Every day, more than 3,700 people die in car accidents around the world. That’s over 1 million people a year! Fortunately, that number has been dropping in recent years as cars become safer and accident prevention measures are taken. This can make figuring out how many people die in car accidents every year somewhat complicated.  Especially since other types of vehicle collisions are declining, there are still new driving distractions that might push this number up; for example; Texting and driving was linked to over 951,000 vehicle accidents throughout the world.

How Many People Die in Car Accidents Every Year?

Every year, 1.35 million people are killed in car accidents across the world.

How Many People Die In Car Accidents Every Day?

Every day, 3,700 people are killed in automobile accidents worldwide.

What Is The Cause Of So Many Motor Vehicle Crash Deaths?

User error causes more than 90 percent of all motor vehicle accident fatalities.

Key Statistics:

  • Almost half of all road fatalities occur among persons aged 15 to 44.

  • Every year, about 2 million drivers are made permanently disabled on average.

  • Car accidents are the 8th leading cause of death, accounting for 2.2% of all deaths worldwide.

  • Car accidents are the top cause of death among children and young adults ages 5 to 29.

  • Car Accidents are the second most common cause of death worldwide among teenagers and teen drivers aged 5 to 14.

  • Almost three-quarters (73%) of all road traffic fatalities occur among young males under the age of 25.

  • The majority of road deaths occur in low- and middle-income nations with fewer than half of the world’s cars.

  • Traffic accidents and fatalities cost a country roughly 3% of its annual GDP each year.

  • Low- and middle-income countries lose USD $65 billion each year as a result of vehicle accidents.

  • By 2030, road traffic injuries are expected to become the fifth major cause of death in the United States.

Number of Car Accidents Per Year Worldwide

How Many People Are Injured In Car Crashes Each Year?

Around the world, around 20 and 50 million automobile accidents happen every year.

How Many Car Accidents Happen Per Day?

Every day, between 55,000 and 138,000 automobile accidents occur worldwide.

Key Statistics:

  • Every year, about 2 million drivers are made permanently disabled on average.

  • Low- and middle-income countries lose USD $65 billion each year as a result of vehicle accidents.

Fatal Car Accidents in America

How Many People Die From Car Accidents Each Year In The U.S.?

Every year, there are 38,000 automobile fatalities in the United States.

How Many Car Accident Deaths Happen Per Day In The U.S.A.?

More than 100 people die each day in automobile accidents in the United States.

Traffic Fatalities In America by State

The most recent statistics show that there were 33,244 fatal motor vehicle accidents in the United States, with 36,096 fatalities. The state of Texas has the most fatal crashes in America at some 3,305.  Followed by California (3,259), Florida (2,915), Georgia (1,407), and North Carolina (1,321). Rhode Island has the least amount of fatal crashes in America with only 56 fatal crashes.

STATE FATAL CRASHES
Alabama 930
Alaska 67
Arizona 981
Arkansas 505
California 3606
Colorado 596
Connecticut 249
Delaware 132
District of Columbia 23
Florida 3183
Georgia 1491
Hawaii 108
Idaho 224
Illinois 1009
Indiana 809
Iowa 336
Kansas 411
Kentucky 732
Louisiana 727
Maine 157
Maryland 521
Massachusetts 334
Michigan 985
Minnesota 364
Mississippi 643
Missouri 880
Montana 184
Nebraska 248
Nevada 304
New Hampshire 101
New Jersey 559
New Mexico 424
New York 931
North Carolina 1373
North Dakota 100
Ohio 1153
Oklahoma 640
Oregon 489
Pennsylvania 1059
Rhode Island 57
South Carolina 1001
South Dakota 102
Tennessee 1135
Texas 3615
Utah 248
Vermont 47
Virginia 831
Washington 519
West Virginia 260
Wisconsin 566
Wyoming 147

Key Statistics:

  • Every day, 29 people are killed in motor vehicle accidents caused by drunk drivers, according to 2021 Road Safety Facts data.

  • The leading cause of death in persons aged 1 to 54 in the United States is vehicle crashes.

  • One of the most common causes of death among healthy Americans traveling abroad is vehicle accidents.

  • Every year, nearly 1,200 kids under the age of 16 are killed in automobile accidents.

  • It’s terrible. According to the CDC, there are nearly 8,000 fatalities each year among drivers under the age of 20.

Car Accidents in the United States

How Many Car Accidents Happen Per Year In America?

There are 6 million car accidents in the United States each year.

How Many Car Crashes Happen A Day In The U.S.?

Around 18,510 automobile accidents occur every day in the United States.

How Many Americans Are Injured In Car Crashes Each Year?

Every year, 3 million individuals are injured or disabled in automobile accidents.

Key Statistics:

  • Of the 3 million automobile accidents, 22,471 were caused only by property damage.

  • Every year in the United States, $871 billion is lost due to automobile accidents, which equals an average of $900 per person.

  • Teenagers aged 16 to 19 are three times more likely to be involved in automobile accidents than those over the age of 20.

  • Almost 951,000 vehicle accidents are linked to texting and driving.

General Auto Accident Statistics & Causes

What is the most common cause of car crash deaths?

The most frequent reasons of fatalities caused by accidents are driving under the influence (28%) and speeding (26%). (CDC and NSC)

Key Statistics:

  • 1 in 7 drivers don’t use their seat belt when they’re behind the wheel.

  • The chance of serious harm is reduced by 50% with seat belt use, and the risk of death is decreased by 45%.

  • In the event of a collision, those who do not use their seat belts are 30 times more likely to be ejected.

  • Only one vehicle was involved in 57% of fatal automobile accidents, and a traffic accident was to blame for 43%.

  • The majority of vehicle accidents happen on weekends, particularly on Saturday nights between 9 p.m. and 12 a.m.

  • The most common locations where automobile accidents occur are parking lots, rural highways, stop signs, and two-lane roads.

  • According to the NHTSA’s calculations, the cost of traffic accidents totals almost $900 billion each year.

Concluding Thoughts

Taking Action

We hope you found these auto accident statistics enlightening and eye-opening because the number of car accidents and fatalities worldwide is staggering.

I can’t believe over 1 million people are killed every year due to car accidents and that we (humans) are over 90% responsible for all car accidents.

It’s always important to be aware of the risks involved in driving a car, which is why it’s so important to How Many People Drive Without Insurance in America? before taking your vehicle out on the road.

Sources:

NHTSA | USA Today | NSC | CDC |WHO |

Top U.S. & Worldwide Car Accident Statistics:

  • Every year, approximately 1.35 million people are killed in motor vehicle accidents across the world.

  • Each day, there are nearly 3,700 fatalities in automobile accidents globally.

  • More than 94% of all vehicle accident deaths are caused by user error.

  • The number one cause of death for people aged 1 to 54 is automobile accidents.

  • Every year, there are 6 million automobile accidents in the United States alone.

  • In the United States, there are approximately 18,510 automobile accidents each day.

  • Every year, 2.7 million individuals are hurt in automobile accidents.

  • 38,000 Americans die in car crashes every year.