Motor Vehicle Crashes by State

Fatal car accidents differ significantly across states, largely influenced by population size. This section provides essential data on the annual fatal motor vehicle accidents across all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Several factors impact these statistics, including weather conditions, vehicle types, passenger numbers, travel speeds, and topography. Regardless of location, car accidents are a nationwide concern. In 2020, the U.S. recorded 35,766 fatal incidents. Below, find a detailed state-by-state breakdown of these crashes and fatalities.

In 2020, several states stood out with notably high numbers of fatal car accidents.

Topping the list, Texas recorded 3,874 deaths from 3,520 accidents. Close behind, California saw 3,847 fatalities in 3,558 crashes, and Florida experienced 3,331 deaths from 2,950 accidents. Georgia had 1,664 deaths in 1,522 incidents, while North Carolina reported 1,538 deaths from 1,412 accidents.

On the other hand, some of the less populated areas reported fewer fatal crashes.

Washington, D.C. had 36 deaths from 34 accidents, while Alaska recorded 53 deaths out of 64 crashes. Vermont reported 62 fatalities from 58 accidents, and Rhode Island had 67 deaths out of 66 incidents. Hawaii also noted 85 deaths from 81 accidents. These statistics highlight the variability in accident rates across different regions.