Car Accident Statistics by State (2026)

By the FindMyAccidentLawyer Data Team · Updated October 19, 2026 · 23 sourced statistics · CSV · JSON · Cite this page

Mississippi had the highest U.S. traffic death rate in 2024, at 25.6 deaths per 100,000 people, according to IIHS. Rhode Island had the lowest, at 4.7. Texas had the most deaths in total, with 4,160. The national rate was 11.5.

The numbers at a glance

25.6Mississippi had the highest traffic death rate of the 50 states in 2024, with 25.6 deaths per 100,000 people. Source
4.7Rhode Island had the lowest traffic death rate of the 50 states in 2024, at 4.7 deaths per 100,000 people. Source
4,160Texas had the most traffic deaths of any state in 2024, with 4,160 people killed. Source
1.81Mississippi had the most traffic deaths per mile driven of the 50 states in 2024: 1.81 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles, versus 1.19 nationally. Source
2727 states had a traffic death rate above the national rate of 11.5 per 100,000 people in 2024. Source
13.1%Traffic deaths in Kentucky fell 13.1 percent from 2023 to 2024 (814 to 707), the largest drop among states with at least 300 deaths in 2023. Source
18.7%Minnesota saw traffic deaths rise 18.7 percent from 2023 to 2024 (402 to 477), the largest increase among states with at least 300 deaths in 2023. Source
34%Pedestrians made up 34 percent of traffic deaths in Hawaii in 2024, the highest share of the 50 states. Source

Traffic deaths in every state, 2024

Ranked by deaths per 100,000 residents. Select a state to find car accident lawyers there.

Motor vehicle crash deaths by state, 2024
Rank	State	Deaths	Per 100k people	Per 100M miles	Change vs 2023	Pedestrians	Motorcyclists	Large-truck crashes	Alcohol-impaired	Driver 15-20 involved
1	Mississippi	753	25.6	1.81	+2.7%	104	55	103	171	113
2	Arkansas	603	19.5	1.53	+1.2%	69	76	103	154	59
3	New Mexico	409	19.2	1.43	-7.0%	90	50	87	115	63
4	South Carolina	1,038	18.9	1.67	-0.9%	156	154	140	417	142
5	Alabama	962	18.7	1.32	-1.2%	128	127	138	277	130
6	Wyoming	107	18.2	1.1	-25.7%	4	24	22	34	12
7	Montana	206	18.1	1.49	-1.0%	10	38	31	75	28
8	Tennessee	1,197	16.6	1.52	-9.5%	158	188	172	332	164
9	Louisiana	752	16.4	1.36	-7.3%	159	70	95	192	79
10	Arizona	1,229	16.2	1.74	-6.0%	250	219	153	419	190
11	South Dakota	146	15.8	1.4	+4.3%	9	33	32	43	18
12	Oklahoma	645	15.7	1.39	-9.3%	77	106	116	225	99
13	Kentucky	707	15.4	1.44	-13.1%	95	118	86	169	96
14	Missouri	955	15.3	1.17	-3.6%	137	145	145	262	145
15	North Carolina	1,619	14.7	1.24	+2.7%	264	212	213	449	218
16	West Virginia	256	14.5	1.49	-1.5%	25	38	39	78	26
17	Florida	3,138	13.4	1.26	-7.0%	668	642	356	769	388
18	Texas	4,160	13.3	1.35	-3.1%	763	582	720	1,676	644
19	Nevada	417	12.8	1.47	+2.7%	108	89	45	138	60
20	Maine	177	12.6	1.17	+31.1%	13	35	29	49	17
21	Oregon	538	12.6	1.44	-8.3%	96	85	84	178	64
22	Georgia	1,403	12.5	1.15	-12.9%	286	182	201	325	178
23	Nebraska	251	12.5	1.15	+10.6%	19	32	63	74	39
24	Delaware	126	12	1.27	-6.7%	28	22	12	32	21
25	Indiana	832	12	0.94	-8.0%	104	137	145	209	113
26	Idaho	238	11.9	1.19	-13.5%	14	47	46	72	45
27	Colorado	689	11.6	1.25	-4.3%	112	165	105	204	113
28	Kansas	339	11.4	1.07	-12.4%	34	56	67	117	55
29	North Dakota	90	11.3	0.9	-15.1%	5	17	24	27	9
30	Iowa	356	11	1.05	-6.1%	30	63	58	119	54
31	Michigan	1,098	10.8	1.1	+0.2%	150	184	112	306	131
32	Virginia	917	10.4	1.04	+0.3%	123	122	123	252	102
33	Wisconsin	595	10	0.86	+1.5%	58	106	89	197	90
34	California	3,876	9.8	1.19	-7.0%	1,090	522	394	1,311	496
35	Ohio	1,157	9.7	1	-6.8%	122	222	174	424	140
36	Alaska	70	9.5	1.27	+14.8%	15	10	11	13	11
37	New Hampshire	133	9.4	0.96	+4.7%	10	35	14	39	18
38	Illinois	1,177	9.3	1.13	-5.2%	213	150	150	338	159
39	Maryland	578	9.2	1.01	-6.9%	152	95	65	167	61
40	Washington	730	9.2	1.21	-9.8%	152	113	76	238	102
41	Vermont	59	9.1	0.82	-14.5%	6	7	4	24	11
42	Pennsylvania	1,127	8.6	1.18	-6.9%	173	217	169	290	122
43	Connecticut	310	8.4	1	+0.6%	61	75	33	105	36
44	Minnesota	477	8.2	0.81	+18.7%	57	75	82	108	71
45	Utah	277	7.9	0.77	-1.1%	42	53	50	73	47
46	Hawaii	102	7.1	0.96	+9.7%	35	26	2	34	20
47	New Jersey	670	7.1	0.84	+10.7%	210	112	69	150	76
48	District of Columbia	47	6.7	1.33	+6.8%	18	9	1	14	6
49	New York	1,101	5.5	0.91	-1.4%	289	209	123	300	115
50	Massachusetts	363	5.1	0.59	+6.1%	76	70	31	100	46
51	Rhode Island	52	4.7	0.68	-26.8%	13	8	5	19	5
	United States	39,254	11.5	1.19

Sources: deaths and rates from IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state (NHTSA FARS and FHWA data). Change vs 2023, pedestrian, motorcyclist, large-truck, alcohol-impaired (driver BAC .08+) and young-driver columns are a FindMyAccidentLawyer analysis of the NHTSA FARS 2023 Final File and 2024 Annual Report File. Crash-type columns overlap: one death can count in several.

Which states have the highest traffic death rates?

Rates divide deaths by population, so they let small and large states sit on one scale. IIHS ranks the 50 states. The Deep South and the Southwest fill the top of the list. Mississippi leads, and Mississippi's page has its local detail.

25.6per 100,000 people2024
Mississippi had the highest traffic death rate of the 50 states in 2024, with 25.6 deaths per 100,000 people.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
19.5per 100,000 people2024
Arkansas ranked No. 2 of the 50 states for traffic deaths per capita in 2024, at 19.5 deaths per 100,000 people.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
19.2per 100,000 people2024
New Mexico ranked No. 3 of the 50 states for traffic deaths per capita in 2024, at 19.2 deaths per 100,000 people.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
18.9per 100,000 people2024
South Carolina ranked No. 4 of the 50 states for traffic deaths per capita in 2024, at 18.9 deaths per 100,000 people.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
18.7per 100,000 people2024
Alabama ranked No. 5 of the 50 states for traffic deaths per capita in 2024, at 18.7 deaths per 100,000 people.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
1.81per 100 million miles2024
Mississippi had the most traffic deaths per mile driven of the 50 states in 2024: 1.81 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles, versus 1.19 nationally.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
27states2024
27 states had a traffic death rate above the national rate of 11.5 per 100,000 people in 2024.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state

Which states have the lowest traffic death rates?

Three Northeastern states post the lowest rates per resident. Per mile driven, Massachusetts is lowest. Rhode Island leads by population, and Rhode Island's page covers its numbers.

4.7per 100,000 people2024
Rhode Island had the lowest traffic death rate of the 50 states in 2024, at 4.7 deaths per 100,000 people.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
5.1per 100,000 people2024
Massachusetts had the second-lowest traffic death rate of the 50 states in 2024, at 5.1 deaths per 100,000 people.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
5.5per 100,000 people2024
New York had the third-lowest traffic death rate of the 50 states in 2024, at 5.5 deaths per 100,000 people.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
0.59per 100 million miles2024
Massachusetts had the fewest traffic deaths per mile driven of the 50 states in 2024: 0.59 per 100 million vehicle miles.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state

Which states have the most traffic deaths in total?

Raw counts follow population. The three biggest states by residents also top the death list. For a fair comparison, use the rates above. These counts come from IIHS. See Texas, California and Florida for state detail.

4,160deaths2024
Texas had the most traffic deaths of any state in 2024, with 4,160 people killed.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
3,876deaths2024
California had the second-most traffic deaths of any state in 2024, with 3,876 people killed.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
3,138deaths2024
Florida had the third-most traffic deaths of any state in 2024, with 3,138 people killed.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state

Who dies on the road in each state?

The mix of victims varies a lot by place. IIHS tracks the share of deaths by road user and by land use. Each state below holds the top share in its category.

34%2024
Pedestrians made up 34 percent of traffic deaths in Hawaii in 2024, the highest share of the 50 states.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
26%2024
Motorcyclists made up 26 percent of traffic deaths in New Hampshire in 2024, the highest share of the 50 states.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
81%2024
81 percent of traffic deaths in North Dakota in 2024 happened on rural roads, the highest rural share of the 50 states.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state

Where do speeding, drinking and missing seat belts matter most?

These three behaviors show up in IIHS state tables as shares of deaths. The leading state in each is a small one, so a few crashes can move the percentage.

54%2024
Speeding was a factor in 54 percent of traffic deaths in Vermont in 2024, the highest share of the 50 states.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
49%2024
An estimated 49 percent of passenger vehicle drivers killed in Hawaii in 2024 (about 10 of 20) had a BAC of 0.08 or higher, the highest share among states where at least 70 percent of killed drivers had known BAC results.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state
61%2024
In Wyoming, 41 of the 67 passenger vehicle occupants killed in 2024 (61 percent) were not wearing a seat belt, the highest share of the 50 states.
Source: IIHS, Fatality Facts 2024: State by state

Which states improved or worsened from 2023 to 2024?

Most places saw fewer deaths in 2024 than in 2023. The extremes below come from FindMyAccidentLawyer's analysis of NHTSA FARS data. Compare them with the national car accident statistics.

13.1%2024
Traffic deaths in Kentucky fell 13.1 percent from 2023 to 2024 (814 to 707), the largest drop among states with at least 300 deaths in 2023.
Source: FindMyAccidentLawyer (NHTSA FARS data), FMAL analysis of NHTSA FARS 2022-2024 data files and Census population estimates
18.7%2024
Minnesota saw traffic deaths rise 18.7 percent from 2023 to 2024 (402 to 477), the largest increase among states with at least 300 deaths in 2023.
Source: FindMyAccidentLawyer (NHTSA FARS data), FMAL analysis of NHTSA FARS 2022-2024 data files and Census population estimates
33states2024
Traffic deaths fell from 2023 to 2024 in 33 of 51 jurisdictions (the 50 states and D.C.).
Source: FindMyAccidentLawyer (NHTSA FARS data), FMAL analysis of NHTSA FARS 2022-2024 data files and Census population estimates

Frequently asked questions

Which state has the highest traffic death rate?

Mississippi, according to IIHS. It had 25.6 deaths per 100,000 people in 2024. It also led on mileage, with 1.81 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles against 1.19 nationally.

Which states rank after Mississippi for traffic death rates?

IIHS lists Arkansas at 19.5 deaths per 100,000 people, New Mexico at 19.2, South Carolina at 18.9 and Alabama at 18.7. Those are 2024 rates.

Which state has the lowest traffic death rate?

Rhode Island, at 4.7 deaths per 100,000 people in 2024, according to IIHS. Massachusetts followed at 5.1 and New York at 5.5. On a per-mile basis, Massachusetts was lowest at 0.59 per 100 million vehicle miles.

Which state has the most traffic deaths?

Texas had 4,160 deaths in 2024, according to IIHS. California had 3,876 and Florida had 3,138. Large populations push these counts up, so rates give a fairer comparison.

Why do rankings by deaths and by rate differ?

A raw count rewards small states and penalizes big ones. Mississippi ranks first by rate, while Texas ranks first by total deaths. IIHS publishes both so you can see each view.

How many states are above the national traffic death rate?

In 2024, 27 states had a rate above the national figure of 11.5 deaths per 100,000 people. That count uses IIHS data and leaves out the District of Columbia.

Which state had the biggest drop in traffic deaths?

Among states with at least 300 deaths in 2023, Kentucky had the largest drop. Deaths fell 13.1 percent, from 814 to 707. This is FindMyAccidentLawyer's analysis of NHTSA FARS data.

Which state had the biggest increase in traffic deaths?

Minnesota, among states with at least 300 deaths in 2023. Deaths rose 18.7 percent from 2023 to 2024, going from 402 to 477, in FindMyAccidentLawyer's analysis of NHTSA FARS data.

Did traffic deaths fall in most states in 2024?

Yes. Deaths fell from 2023 to 2024 in 33 of 51 jurisdictions, counting the 50 states and D.C. This comes from FindMyAccidentLawyer's analysis of NHTSA FARS data.

Which state has the highest share of pedestrian deaths?

Hawaii. IIHS data show pedestrians made up 34 percent of Hawaii's traffic deaths in 2024, the highest share of any state.

Which state has the highest share of motorcyclist deaths?

New Hampshire. Motorcyclists made up 26 percent of its 2024 traffic deaths, the highest share of the 50 states, according to IIHS.

Which state has the most speeding-related deaths by share?

Vermont. IIHS reports speeding was a factor in 54 percent of its traffic deaths in 2024, the highest share of the 50 states.

Which state has the highest share of drunk-driving deaths?

IIHS estimates 49 percent of passenger vehicle drivers killed in Hawaii in 2024 had a BAC of 0.08 or higher. That is about 10 of 20 drivers. The ranking only counts states where at least 70 percent of killed drivers had known BAC results.

Which state has the highest share of rural road deaths?

North Dakota. IIHS reports 81 percent of its 2024 traffic deaths happened on rural roads, the highest share of the 50 states.

Which state has the highest share of unbelted deaths?

Wyoming. In 2024, 41 of the 67 passenger vehicle occupants killed there, or 61 percent, were not wearing a seat belt, according to IIHS.

Can I use these statistics?

Yes. The statistics on this page are free to use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license (CC BY 4.0). Credit FindMyAccidentLawyer and link back to this page. Each figure also names its original publisher.

Cite or link to this page

Free to use under CC BY 4.0. Please credit FindMyAccidentLawyer with a link. Updated October 19, 2026.

FindMyAccidentLawyer. (2026, October 19). Car Accident Statistics by State (2026). https://findmyaccidentlawyer.com/data/car-accident-statistics/by-state

Methodology and sources

State rates, rankings and shares come from IIHS tables for 2024, which are built on NHTSA FARS data. IIHS ranks the 50 states and leaves out D.C. The 2023 to 2024 change figures use the FARS 2023 Final File and the 2024 Annual Report File, so the 2024 counts may shift slightly in the Final File. The BAC ranking excludes states where fewer than 70 percent of killed drivers had known results.

Every number on this page links to the official report it came from. We checked each figure against the source text before publishing, and we recheck the sources every month. The page date changes only when a number changes. Spotted an error? Email profile@findmyaccidentlawyer.com.

Fatality Facts 2024: State by state, IIHS
FMAL analysis of NHTSA FARS 2022-2024 data files and Census population estimates, FindMyAccidentLawyer (NHTSA FARS data)

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