Car Accident Statistics (2026)
How many people die in U.S. car accidents, how many crashes happen, what causes them, and which states are most dangerous. Every figure below is sourced from NHTSA, the National Safety Council, or IIHS, with the year noted.
Last updated October 5, 2026. Compiled by FindMyAccidentLawyer from public safety data.
Key takeaways
- 39,254 people died in U.S. traffic crashes in 2024 (NHTSA FARS), down from 41,025 in 2023. Four straight years of decline.
- Police reported about 6.1 million crashes in 2023, injuring roughly 2.4 million people.
- Alcohol-impaired driving was involved in 30% of 2023 deaths; speeding in 29%.
- About 49% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed were not wearing a seat belt.
- Mississippi has the deadliest roads at 25.6 deaths per 100k; Rhode Island is safest (4.7).
- About 54% of deaths happen at night; the deadliest months are July, August, and October.
- Crashes cost the U.S. about $340 billion a year in economic losses ($1.37 trillion including quality-of-life), per NHTSA.
How many car accident deaths happen each year?
U.S. traffic deaths have fallen for four straight years since the 2021 peak. NHTSA counts 39,254 deaths in 2024, the fewest since 2019.
Source: NHTSA FARS Final File (2023); IIHS/NHTSA FARS (2024). The National Safety Council, using a broader methodology, estimated about 44,762 deaths in 2023 and 42,789 in 2024.
What causes most fatal car accidents?
Leading factors in 2023 traffic deaths. Crashes often involve more than one factor, so these overlap.
Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts, 2023. Distracted-driving deaths are a reported minimum; NHTSA says the true number is higher.
Which states have the most dangerous roads?
Traffic deaths per 100,000 residents, 2024. Higher means more deadly.
Safest: Rhode Island (4.7), Massachusetts (5.1), New York (5.5). Source: IIHS from NHTSA FARS + FHWA, 2024 data (published June 2026).
When do most car accidents happen?
About 54% of 2023 traffic deaths happened at night (6 p.m. to 6 a.m.). The deadliest months are July, August, and October, while January and February are the quietest. Source: NHTSA FARS, 2023.
Pedestrian, motorcycle, and bicycle deaths
| Road user | Deaths (2023) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians | 7,314 | Near a 40-year high. |
| Motorcyclists | 6,335 (15%) | 15% of all traffic deaths. |
| Bicyclists | 1,166 (3%) |
Source: NHTSA Traffic Safety Facts, 2023.
What do car accidents cost?
NHTSA puts the economic cost of U.S. motor-vehicle crashes at about $340 billion a year, or roughly $1,035 per person. Counting lost quality of life, the total impact reaches $1.37 trillion. Most recent NHTSA comprehensive cost study (2019 base year, published 2023). Current-dollar costs are higher. Source: NHTSA, The Economic and Societal Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes, 2019.
Frequently asked questions
How many car accident deaths happen in the U.S. each year?+
An estimated 39,254 people died in U.S. traffic crashes in 2024, according to NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System. That is down from 41,025 in 2023 and marks four straight years of decline from the 2021 peak of 42,939. The National Safety Council, which counts deaths more broadly, estimated about 42,789 for 2024.
How many car accidents happen each year?+
Police reported about 6.1 million motor-vehicle crashes in the U.S. in 2023, which injured roughly 2.4 million people, per NHTSA. The fatality rate was 1.26 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2023 and fell to 1.19 in 2024, the lowest since 2019.
What causes most fatal car accidents?+
In 2023, alcohol-impaired driving was involved in 30% of traffic deaths (12,429), speeding in 29% (11,913), and about 49% of passenger-vehicle occupants killed were not wearing a seat belt. Distracted driving was reported in at least 3,283 deaths, which NHTSA says is likely undercounted.
Which states have the most dangerous roads?+
By deaths per 100,000 residents in 2024, Mississippi was highest at 25.6, followed by Arkansas, New Mexico, and South Carolina. Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and New York were the safest. Source: IIHS using NHTSA data.
Can I cite these statistics?+
Yes. Every figure on this page is attributed to its original source (NHTSA, NSC, IIHS) with the year. You may cite any number here; we ask for a link back to this page as the source.
Methodology & sources
National crash figures are compiled from U.S. government and safety-research sources, primarily NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Fatality counts use the FARS Final File, which revises the earlier Annual Report File. NHTSA and the National Safety Council (NSC) report different totals because NSC counts deaths within one year and includes non-traffic locations, while NHTSA FARS counts traffic deaths within 30 days on public roads. We cite NHTSA FARS unless noted. Every figure is attributed to its source and year.
Primary sources: NHTSA (FARS), National Safety Council Injury Facts, IIHS. Compiled 2026-10-05.
Hurt in a car accident?
Get matched with a top-rated accident lawyer near you. Free, no obligation.
Get matched with a top accident lawyer
We'll send your info to the 3 top-scored firms near you. Free. No obligation.
Type of accident