Car Accident Report: How Florida Compares to the Rest of the U.S.

Accounting for both our population size and the average number of miles we travel, Florida has a higher rate of deadly accidents than the rest of the U.S. according to the latest car accident report. Our state also has a higher proportion of the total amount of all car accidents compared to our proportion of the total U.S. population.

These conclusions are drawn from data from various sources — some of which may have different methods for counting car accidents. Regardless of these differences, car accident statistics still point to a pretty stark reality: we have some of the most dangerous roads in the entire country.

One fairly comprehensive study looking at 2018 data even concluded that Florida has the fourth-most dangerous drivers in America. That’s at least a better ranking than the same study gave us for 2017 and 2016 when Florida was mentioned in the car accident report last.

Add these risks to Florida’s no-fault insurance system, and you have a recipe for incredibly perilous driving. Accidents are not only likely but can cause serious injuries or deaths without an obvious insurance remedy to pay for it all.

Many victims of car accidents have to turn to the services of an experienced car accident lawyer in Florida to help them pursue an injury claim against all possible parties. Looking for a car accident injury settlement in Florida takes an extra bit of effort, but it can provide more money to pay back medical bills, lost wages, your out-of-pocket expenses, and to compensate you for your pain and suffering.

So what does the latest car accident report tell us about accidents in Florida?

Florida’s Car Accident Statistics and Death Rate Compared to the U.S.

According to statistics from FLHSMV, Florida had 403,626 total crashes in 2018 (up from 402,385  in 2017) — an average of over 1,000 per day. A total of 236,157injuries (down from 254,310 in 2017) and 3,116 deaths resulted (up from 3,116  in 2017).

The bad news is that deaths and incapacitating injuries increased slightly from 2017, and our rate of deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled increased 1.4%.

Comprehensive statistics from the NHTSA covering the entire U.S. determined that there were around 6,452,000 total crashes in America in 2017, leading to an estimated 1,889,000 injuries and exactly 34,247 deaths.

Census estimates for 2019 show that Florida makes up approximately 6.38% of the total U.S. population. That proportion may be slightly different from the year 2017, the most recent available year for Florida crash data. Regardless, it is a useful benchmark of comparison.

Florida’s overall crashes make up 6.2% of the total U.S. crash volume, showing we proportionately account for a smaller volume of accidents than our population would indicate. Yet, our proportion of accident injuries is a staggering 13.4%! We also account for 9.1% of road deaths.

This data shows that while Floridians crash about as often as expected, we have a higher likelihood of causing accident-related injuries or deaths.

2017 data from the IIHS confirms this trend. Florida’s rate of road deaths per 100,000 people (14.8) and our rate of deaths per 100 million miles traveled (1.44) were both higher than the respective rates for the U.S. as a whole. Looking just at these two rates, though, Florida pales in comparison to states like South Carolina, which had 19.7 deaths per 100k people and 1.8 deaths per 100M mi.

Overall, Florida’s accident volumes are higher than average, especially when accounting for population or vehicle miles traveled but by far not the worst state for fatal road accidents.

That’s no cause for celebration, given Florida’s grisly reputation for one type of fatal accident: pedestrian deaths. Nine of the top 20 deadliest cities for pedestrians in the U.S. can be found in Florida. The state as a whole ranked lowest for pedestrian safety, according to a report from Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition.

Assert Your Right to an Injury Claim with the Help of a Florida Car Accident Lawyer

The above Florida car accident statistics are definitely scary, but they don’t have to mean that your injury or loved one’s death was inevitable. In fact, many of Florida’s car accidents are caused by avoidable circumstances.

Drivers who were speeding, under the influence, distracted, or acting generally negligent can be held accountable when they cause serious injuries or deaths. Commercial vehicles, such as taxis, semi-trucks, and delivery vans all carry liability insurance and have a higher standard of care compared to the average driver. You may also be able to claim compensation under defective product laws or dram shop laws if a drunk driver was clearly overserved.

Explore your options for obtaining compensation with the help of experienced attorneys who have a proven track record of winning cases. Contact a Florida car accident attorney at Steinger, Greene & Feiner to find out what strategies could help you seek the maximum compensation available under Florida law.

Call 800-560-5059 or contact us online now to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with proven Florida car accident lawyers.

This article was published on November 12, 2019, and updated on July 14, 2021.