blog
By: Matthew Fogg
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, a national reminder that motorcycle safety depends on both riders and drivers. The message is especially relevant in Delaware, where warmer weather brings more motorcycles onto local roads, beach routes, commuter corridors, and highways. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2026 communications calendar recognizes Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month in May, with motorcycle-safety messaging scheduled from May 11 through May 31.
For Delaware riders, safety is not an abstract issue. Motorcycle accidents are tracked across Delaware State Police troop areas, and the 2025 data shows that motorcycle crashes occurred throughout the state. According to the Delaware State Police 2025 Annual Report, Troop 2 and Troop 6 each reported 35 motorcycle crashes, Troop 3 reported 33, Troop 5 and Troop 9 each reported 26, Troop 1 reported 22, Troop 4 reported 21, and Troop 7 reported 19.
This data serves as a reminder that motorcycle crashes are not limited to one part of Delaware. They happen in urban areas, growing suburban corridors, rural roads, beach routes, and major commuter zones.
Motorcycle crashes often raise issues that are different from ordinary vehicle collisions. Riders have less physical protection than people in passenger vehicles, which means the injuries can be severe even when the crash happens at a lower speed. A rider may suffer broken bones, head injuries, spinal injuries, road rash, internal injuries, or injuries that require surgery and long-term treatment.
Motorcycle accidents also frequently involve disputed facts. A driver may say the motorcycle “came out of nowhere” or that the rider was speeding. A rider may remember a vehicle turning left, changing lanes, following too closely, drifting into the rider’s path, or failing to yield. In serious cases, the answer may depend on evidence that needs to be gathered quickly.
Evidence may include:
The Delaware State Police report notes that its Traffic Operations Section uses traffic action plans focused on crash-producing behaviors and that Office of Highway Safety-supported enforcement included motorcycle violations, DUI, aggressive driving, pedestrian safety, seat belt violations, and child restraints. The same behaviors that create risk for all roadway users can be especially dangerous for motorcyclists.
Motorcycle safety is not only the rider’s responsibility. Drivers have a duty to share the road safely and remain alert for motorcycles, especially at intersections, driveways, merges, and lane changes.
Drivers should:
A small mistake by a driver can have serious consequences for a motorcyclist.
Riders cannot control whether other drivers are paying attention. They can, however, take steps to reduce risk and protect themselves if a crash happens.
Riders should:
The goal is not to blame riders for the conduct of negligent drivers. It is to recognize that visibility, documentation, and defensive riding can matter before and after a crash.
After a motorcycle accident, the first priority is medical care. Once emergency needs are addressed, evidence can become critical.
Accident scenes change quickly. Vehicles are moved. Debris is cleared. Witnesses leave. Video may be overwritten. Roadway conditions may not look the same later. A motorcycle may be repaired, disposed of, or inspected by an insurance company before the injured rider understands what evidence it may contain.
Early action is especially important when:
A police report is important, but it may not answer every question needed for an injury claim. A civil claim may require additional investigation into fault, insurance coverage, medical damages, lost wages, future care, and the long-term impact of the injuries.
If you are injured in a motorcycle crash, these steps can help protect your health and your claim:
Call 911. Make sure police and emergency medical responders are notified.
Get medical care. Do not assume you are fine because adrenaline is masking pain. Some injuries become more serious after the crash.
Take photos if you safely can. Photograph the motorcycle, other vehicles, road conditions, traffic signals, skid marks, debris, injuries, and the surrounding area.
Identify witnesses. Get names and contact information before people leave.
Preserve your motorcycle and gear. Do not repair, sell, or discard the motorcycle, helmet, clothing, boots, gloves, or other gear until you understand whether they may be evidence.
Avoid quick insurance statements. Insurance companies may contact you early. Be careful before giving a recorded statement or accepting a settlement.
Keep every document. Save medical records, discharge instructions, bills, repair estimates, insurance letters, wage-loss information, and photos.
Speak with a lawyer early if the injuries are serious or fault is disputed. You do not need to know every detail before asking for guidance. Early legal involvement can help preserve evidence before it disappears.
Morris James represents people injured in serious accidents throughout Delaware, including motorcycle crashes in Dover, Kent County, New Castle County, Sussex County, and Delaware’s major highway and beach corridors.
A motorcycle crash can leave an injured rider facing medical treatment, missed work, insurance pressure, vehicle damage, and uncertainty about what happened. Our role is to help clients understand their options, protect important evidence, and pursue accountability when another driver’s negligence caused the harm.
Contact us at 302.655.2599 or online for more information or to discuss your situation.
Motorcycle accidents also frequently involve disputed facts. A driver may say the motorcycle “came out of nowhere” or that the rider was speeding. A rider may remember a vehicle turning left, changing lanes, following too closely, drifting into the rider’s path, or failing to yield. In serious cases, the answer may depend on evidence that needs to be gathered quickly.
