Car Accident Statistics in North Carolina

Here are some eye-opening statistics about car accidents on North Carolina’s roads.

North Carolina Car Accident Stats

• In 2020, there were 247,214 traffic crashes reported, a decrease of more than 9% from 2019.
• 70.3% of all crashes occurred between 7:00 a.m. and 6:59 p.m. in 2020, accounting for 51.2% of crash-related deaths.
• Despite a 9% decrease in total crashes, fatalities increased 12.8% over 2019, to 1,658.
• In 2020, 17.9% of the crashes in North Carolina involved a driver that was distracted.
• 4,849 drivers involved in crashes in 2020 and subjected to a breathalyzer had a Blood-Alcohol Content greater than .08.
• Alcohol was a factor in 11,475 crashes in 2020.
• Distracted driving was a factor in 44.128 crashes in 2020.
• October and November had the most crashes in 2020, with more than 24,000 each. December and January had more than 23,000 each.
• In 2020, the average cost across all types of crashes (including injury and fatality crashes) was $87,902.

All of the above facts come from the NCDOT Annual Crash Facts Report.

In a state with approximately 7.6 million drivers – the 8^th largest driving population in the US in 2020 according to Statista – the odds you, as a licensed driver, were involved in a crash in 2018 are about 1 in 30, or about 3.2%.

While there may be shifts up or down in a given year, the fact is that if you haven’t been in a car accident in North Carolina, the odds are you will be at some point. When that happens, contact the experienced car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin.

North Carolina Car Accident Injury Stats

• In 2020, 105,382 people were injured in crashes, a 15.9% decrease from 2019. (NCDOT Crash Facts)
• There were 69,001 crashes with injuries on North Carolina roads in 2020.
• Alcohol was a factor in 7,426 injury crashes in 2020, 7% of all injury crashes.
• Speed was a factor in 8,902 injury crashes in 2020, which was 8.4% of all injury crashes.
• Lane departure was a noted factor in 28,953 crashes with injury in 2020, a hefty 27.5% of all injury crashes.
• Distracted driving reportedly caused 18,552 injury accidents in 2020, accounting for 17.6% of total accidents with injuries.
• The average cost of a non-fatal injury crash in 2019 was $168,000. Severe injury and fatal injury crashes cost an average of $3,123,000. (NCDOT Crash Costs)

We know there were 69,001 injury crashes and 105,382 injuries reported, we can calculate that the odds that you, as one of North Carolina’s 7.6 million drivers, were involved in any injury crash in 2020 are around 1 in 110.

When you or someone you love is hurt in an accident, it’s vital to understand all of the facts, and what compensation you may be entitled to. Insurance companies won’t tell you, but we will. Call us at 1-866-900-7078.

North Carolina Car Accidents Fatality Stats

• 1,658 people were killed in 1,523 fatal crashes on North Carolina roads in 2020, a more than 10% increase over the previous year. (NCDOT Crash Facts)
• Out-of-state drivers accounted for 5.2% of the fatalities in 2020.
• 15.88 persons were killed for every 100,000 people in 2020.
• In 2020, 25.1% of all fatalities were related to speeding.
• 47% of people killed in crashes in 2020 were not belted in.
• There were 412 fatalities involving alcohol in 2020, accounting for 24.8% of people killed.
• Lane departure was a factor in 932 fatalities, a whopping 56.2% of all accident fatalities in 2020.
• Mecklenburg County accounted for 125 fatalities in 2020, making it by far the deadliest county in the state.
• In 2019, the average cost of a fatal injury crash in North Carolina was $10,310,000. (NCDOT Crash Costs)
• In 2019, 755 of crashes with fatalities in North Carolina were single-car accidents, while 618 involved multiple vehicles. (IIHS)
• North Carolina was the third deadliest state for teen drivers in 2019, with 42 teen driver deaths. Statistics showed that North Carolina teen drivers were 59% more likely to be killed in a car accident than those in South Carolina. (ValuePenguin)

The odds of being killed in a car crash in 2020 were about 1 in 4,583 licensed drivers. That seems like a tiny percentage until it affects you personally. For the families of those killed in motor vehicle accidents, the road to compensation usually includes a wrongful death claim.

Contact the Experienced Car Accident Attorneys at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin

If you’ve been hurt in an accident, the only thing that matters is that you’re not alone. Someone is waiting to help you seek compensation for your injuries and get your life back on track. Call us at 1-866-900-7078 or contact us online for a free case evaluation. A real person will answer your inquiry, listen to you, and discuss how we could be able to help you. Don’t delay! Call today, and tell them you mean business.

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