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Why Motorcycle Accidents Happen on Interstate 70 in Missouri

Written By Gene Hou, Principal and Founder - Missouri Injury Law Firm, LLC

Published on December 12, 2025

Last updated on June 30, 2026

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Interstate 70 cuts straight through the heart of Missouri, connecting Kansas City to St. Louis over 250 miles of highway. For motorcyclists, this corridor represents both freedom and risk. The road ranks as the 9th most dangerous interstate in the country, and the numbers tell a sobering story: 45 fatalities by mid-2024 compared to just 32 by the same date in 2023. That’s a 40% increase.

Riders on I-70 face unique dangers that don’t exist on smaller roads. Heavy, fast-moving traffic. Massive tractor-trailers sharing narrow lanes. Construction zones that seem to pop up overnight. And drivers who simply don’t see motorcycles until it’s too late.

Understanding what causes these crashes matters because knowledge gives you power, power to ride more defensively, recognize dangerous situations before they turn deadly, and know your rights if the worst happens.

The Unique Dangers of Riding I-70

Why This Highway Is Different

I-70 isn’t just another road. It’s a major commercial corridor where semi-trucks haul freight between coasts, commuters rush to work, and tourists speed toward destinations. Missouri residents face a 30% higher fatality risk on this highway compared to residents of other states using the same interstate.

The sheer volume creates problems. When traffic moves at 70+ mph and lanes stay packed, motorcycles become nearly invisible to drivers checking mirrors for split seconds before changing lanes. One momentary lapse in attention, and a rider has nowhere to go.

Recent fatal crashes highlight these dangers. In April 2025, a Harley-Davidson in St. Charles County struck a Ford Ranger, and then the rider hit a tractor-trailer. Fatal. In O’Fallon, a three-vehicle crash involving a motorcyclist shut down the highway entirely. These aren’t isolated incidents; they’re patterns.

Construction and Road Conditions

Missouri’s Department of Transportation is working through a multi-stage improvement plan for I-70. They’re expanding sections to six lanes, upgrading bridges, and improving interchanges. Expected completion? 2028. Until then, riders navigate shifting lane patterns, reduced speed zones, and rough pavement transitions that can throw a bike off balance.

Construction zones compress traffic into fewer lanes. Drivers get frustrated and make aggressive moves. Motorcyclists get squeezed. It’s a recipe for disaster, especially where work zones begin or end without much warning.

Common Causes That Lead to I-70 Motorcycle Crashes

Left-Turn Collisions

This is perhaps the most common way motorcyclists get hit in multi-vehicle accidents. A car waits at an intersection or tries to cross I-70 at an interchange. The driver looks, doesn’t see the motorcycle, and turns directly into the rider’s path.

Why don’t they see? Sometimes it’s “inattentional blindness”, the brain literally filters out the motorcycle because drivers are scanning for larger vehicles. Other times, riders are in blind spots or approaching faster than drivers judge. The motorcycle’s narrow profile makes distance and speed hard to gauge.

On I-70, these crashes often happen at interchanges where vehicles cross the highway or turn left to merge. Speed makes them deadlier. A collision at 35 mph is survivable. At 65 mph? Much less so.

Distracted Driving at Highway Speeds

Texting while driving at 70 mph means your vehicle travels the length of a football field without your eyes on the road. That’s enough distance to miss a motorcyclist changing lanes, slowing down, or signaling a turn.

Distraction takes many forms:

Phones (texting, scrolling, navigation)
Eating and drinking
Adjusting controls or GPS
Looking at passengers
Grooming or reaching for items

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported 3,142 distracted driving deaths nationally in 2020. On a highway like I-70, where split-second reactions prevent crashes, distraction eliminates that critical window. Drivers drift into lanes, miss brake lights, or fail to see motorcycles entirely.

Unsafe Lane Changes and Merging

I-70 has constant lane changes. Trucks are moving into the right lane before exits. Cars weave through traffic to pass slower vehicles. Drivers merging from entrance ramps at different speeds than through traffic.

Motorcycles suffer in these scenarios. They’re smaller, easier to miss in blind spots, and have less room to escape when a vehicle suddenly moves into their space. Sometimes the car never makes contact, the rider swerves to avoid being hit, loses control, and crashes anyway. These are called “no-contact accidents,” and proving fault becomes complicated.

Excessive Speed and Aggressive Driving

Speeding contributes to over 30% of motorcycle fatalities. On I-70, the posted limit is usually 70 mph, but traffic often moves faster. Some drivers treat the highway like a racetrack.

Higher speeds mean:

Less time to react when something goes wrong
Longer stopping distances
More severe injuries occur when crashes occur
Reduced ability to handle emergency maneuvers

Aggressive driving compounds these problems. Tailgating, weaving through traffic, and sudden lane changes all increase crash risk. Motorcyclists become targets when aggressive drivers don’t adjust their behavior around smaller vehicles.

Impaired Driving After Dark

Alcohol factors into roughly 40% of motorcycle fatalities nationwide. I-70 sees plenty of impaired drivers, especially during evening and night hours, weekends, and holidays.

Impaired drivers have:

Slower reaction times
Reduced judgment about speed and distance
Difficulty staying in lanes
Poor decision-making about passing or merging

For motorcyclists, an impaired driver is often a fatal threat. Bikes offer no protection in a collision, and drunk drivers are less likely to see them in the first place.

Large Truck Accidents

Tractor-trailers dominate I-70. They’re hauling goods across the country, and their size creates specific dangers for riders.

Blind spots: Trucks have huge blind spots on all sides. Motorcyclists who linger in these zones become invisible.
Underride crashes: When a motorcycle hits a truck from behind or gets forced underneath, the results are catastrophic. The St. Charles County crash in April 2025 involved exactly this scenario.
Tire blowouts and debris: Truck tires shred on the highway, leaving rubber chunks that can cause a motorcycle to lose control. Load shifts can drop cargo onto the roadway.
Wind force: Passing a semi or being passed by one creates wind that can push a motorcycle sideways, especially in crosswinds.

Road Hazards That Trap Riders

Motorcycles are vulnerable to road conditions that barely affect cars. On I-70, hazards include:

Gravel and debris: Scattered across lanes from truck loads or construction
Oil and fluid spills: Create slick patches invisible until you’re sliding
Potholes and pavement breaks: Jar the bike or cause loss of control
Uneven surfaces: Expansion joints, bridge transitions, railroad crossings
Weather conditions: Rain makes everything worse, especially in construction zones where drainage is poor

Cars hit these same hazards and barely notice. Motorcycles crash.

Who’s Legally Responsible After an I-70 Crash?

Negligent Drivers

Most motorcycle crashes result from driver error. When another motorist fails to check blind spots, drives distracted, speeds, or violates traffic laws, they’re liable for the resulting damages.

Missouri follows pure comparative negligence, which means you can recover compensation even if you share some fault. If you’re found 20% responsible and the other driver is 80% at fault, you still collect 80% of your total damages.

Government Entities for Road Defects

Sometimes the road itself causes the crash. Poorly designed interchanges, missing signage, inadequate maintenance, and dangerous construction zones can create liability for government entities.

Claims against government agencies have strict deadlines and special procedures. You typically have 90 days to file a notice of claim before you lose the right to sue.

Trucking Companies and Carriers

When a commercial truck is involved, multiple parties might share liability:

The truck driver for their actions
The trucking company is hiring or training failures
The cargo company is for improper loading
Maintenance companies for vehicle defects

Federal regulations govern trucking operations, and violations of these rules strengthen your case.

Vehicle Manufacturers

Defective motorcycle parts, brakes that fail, tires that blow out, throttles that stick, can cause crashes or make them worse. Product liability claims target manufacturers who sold dangerous equipment.

I-70 Motorcycle Crash Statistics and Trends

Category	Data Point	What It Means
I-70 National Ranking	9th most dangerous interstate	Higher fatality rates than most major highways
2024 Fatalities	45 by mid-year vs. 32 in 2023	40% increase year-over-year
Missouri Risk Factor	30% higher fatality risk	Residents face greater danger than in other states
Statewide Motorcycle Deaths	138 in 2024 (15% of all traffic deaths)	Disproportionate to 2.6% of registered vehicles
Injury Rate	81% of Missouri motorcycle accidents	Most crashes result in harm
Helmet Factor	58 of 138 deaths involved no helmet or non-DOT helmets	Safety gear makes a measurable difference

Protecting Yourself on I-70

Knowing the causes helps you ride more defensively. Some practical tips:

Make yourself visible. Wear bright colors or reflective gear. Use your headlight even during the day. Position yourself where drivers can see you in mirrors.
Assume you’re invisible. Ride like every car is about to change lanes into you or turn left across your path. Because sometimes they will.
Avoid blind spots. Don’t linger beside trucks or in areas where cars can’t see you. Pass quickly or hang back.
Watch for signs. Aggressive drivers signal their behavior, weaving, tailgating, and sudden moves. Give them space.
Be extra cautious in construction zones. Slow down, expect the unexpected, and watch for uneven surfaces or debris.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do immediately after a motorcycle crash on I-70?

Call 911 first, even if you feel okay; some injuries don’t show symptoms immediately. Move to safety if possible without causing further harm. Document everything with photos of the scene, damage, and your injuries. Collect information from other drivers and any witnesses. Accept medical evaluation at the scene and go to the hospital for a complete assessment. Prompt medical care protects your health and creates documentation that links your injuries directly to the crash.

Can I file a claim if I was partially at fault for the accident?

Yes. Missouri’s pure comparative negligence law allows you to recover compensation even when you share fault. Your award simply gets reduced by your percentage of responsibility. So if you’re 25% at fault in a crash resulting in $100,000 in damages, you’d still recover $75,000. Insurance companies will try to maximize your fault percentage to reduce their payout, which is why having an experienced attorney matters. They counter these tactics with evidence showing the other party’s greater responsibility.

How long do I have to file a motorcycle accident claim in Missouri?

You have five years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit under Missouri’s statute of limitations. However, claims against government entities for road defects have much shorter deadlines, typically 90 days to file a notice of claim. Waiting too long weakens your case as evidence disappears and witness memories fade. Starting the process early gives your attorney time to preserve critical evidence like traffic camera footage and vehicle data recorders.

What compensation can I recover after an I-70 motorcycle crash?

Missouri law allows recovery of all crash-related damages, including medical expenses (current and future), lost wages and reduced earning capacity, motorcycle repair or replacement, damaged riding gear, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and permanent disability accommodations. If the at-fault party acted with gross negligence, like driving drunk or racing, you might also recover punitive damages designed to punish dangerous behavior and deter others from similar conduct.

Are trucking companies liable when their drivers cause motorcycle accidents?

Often, yes. Trucking companies can be held liable under several legal theories, including negligent hiring if they failed to properly screen drivers, inadequate training if drivers weren’t taught safe practices, negligent maintenance if poor vehicle upkeep contributed to the crash, and violations of federal trucking regulations. Companies sometimes try to classify drivers as independent contractors to avoid liability, but experienced attorneys know how to pierce these arrangements and hold the appropriate parties accountable for your damages.

Get Legal Help After an I-70 Motorcycle Crash

Interstate 70 is unforgiving. When crashes happen at highway speeds, injuries are severe, and medical bills pile up fast. Insurance companies know this, which is why they move quickly with lowball settlement offers before you understand the full scope of your damages.

You need someone on your side who understands Missouri motorcycle accident law, knows how to counter insurance company tactics, and will fight for every dollar you deserve. At Missouri Injury Law Firm, we work on a No Win, No Fee basis; you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Don’t face this alone. Contact the Missouri Injury Law Firm today for your free case review and let us protect your rights while you focus on recovery.