver turns left across the rider’s path, misjudging speed or failing to see the motorcycle. Riders often call this scenario “The Lethal Left.”

• Someone tries to pass you on your left as you try to turn left (hitting you mid-turn again).

A dangerous but common crash scenario: a driver tries to pass a motorcycle on the left from behind as the rider begins a left turn. This unsafe move is known as “The Lethal Left” and often leaves riders with no time to react.

In two-vehicle motorcycle crashes, the left-turn scenario is one of the most dangerous.

If you want the national context, NHTSA’s motorcycle traffic safety fact sheets are blunt about how often the other vehicle is turning left when the crash happens.

• NHTSA: Traffic Safety Fact (2022 Data) – Motorcycles (PDF)

3) Animals are a real Iowa risk (58/811 crashes)

If you ride out anywhere rural (or even the edges of town), you already know.

Deer don’t check mirrors. And a deer strike can turn into a catastrophic crash in one second.

(Side Note: Check out this article on what to do if you come face-to-face with a deer on an Iowa highway.)

4) A big chunk are single-vehicle crashes (409/811 crashes)

That matters because it changes the conversation.

Not every crash is “some idiot driver.” Sometimes it’s a hazard. Sometimes it’s a road condition. Sometimes it’s wildlife.

But if someone else caused the chain reaction (poor road maintenance, a driver who forced an evasive maneuver, etc.), it can still become a legitimate injury claim. If you’re involved in a solo motorcycle crash and are having issues with your insurance company covering injuries, you may want to give us a call and see if The Biker Lawyers can help.

“Yeah, but isn’t riding just dangerous?”

Most motorcycle crashes in Iowa don’t happen in bad weather. They happen on clear, quiet days when riders feel comfortable and drivers let their guard down.

Riding has more risk than driving. No question.

But this report reinforces something important:

A lot of Iowa motorcycle crashes happen on normal days, on normal roads, in normal conditions.

That means most riders don’t need fear. They need awareness.

What riders can do with this info 

This isn’t about turning a dream ride into a paranoid stress-inducing nightmare. It’s about taking the statewide patterns and using them to ride smarter, especially on the days when Iowa roads feel easy.

1) Ride like it’s “invisible season” (because it is)

The left-turn trap and the “I didn’t see him” excuse show up year after year. We call it the “Lethal Left” for a reason.

At intersections:

• Cover the brakes (fingers ready) and give yourself reaction time.
• Watch the front wheels of oncoming cars because wheels turning is often the first real warning.
• Create a lane position that makes you visible (not hidden behind other vehicles).
• If you’re stopped, don’t sit dead-center behind the car in front of you. Offset so you have an escape path.

2) Treat “perfect weather” days like high-risk days

The statewide report makes it clear: a lot of crashes happen in clear weather on dry roads.

That’s when drivers relax, speed creeps up, and people start making lazy moves.

On warm weekends:

• Increase following distance to a three-second minimum.
• Assume someone is going to pull out “because they thought they had time.”
• Slow your roll near busy entrances (gas stations, big box stores, parking lots).

3) Build a small skill routine that prevents loss-of-control crashes

A big chunk of riders go down from control issues—curves, gravel, sand, panic braking, or a surprise hazard.

Simple habits that pay off:

• Scan 12 seconds ahead (you want time to see gravel, potholes, debris, and animals).
• Practice firm, straight-line braking in a safe empty lot.
• Practice quick swerves (separate from braking) so your body knows what to do when it counts.

4) Make animals a “planned risk,” not a surprise

In Iowa, deer are a real problem—especially at dawn, dusk, and along rural edges.

Rider playbook:

• If you see one deer, assume there’s another.
• Slow down in known crossing areas and keep your eyes moving.
• Don’t outride your headlight at night.

5) Be intentionally visible (without pretending visibility makes you safe)

Visibility doesn’t “protect” you. But it buys you a split-second advantage.

Practical moves:

• Headlight on (daytime too).
• Bright gear/helmet accents if you’ll wear them. One of our guys like to wear a high-viz vest while riding when the sun is down.
• Don’t ride in blind spots, and don’t pace next to a vehicle.

6) Gear still matters

Even in a state without a universal helmet law, helmets reduce the risk of head injury and death in crashes.

If you want a plain-English public health summary:

• CDC (Hi-5): Motorcycle Injury Prevention

And if you want Iowa’s own rider manual language:

• Iowa DOT: Motorcycle Operator’s Manual (PDF)

What drivers need to hear (because most riders get hit by someone who “didn’t see them”)

If you drive a car or truck in Iowa, this part matters more than you probably realize.

A large share of serious motorcycle crashes happen because a driver genuinely didn’t register the motorcycle as a real, immediate hazard. Bikes are smaller, accelerate faster than expected, and don’t fit the mental picture many drivers use when judging distance and speed.

Left turns are where this becomes deadly. A driver looks, thinks they have time, and turns directly into the rider’s path. By the time they realize the mistake, there’s no room left for the motorcyclist to escape.

Giving riders space also matters more than most drivers understand. Wind, uneven pavement, and road debris affect motorcycles far more than cars. Crowding a rider, tailgating, or pacing them in a blind spot removes their margin for error—and that margin is often the difference between a close call and a life‑changing crash.

If you get hit: the 5 moves that protect your health and your claim

This is general information, not legal advice.

1. Call 911 and get checked out
2. Take photos (bike, gear, road, debris, signs)
3. Get names and contact info for witnesses
4. Don’t give a recorded statement to an insurance adjuster
5. Talk to a motorcycle crash lawyer before you sign anything

If you want the deeper “what happens next” breakdown, start here:

Motorcycle Accidents (The Biker Lawyers)

Key Takeaway: Understand the risks, know who to call.

If you were hurt in a motorcycle crash in Iowa, don’t guess your way through it.

Insurance companies don’t “play fair” out of kindness. They are a for-profit company and every dime they pay you is a dime they don’t keep for themselves..

If you want someone who knows these roads, knows these cases, and knows how to build the claim the right way, talk to us before you talk yourself out of money.

Sources

• 2025–2026 Iowa Motorcycle Crash Stats Report (ICAT) – PDF
• Iowa Crash Analysis Tool (ICAT)
• NHTSA: Traffic Safety Fact (2022 Data) – Motorcycles (PDF)
• CDC (Hi-5): Motorcycle Injury Prevention
• Iowa DOT: Motorcycle Operator’s Manual (PDF)

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