2020 Car Accident and Injury Statistics

With 2020 coming to an end, let’s take a look at U.S. car accident and injury statistics for the year. With most of the year spent in a pandemic, total travel was down for the year. Does this mean accidents and injuries were also down? Let’s take a look. 

Publicly available data collected by traffic engineering firm Sam Schwartz reveals that the death rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled was 1.15 for the first six months of this year, up from 1.02 during the same period last year — an increase of 12.7 percent. “This increase in traffic fatality rates is tragic and unacceptable,” said Richard Retting, the National Practice Leader for Safety and Research at Sam Schwartz. 

Car accidents have risen to be the eighth leading cause of death globally, with 3,700 people killed daily. This data, from the CDC, is drawn up for crashes involving cars for the most part, as well as buses and trucks and other participants in global traffic — pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. 

Some notable statistics: 

  • 58 percent of police-reported fatal car accidents involved only one vehicle.
  • 38 percent of all fatal car accidents originated from a collision with another motor vehicle.
  • 40 percent of all fatal car accidents involved a fixed object – such as a tree or street sign – or a rollover type accident.
  • Most fatal car accidents happen in the summer months of June through September.
  • The highest percentage of fatal car accidents occurred on Saturday
  • 95 percent of all vehicles involved in fatal car accidents were passenger cars or light trucks, such as SUVs or pickup trucks.
  • Large trucks accounted for 8 percent of vehicles in fatal accidents.
  • 17 percent of the fatalities were passengers, while 16 percent were pedestrians, and 14 percent were motorcyclists.
  • People in the 21 to 24 age demographic have the highest fatality rate per 100,000 motorists. The fatality rate for females is lower overall.
  • 16-19-year-olds are involved in more fatal car crashes than any other age demographic. The male rate of fatality in that age group is twice as high as females.
  • 48 percent of occupant fatalities in teens 16-19 were not wearing a seatbelt.
  • Florida often has the highest number of fatalities of people 65 and older in the United States. 

If you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident, call 1-800-411-PAIN and get the help you need! We will refer you to the attorneys that will fight to get you the compensation you deserve and the medical attention you need. If you have been hurt in an accident, call 1-800-411-PAIN, and we will guide you in finding you the best medical and legal professionals.

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