Car Accident Statistics: Updated 2025

While technology and new regulations are making vehicles safer, car accidents continue to be a leading cause of death in the U.S. Data from the CDC shows that approximately 120 people in the U.S. die every day as a result of car accidents.

Here, you will find the latest car accident statistics. In addition, we provide insight into the leading causes of car accidents, where and when accidents are most likely to occur, and who is most likely to be a victim.

Quick car accident statistics

Here are a few quick car accident statistics to give you a general idea about the rate and impact.

• The average person will likely crash his or her car 3-4 times in a lifetime.
• Over 50% of car accidents happen within 5 miles of your home.
• If you talk on the phone while driving, you increase your chances of getting into a car accident by 400%.
• Car accidents are the leading cause of death in children under the age of 15 in the U.S.
• On average, 1 pedestrian dies from a car crash every 70 minutes in the U.S.

Total number of car accidents per year in the U.S.

According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), there are over 285 million vehicles operating on roads throughout the U.S. Of these, there are approximately 238 million licensed drivers on U.S. roadways.

On average, there are over 6 million reported car accidents in the U.S. every year. Thankfully, the fatality rate of car accidents has gone down in recent years, with only 40,901 reported fatalities in 2023—the second year-to-year decrease in fatalities since 2021.

U.S. states with the most car accidents

Different states in the U.S. experience car accidents at different rates. This can be attributed to the fact that each state has different demographics, traffic laws, weather, travel speeds, and topography.

California leads the nation with the highest rate of traffic fatalities due to sheer population. Mississippi ranks number 1 most dangerous state per mile traveled, with an estimated 1.9 deaths per million miles.

Florida also ranks high in total traffic deaths, with about 3,396 deaths from motor vehicle crashes reported in 2023.

Pedestrian and cyclist accidents

Traffic accidents and fatalities don’t just affect drivers and their passengers; they also affect pedestrians and cyclists.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA), in 2022, pedestrian fatalities increased by 0.7%. Cyclists fared worse, with a 13% increase in traffic-related deaths.

Pedestrian and cyclist accidents are increasing in frequency. Experts suggest this is due to an increase in distracted driving.

Car accidents by age and sex

A driver’s age and sex also appear to affect his or her chances of being in a road accident. For instance, according to the World Health Organization, injuries from road accidents are the leading cause of death in children and adults aged 5 to 29 years.

In the U.S., younger drivers (ages 16–20) have some of the highest involvement rates in fatal crashes, with recent figures showing around 42 fatal crash involvements per 100,000 licensed drivers, significantly above the all-ages average. The average rate for all age groups is 12 per 100,000.

Based on available data, from 2009 to 2018, men are three times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than women.

In the U.S., CDC data show that in recent years, roughly 2,800 teens ages 13–19 were killed and about 227,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes.

Most common causes of fatal accidents among teenagers

Several factors can contribute to a driver’s chances of being in a car accident. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies the leading factors for car accidents among teenagers:

• Inexperience: When compared to older drivers, teens are more likely to downplay dangerous situations.
• Nighttime and weekend driving: In 2020 data, 44% of teen crash deaths occurred between 9 PM and 6 AM and 50% occurred on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
• Additional factors: Experts often identify other factors, including speeding, alcohol use, distracted driving, and failure to obey traffic laws.

Accidents by time

Perhaps due to changing visibility, fatigue, and other such factors, certain times of the day are peak periods when crashes are more likely to happen.

For instance, in 2018, Saturdays were the week’s peak day for fatal crashes, while Fridays were the peak day of the week for non-fatal crashes. The period between 4 pm and 7:59 pm is the peak time of the day for both fatal and non-fatal car crashes.

Accidents by driver behavior

One of the most critical factors contributing to car accidents is the behavior of the driver.

• According to NHTSA data for 2023, speeding-related crashes accounted for about 18.5% of drivers in fatal crashes.
• Alcohol and drug impairment continues to be a significant risk factor: about 30% of all traffic fatalities involve an alcohol-impaired driver, though when counting all driver behaviors the combined figure (alcohol, drugs, medication) appears as approximately 10% of fatal crashes in 2023 data.
• Distracted driving accounted for roughly 8% of U.S. traffic deaths in 2023, with about 3,300 fatalities tied to distraction-related crashes, per official NHTSA/IIHS figures.
• Drowsy driving contributes to a smaller share of documented fatal crashes — with 633 deaths in 2023 linked to driver sleepiness (about 1.5% of total) — though it is speculated that underreporting likely understates the true impact.

Weather-related car accidents

Weather conditions significantly impact traffic safety in the United States. On average, about 22 % of all reported crashes occur in adverse weather or on slick pavement, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

Though not all of these are strictly winter conditions, elements like rain, snow, fog, and ice contribute to dangerous driving situations. Moreover, weather-related vehicle crashes annually account for more fatalities than many large-scale weather events combined.

Single and multiple vehicle crashes

In recent U.S. data, about 38 % of motorcyclist fatalities occurred in single‑vehicle crashes, with the majority (about 62 %) involving multiple vehicles. However, statistics show that driver death rates in single-vehicle rollover crashes have declined in the last four decades.

In crashes involving a passenger vehicle and a large truck, about 97 % of the fatalities are passenger vehicle occupants, reflecting the much higher vulnerability of smaller vehicle occupants.

Lives saved by safety devices

There are several safety measures that reduce the risk of getting badly injured or killed in a motor vehicle accident. Research shows motorcycle helmets reduce the risk of death in crashes by roughly 37–42% and the risk of head injury by around 69%.

Seat belts, when used properly, reduce the risk of fatal injury by about 45% and moderate‑to‑critical injury by 50% for drivers and front‑seat passengers in passenger vehicles. 

Cost of road accidents

In the United States, motor vehicle crashes cost society hundreds of billions of dollars annually. According to NHTSA, crashes were associated with $340 billion in economic costs in 2019, and when quality of life losses are included, the total societal harm approaches $1.37 trillion.

Globally, road traffic injuries are projected to cost roughly $1.8 trillion (in 2010 USD) between 2015 and 2030, reflecting the combined economic burden of lost productivity, medical costs, and social impacts.

Global car accident statistics

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 1.19 million people die each year as a result of road traffic crashes worldwide. That is roughly over 3,250 deaths per day.

Between 20 million and 50 million people suffer non‑fatal injuries every year due to road traffic crashes.

At the receiving end of most of these deaths are pedestrians and cyclists, with more than half of all road traffic deaths globally being pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.

Despite owning only 60% of all the vehicles globally, low- and middle-income countries suffer 93% of the world’s road traffic fatalities. The WHO reports that “road traffic crashes cost most countries 3% of their gross domestic product (GDP).”

Trends and future forecasts

The world has become reliant on technology for much of its activities, and driving is no exception. A report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), a multinational professional services network of firms, focuses on trends that are transforming the automotive industry.

One of the trends expected to impact car accidents across the world is the development of transportation that is both “autonomous” and “shared.” This development is projected to reduce the world’s automobile inventory by around 25%, thereby making the roads a little safer for everybody.

Injured in a car accident?

At Darrigo & Diaz, our car accident attorneys are always here to help you. We are intimately familiar with local and state court systems and know what it takes to win your case. If you have been injured in a car crash, let us fight for your right to compensation.

Call us today at (813) 734-7397 or contact us online for a free, no-obligation consultation.