In the United States of America, car accidents happen every 12 to 13 minutes or so, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While new regulations and technology are helping make cars and automobiles safer, car accidents are still one of the leading causes of death in the country.
Most experienced car accident attorneys are no strangers to these statistics.
This article will highlight several car accident statistics. In addition, you’re also going to find insights regarding some of the causes of such accidents, when and where they typically happen, and who the victim is most likely to be.
But first, here are some quick stats:
- The average individual will most likely crash their car at least three times in their lifetime.
- More than 50% of car accidents occur within around 5 miles of one’s house.
- If a driver uses their phone while driving, they increase their chances of crashing another vehicle by around 400%.
- Automobile accidents happen to be a leading cause of death among kids under 15 years old in the United States.
Annual Number of Car Accidents in the U.S.
There were more than 280 million cars on U.S. roads and highways as of December 2022. In 2023, there were more than 220 million licensed drivers on these same roads and highways. On average, though, there are more than 5.5 million passenger car accidents every year in the United States of America.
Cyclist and Pedestrian Accidents
Car accidents and deaths do not just impact the drivers and those with them at the time, they also affect both cyclists and pedestrians too.
In 2022, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Association) claimed that pedestrian deaths rose by around 2%. However, cyclists fared a bit worse, with an increase of 8% in traffic-related fatalities.
States With the Most Accidents in the U.S.
Different American states experience these kinds of accidents at varying rates. This can be because of the fact that different states have different topography, travel speeds, weather, traffic laws, and demographics.
The State of California has the highest rate of car accident fatalities in the whole country. In this state, someone is killed every 2 and a half hours in a car accident. Florida is number 3 with over 3000 car accident fatalities every year, while Tampa ranks 4th on the list.
Accidents by Sex and Age
The driver’s sex and age also seem to impact their chances of being involved in a car accident. For example, the WHO (World Health Organization) claims car accident injuries are what mostly kill both adults and children aged between 5 and 29 years old.
In America, drivers who are between 15 and 20 years old have the highest car accident fatalities, with a ratio of 34 per every 100,000 drivers with a license, despite making up a small portion of licensed drivers. The average ratio for all ages was 12 per 100,000 at the time.
Additionally, based on the information available, between 2009 and 2018, men were deemed 3x more likely to get into car crashes compared to women.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) claimed that “In 2018, almost 2,500 teens in the United States aged 13–19 were killed, and about 285,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in motor vehicle crashes.”
Conclusion
Statistics play an important role in understanding car accidents. By analyzing them, one can find patterns and work on ways to remove or, at the very least, minimize them. With enough awareness and responsible driving, American roads can be safe for everyone.
