What State Has The Most Fatal Car Accidents In The US?
According to the The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), there were 35,766 traffic fatalities as a result of car accidents in 2020. But what state has the most fatal car accidents? And what can be should be done in case you are in this unfortunate situation? In this article, we will take a look at the states with the highest number of fatal car accidents and what might be causing them.
Prevalence of Car Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 42,915 people died in motor vehicle crashes last year. This is a 10% increase from 2020 and represents one out every seven deaths nationwide!
The numbers from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is comparable. They report that there were 35,766 fatal car accidents across the United States in 2020, with 11.7 deaths per 100,000 population and approximately 1.34 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. Below is a breakdown of these crashes and deaths for the top 5 states with most fatal car accidents.
Top 5 States with most fatal car accidents
- Texas – with a total of 13,038 crashes and resulting in 1805 deaths
- California – with 11,417 crashes and 1648 deaths
- Florida – with 8000 crashes and 1217 deaths
- Georgia – with 37558 crashes and 950 deaths
- North Carolina – with 4837 crashes and 10071 deaths
What state has the most fatal car accidents in the US? There are a few that have significantly higher numbers than the rest. Texas, California, and Florida make up most car accidents with almost 40% of all fatal car crashes in the US. Together, these three states had a total of 35,463 crashes which resulted in 5070 deaths. That leaves us with an alarming rate of 14 deaths per day – all because of fatal car accidents.
States with least fatalities
In contrast, the five states with the least fatal crashes in America were Washington D.C., Alaska, Vermont Rhode Island and Hawaii. A study found that these areas had fewer traffic deaths per capita than any other region of our country’s 50 states or winter statistics on roadways due to factors such as low population densities which makes accidents more rare when they do happen
What are the most common causes of car accidents?
Now that we have the answer to what state has the most fatal car accidents, let us go to what causes these fatal accidents. The most common cause of car accidents is human error. In South Carolina, for example, motor vehicle deaths are rising and are usually a result of state motor vehicle laws violation. One common violation is not using seat belts. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 94% to 96% of all car accidents are caused by human error. The most common errors that lead to car accidents are:
- Distracted driving, such as texting or talking on the phone
- Speeding
- Drunk driving deaths (drunk driving fatalities)
- Reckless driving, such as tailgating or making unsafe lane changes
- Fatigued driving
- Choosing to drive in more dangerous driving conditions
While fatal accidents occur most often due to human error, there are other causes as well. These include:
- Defective auto parts, such as brakes or tires
- Poorly maintained roads, such as potholes or loose gravel
- Animal crossings
If you have been in a car accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your damages. Jared, an experienced personal injury attorney, can help you understand your legal rights and options.
What to do if you are in a car accident?
If you unfortunately find yourself in a car accident, there are a few things you should do:
- Check for injuries and seek medical attention if necessary
- Move your vehicle to the side of the road if possible
- Call the police
- Exchange information with the other driver (name, insurance, contact info)
- Take pictures of the damage
No one wants to be in a car accident, but it’s important to know what to do if you find yourself in one.
What to do if you are a loved one of a person involved in a fatal crash?
It is indeed overwhelming to get the news of a loved one being a victim of fatal crashes. You may be in disbelief, or super worried. To help you think through it, here are the things you need to do if you ever find yourself in this situation.
The first thing you need to do is call a lawyer. You will need legal representation, and an experienced car accident lawyer that will be able to guide you through the process and help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact Jared – a reliable car accident attorney based in Florida.
Secondly, you should contact the police department to file a report. This will create an official record of what happened and will be important for your insurance claim.
Third, you should gather evidence. This includes taking pictures of the scene of the accident, getting the contact information of any witnesses, and collecting any other relevant documentation.
Finally, you should reach out to your insurance company to start the claims process. Jared Spingarn can help you with this as well.
No one ever expects to be in this situation, but if you are, it’s important to know what to do. With the help of Jared, a qualified car accident lawyer, you can get through this tough time and get the compensation you deserve.
What is a no-fault state?
Florida is a no-fault state. What does this term mean? A no-fault state means that each driver involved in an accident is responsible for their own damages, regardless of who caused the accident. In a no-fault state, you would file a claim with your own insurance company after an accident, rather than filing a lawsuit against the other driver.
No-fault states typically have personal injury protection (PIP) insurance, which covers your medical expenses and lost wages up to a certain limit, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. In Florida, every motor vehicle owner is required to have a PIP insurance of at least $10,000 from auto insurance companies licensed to operate in the state.
Insurance Requirements for motor vehicle owners in Florida
Being a no-fault state, Florida has the following requirements for any motor vehicle registration:
- have a both PIP and PDL insurance with each have minimum coverage of 10,000 USD.
- registered taxis must have a bodily injury liability (BIL) insurance coverage of at least 25,000 USD per individual, 50,000 USD per incident and $50,000 for (PDL) coverage.
- Acquired the policy from one auto insurance provider licensed under the state of Florida
- have continuous valid coverage regardless if the vehicle is not being is inoperable as long as it is registered.
If you are to register a car but does not have your policy yet, there are free auto insurance comparison to help you choose the best deal. You are free to get choose between different auto insurance rates offered by different provider – as long as they meet the minimum requirements above.
Not all states are no-fault states. In at-fault states, the driver who caused the accident is responsible for the damages of the other drivers involved. If you live in an at-fault state and you are in an accident that was not your fault, you would file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company or, if the damages exceed their policy limit, file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver. If you are experiencing any auto insurance related issue, you may contact Jared Springarn, P.A. for a free consultation.
Can I claim for damages even if I live in a no-fault state like Florida?
Yes. In fact, most fatal accidents typically result in a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault driver, regardless of what state the accident took place in. In addition, you can still file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver if your damages exceed the car insurance policy’s coverage limit, or if you suffer from what is called serious injury threshold injuries. These injuries include:
- Permanent loss of a bodily function
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement
- Permanent and significant loss of an important bodily function
- Significant and permanent injuries that will result in death
If you have been in a car accident and think you may have suffered from one of these serious injuries, it is important to seek medical attention immediately and contact Jared – an experienced personal injury and car accident lawyer to discuss your legal options.
Conclusion
To recap, what state has the most fatal car accidents in the US? Florida is among the top 5 states with most fatal traffic accidents. Joining Florida are Texas, California, Georgia, and North Carolina. The most common causes are distracted driving, speeding, and DUI.
Car accident victims will most often have to deal with insurance providers. Fatal car crashes often involves lawsuit. Having an experienced law firm who has auto insurance experts and competent car accident lawyers will make a significant factor in how these situations will turn out. Don’t shy away from contacting Jared Spingarn and make confident auto insurance decisions.
No matter what state you live in (no-fault or at-fault state), if you have been in a car accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to compensation. Jared, an experienced personal injury and car accident lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and options and fight for the compensation you deserve.
