Car accidents by state

The number of car accident deaths varies greatly across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. There are a number of factors that can affect the statistics when comparing motor vehicle fatalities on a state by state basis, including weather, types of vehicles involved, number of passengers, travel speeds, topography, and more.

It’s also important to factor in a state’s population when examining the number of car accident fatalities in each state. Using data from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, we compared the number of motor vehicle fatalities in every state, taking into account each state’s total population.

List of car accidents by state

Car accidents can happen everywhere, no matter what state you live in. In 2019, there were 33,244 fatal car accidents across the United States. The table below is a state-by-state breakdown of fatal motor vehicle crashes and motor vehicle crash deaths per all 50 states and Washington D.C. as of 2019, according to the IIHS. [1]

Car accident statistics at a glance

In 2019, the number of motor vehicle fatalities varied widely across all 50 states. California had the highest number of fatal crashes, 3,316, and Washington D.C. had the lowest, 22.

Population size is an important factor — California’s population is nearly 56 times that of Washington D.C., and Californians may be driving longer distances more frequently than D.C. drivers.

Insurance companies know that more people on the road can lead to more car accidents, which is part of the reason why drivers who live in big cities or dense areas often pay more for car insurance than drivers who live in less population-dense locales.

29% - Percentage of motor vehicle fatalities involving an SUV or pickup in Wisconsin in 2019

36,096 - Total number of fatalities from car accidents in all 50 states in 2019

53% - Percentage of deaths in single vehicle crashes nationwide in 2019

91% - Percentage of seat belt use by front seat occupants nationwide in 2019

$15,785 - The average cost per bodily injury claim in 2018

13% - Percentage of all U.S. drivers who were uninsured in 2019, that’s one in eight drivers

45% - Percentage of motor vehicle deaths that occurred in rural areas nationwide in 2019

82% - Percentage of motor vehicle deaths in South Dakota that took place on rural roads in 2019

Data sources: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Insurance Research Council

States with the most car accidents

In 2019, the following states reported the highest numbers of fatal car accidents in the U.S.:

1. California - 3,606 deaths out of 3,316 accidents

2. Texas - 3,615 deaths out of 3,294 accidents

3. Florida - 3,183 deaths out of 2,950 accidents

4. Georgia - 1,491 deaths out of 1,377 accidents 

5. North Carolina - 1,373 deaths out of 1,284 accidents

States with the least car accidents

The states with the lowest number of fatal car accidents are also some of the least populated, and are:

1. Washington, D.C. - 23 deaths out of 22 accidents

2. Vermont - 47 deaths out of 44 accidents

3. Rhode Island - 57 deaths out of 53 accidents 

4. Alaska - 67 deaths out of 62 accidents

5. North Dakota - 100 deaths out of 91 accidents