Why Colorado Springs Is a Hotspot for Motorcycle Crashes

TL;DR

• El Paso County ranks #1 in Colorado for fatal motorcycle crashes, with 20 motorcycle deaths in one mid-year period alone
• Powers Boulevard, Academy Boulevard, and the I-25 corridor through the city are among the most dangerous roads for riders
• Military base traffic patterns, tourist congestion near Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak, and rapid elevation-related weather shifts all stack the risk for riders
• Colorado saw 165 motorcycle fatalities in 2024, the highest number ever recorded, and El Paso County led the state
• If you've been hurt in a Colorado Springs motorcycle crash, Colorado's three-year statute of limitations applies, but crash evidence disappears fast

Colorado Springs doesn't look like a dangerous city for riders on the surface. The weather cooperates most of the year. The roads are wide. You're sitting at 6,000 feet with Pikes Peak visible from nearly every major street. Riders love it here, and for good reason.

But El Paso County consistently leads the state in fatal motorcycle crashes. That's not a fluke.

"I've represented injured riders in Colorado Springs for years," says Patrick DiBenedetto, Partner at Metier Law Firm. "What makes this city different from Denver isn't raw traffic volume. It's the combination of military traffic patterns, a booming tourist corridor, sudden afternoon weather shifts, and wide arterials that encourage drivers to stop paying attention. It's a deceptively dangerous place to ride."

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, 165 motorcyclists were killed statewide in 2024, the highest number ever recorded. El Paso County accounted for 20 of those deaths in just part of the year, ranking it first in the state. If you ride in Colorado Springs, those numbers belong to roads you use every week.

What Makes Colorado Springs Different

Most people think mountain passes and canyon roads are where riders get hurt. And yes, Colorado has plenty of dangerous roads. But the Colorado Springs motorcycle crash problem isn't primarily about switchbacks and elevation. It's about urban and suburban riding, and the specific mix of hazards this city creates.

Military Traffic on Highway 115 and Gate Access Roads

Fort Carson generates heavy, predictable traffic flows on Highway 115 south of the city. The shift-change patterns create surges that most drivers know but don't always respect. Riders coming down from the south or cutting through to I-25 get caught in that flow, and a lot of those drivers are distracted, tired after a long shift, or simply not looking for motorcycles.

Tourist Congestion on the Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak Corridors

Garden of the Gods Road and the Pikes Peak corridor mix locals riding familiar routes with rental car drivers and out-of-state tourists who are not watching the road. They're watching the scenery. They're pulling over without signaling. They're making slow, unpredictable left turns across traffic to get into parking areas. The same goes for Highway 24 heading west toward Woodland Park and Manitou Springs.

NHTSA data consistently shows left-turn collisions as one of the leading causes of fatal motorcycle crashes. The tourist corridors in this city set up that exact scenario dozens of times a day during peak season.

Elevation-Related Weather Shifts

Colorado Springs sits at around 6,000 feet. Afternoon thunderstorms can roll in fast, dropping temperatures 20 degrees in under an hour and putting water and debris on roads that were bone-dry 30 minutes earlier. Riders who left home in sunshine can be caught in a sudden downpour before they reach I-25, with nowhere to wait it out safely.

Weather-related motorcycle injury in Colorado Springs is underreported as a cause because by the time the crash is investigated, the rain has stopped and conditions look fine again.

If you've been hurt in a motorcycle crash and need answers, call us at 833-4MOTO-LAW (833-466-8652) or schedule a free consultation at www.metierlaw.com.

The Roads That Generate the Most Crashes

Powers Boulevard

Powers is the city's main eastern corridor, running north-south through heavily commercial and residential zones. Multiple driveways, fast-moving traffic, and constant lane changes make it exactly the kind of road where a driver cuts across without checking mirrors. Powers Boulevard motorcycle accidents follow a pattern: a driver jockeys for a turn into a shopping center or fast food lot, doesn't see the rider, and the result is a broadside or rear-end hit. Same scenario, different day, different rider.

Academy Boulevard

Academy runs through some of the densest commercial zones in the city. Stop-and-go traffic, distracted drivers, and heavy pedestrian activity at intersections create conditions where motorcycles disappear into the visual noise. Riders get squeezed at signals or caught in merge situations they can't escape.

I-25 Through the City

The I-25 corridor through Colorado Springs carries a mix of commuters, Fort Carson traffic, and through-traffic heading south toward Pueblo or north toward Denver. The Denver-to-Colorado Springs stretch is one of the most crash-prone corridors in the state. At the point where it passes through the Springs, it narrows and the interchange geometry gets complicated. Aggressive merging, limited sightlines near the downtown exits, and heavy truck traffic make this stretch rough for anyone on two wheels.

Highway 24 West

Highway 24 heading toward Woodland Park and the Pikes Peak toll road is part riding route, part tourist corridor. The road has a rhythm that local riders know. Visitors don't. Slow-moving vehicles, unexpected pullouts, and the constant distraction of the scenery create the same left-turn and lane-drift hazards you see on the tourist corridors closer to the city.

Woodmen Road

Woodmen Road carries heavy cross-town traffic in the northern part of the city. Wide lanes and fast-moving traffic give drivers a false sense that they have room to make moves without checking carefully. Riders pay for that assumption.

What to Do If You're Hurt in a Colorado Springs Motorcycle Crash

The first 48 hours after a Colorado Springs motorcycle crash shape almost everything that follows. Call the police. Get photos of the scene before anything moves. Get witness names and numbers right away. See a doctor the same day, even if you think you're okay. Soft tissue injuries and internal trauma can take days to show up.

Don't give a statement to the other driver's insurance company before you talk to an attorney. Understanding what your case may be worth and what factors affect your recovery is worth knowing before you start talking to anyone.

Colorado gives you three years from the crash date to file a personal injury claim. That sounds like plenty of time. It isn't, not when surveillance footage gets overwritten in days and physical evidence disappears. Start early. Wrongful death claims have a different timeline in Colorado (2 years), so if there was a fatal motorcycle crash as a result of someone else’s negligence, be aware that there are different timelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does El Paso County have so many motorcycle fatalities?

El Paso County ranked first in Colorado for fatal motorcycle crashes in recent data, according to The Colorado Springs Gazette and CDOT reporting. The combination of military base traffic, heavy tourist congestion on the Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods corridors, rapid weather changes at elevation, and wide high-speed arterials creates a unique set of hazards that make Colorado Springs motorcycle safety a serious ongoing concern.

What are the most dangerous roads for motorcyclists in Colorado Springs?

Powers Boulevard, Academy Boulevard, I-25 through the city, Highway 24 west toward Woodland Park, Highway 115 near Fort Carson, and the Woodmen Road corridor all generate a disproportionate share of motorcycle crashes. The common factors are high traffic volume, distracted drivers in commercial zones, and intersections that create left-turn collision scenarios.

Can I file a claim if a tourist or out-of-state driver hit me?

Yes. Colorado law applies regardless of where the at-fault driver is from. Out-of-state drivers carry insurance subject to Colorado law in crashes that occur here. In some cases, unfamiliarity with local traffic patterns actually strengthens a negligence argument. A motorcycle accident attorney Colorado Springs riders can reach at Metier Law Firm can walk you through the specifics.

Does riding without a helmet affect my motorcycle accident claim in Colorado?

Colorado does not require adult riders to wear helmets, so riding without one doesn't automatically eliminate your claim. If you suffered a head injury, the insurer may argue your injuries were made worse by not wearing one. That's a comparative fault argument, and it can reduce your recovery. An experienced attorney can challenge it with medical evidence.

How long do I have to file after a Colorado Springs motorcycle wreck?

Colorado's personal injury statute of limitations is three years from the crash date. That window closes faster than most people expect, especially when you're focused on recovering. Evidence timelines are even shorter. Contacting a motorcycle accident lawyer Colorado Springs residents can rely on shortly after the crash protects your claim and your options. Wrongful death claims have a different timeline in Colorado (2 years), so if there was a fatal motorcycle crash as a result of someone else’s negligence, be aware that there are different timelines. 

We Know These Roads. We've Ridden Them.

The Colorado Springs motorcycle crash problem isn't random. It follows patterns, specific roads, specific traffic behaviors, and a handful of conditions that stack the risk against riders. Every summer, we see those patterns play out in our caseload.

At Metier Motorcycle Lawyers, we have an office right here in Colorado Springs. We ride these corridors. We know what Powers Boulevard looks like in heavy traffic and what the weather does to Highway 24 on a June afternoon. When driver negligence puts a rider on the ground, we build the case to hold them accountable.

You pay no attorney fees unless we win.

Call Metier Motorcycle Lawyers at 833-4MOTO-LAW (833-466-8652) or schedule your free consultation today at www.metierlaw.com.

‍

Disclaimer: Past results discussed should not be considered a guarantee of your results as the factors of every case are individually unique. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified attorney from Metier Law Firm regarding your individual situation for legal advice.

‍