Car accidents are, unfortunately, part of Americans’ reality. Annually, there are approximately 5.25 million accidents on the roads nationwide. Thirty-six thousand of these accidents result in fatalities, while 1.6 million cause injury and 3.6 million results in property damage. Car crashes are also the leading cause of personal injury lawsuits in Florida. In this article, we will examine the sobering facts behind these statistics.

Car Accidents – Facts and Statistics

It seems unfathomable that people are still getting behind the wheel drunk after decades of education and awareness, but intoxicated driving is consistently behind far too many road fatalities – approximately 35% in 2022. Drunk drivers account for nearly 14,000 fatalities annually. Two-thirds of these accidents occurred after dark, with one-third being daytime occurrences. The state most prone to drink driving accidents? Montana, where 51% of fatalities on the road are related to DUIs.
Speeding increases both the risk of auto collisions occurring as well as the risk of severe and fatal injuries. 29% of all fatal automobile accidents are a result of motorists exceeding the speed limit. Speeding drivers account for 11,258 fatalities annually.
Speeding appears to be the biggest problem in South Carolina, with 46% of fatal accidents attributed to excess speed.
Seatbelts are effective at saving lives on the road, and when drivers and their passengers fail to wear them, the potential for a deadly outcome increases. 46% of drivers involved in fatal collisions are not wearing a seatbelt.
Auto accident data and statistics reveal that the time of day influences the potential of a car crash. After dark is much more deadly on the roads, with 35% of all fatal car accidents taking place between the hours of 6:00 pm and midnight.
The roadways are also more dangerous on some days more than others. Approximately half of all fatal car crashes occur on weekend days, including Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Holidays can increase the potential for collisions as well. According to data, the 4th of July is the deadliest day of the year. The average number of collisions on July 4 is 134. (September 3rd comes in second place, with an average of 128 fatal crashes occurring each year on that date.)
Although thousands of fatal car accidents occur annually, thankfully, most crashes do not involve a death. In fact, less than 1% of all motor vehicle accidents result in fatalities.
As noted, drunk driving and speeding are the leading causes of fatal accidents, causing 11,654 and 11,259 road fatalities, respectively, when the latest statistics were compiled. Distracted drivers also cause fatal collisions, with 2,974 fatal crashes associated with drivers who lost focus on the roads.
People of all ages are involved in motor vehicle accidents, but younger drivers face a greater potential of accidents due to inexperience and riskier behavior. 11% of all car accident fatalities (4,414) involved minors under the age of 20, and a total of 437,677 people under 20 got hurt in collisions.
DUI statistics reveal that teen drivers take unacceptable risks by drinking and driving. 10% of all high-school teenagers admit to drinking and driving, and 17% of those in the age group admit to being in a car at least once with an impaired driver.
29% of teen drivers involved in fatal motor vehicle accidents have alcohol in their system.
Senior citizens are also a concern behind the wheel, as they may have cognitive or physical impairments affecting their ability to safely operate vehicles. In 2020 alone, more than 6,500 people 65 and older died in motor vehicle accidents, and more than 230,000 were hurt.
Gender plays a role as well, with women being three times less likely to die in a motor vehicle accident – as well as to get behind the wheel after drinking.

Source of above statistics: Forbes Car Accident Statistics for 2023

If you have been involved in a car crash and suffered injury or property damage, call the car accident attorneys at Probinsky & Cole. We have offices in Tampa, Sarasota, and Orlando and can help you get the compensation you deserve.