Statistics. Car Accidents in the U.S. 2019

The United States ranks high in the list of the busiest countries in the world, especially when road traffic is concerned. An estimated 264 million vehicles are currently registered on the system. This high volume of traffic is one of the prime reasons behind the increased in the number of road accidents recently.  There have been 6.3 million cases involved with fatalities, injuries and property crashes in the United States alone.

Among the leading causes of death among healthy U.S. citizens, automobile accidents are number one.  Statistics indicate tens of thousands of drivers who sustained fatal injuries during a single year, with almost 2.5 million getting injured or permanently disabled.  These numbers appear to be rising according to more recent years, despite automobile safety features getting some much-needed improvements. Thus, the United States currently has more than 220 million licensed drivers who risk their lives every time they board a vehicle, whether as a passenger or a driver.

Luckily, the odds can be improved for yourself, your passengers and others. Purchasing the proper insurance is a start as many health insurance policies do not cover treatment for automobile accident related injuries. Thus, make sure that your general car insurance covers both bodily injuries as well as medical treatments. This way, you will ensure that you, your passengers and anyone else involved in an accident get the proper treatment they need. Our comprehensive review page can help you get the most reliable packages which include the best coverage options.

If you take a look at our infographic, an extensive overview of auto related accident statistics for the U.S. has been included. The data, while being interesting, can also serve as a useful guide for drivers to take precautions which can dramatically reduce the chances of getting into an accident.

• The total number of fatal car crashes in the U.S. every year amounts to nearly 40,000
• More than 90 Americans experience death each day from car accidents.
• Drivers aged 16 to 20 account for almost 8000 people killed in traffic accidents.
• Drunk driving, Speeding and irresponsible driving are the most common causes of fatal accidents, at 4%, 30% and 33% respectively.
• Traffic collisions account for 38% of fatal accidents while 58% involve only one vehicle.
• The states with the most fatal car accidents in 2018 are Texas and California. California now requires companies to apply for the right to test AVs in public, but that doesn’t include any type of exam.
• Most fatal injuries tend to occur during weekends.
• More than 1600 young children aged less than 15 die in accidents. Among them, almost 43% were unrestrained or improperly restrained children, with 13% of them sitting in the front seat.
• Children account for 121 out of 200, involved in drunk driving accidents as passengers in a vehicle driven by an alcohol impaired driver.

Car Accident Statistics in the U.S.

• The cost of traffic accidents in the U.S per year is estimated to be around $871 billion. According to a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Administration, the total cost of traffic accidents amounted to $ 900 Billion in 2010, with the current figure suspected to be higher.
• Cellphone driving accounted for 1.6 million car crashes: The National Safety Council report found that 1.6 million car crashes every year in the U.S can be attributed to ones caused by cell phone usage during driving. This means 1 out of 4 car accidents are caused by texting while driving.
• Alcohol is responsible for a person dying under the influence, every 50 minutes. According to data from the 2016 Road Safety facts compiled by the National Highway Traffic, automobile crashes caused by drunk drivers add up to 29 every day.
• Seat belts saved almost 15000 lives back in 2017.
• Drivers aged between 16 and 19 are statistically 3 times more likely to be involved in fatal car crash.

 A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety have found out about the risk attached to teenage drivers as compared to Elderly people. According to this, drivers aged above 65 account for 7.5% while teenage drivers are involved in 12.2%.