Florida Ranks 9th in States with Highest Crash Fatalities
Each year, the United States Department of Transportation keeps track of the country’s fatal car accidents using the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Data that has been recently released for 2018 shows that Florida ranks ninth in terms of states with the highest crash fatalities.
Here, car accident lawyers from Chanfrau & Chanfrau analyze Florida’s fatal car accident statistics to give drivers in Daytona Beach, Palm Coast, FL, and surrounding areas a better idea of the risks they face on the road.
Florida’s Fatal Car Crashes
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has published its analysis of fatal car crashes in the United States in 2018, using data collected from FARS. According to the IIHS, there were 33,654 fatal car crashes in the United States in 2018. These accidents resulted in 36,560 deaths.
Florida reported the third highest number of fatal car crashes across the country. During 2018 there were 2,915 fatal car crashes in Florida, which resulted in 3,133 deaths.
Explaining Florida’s Rank in the Numbers
Although Florida reported the third highest number of fatal car crashes, the state ranks ninth for crash fatalities when the number of miles driven is taken into account.
During 2018 drivers in Florida traveled 221,816 million miles. Comparing the number of crash fatalities to the number of miles driven, Florida had 1.41 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, placing it 9th in the ranking of adjusted crash fatalities.
Breakdown of Crash Fatalities
No two car accidents are alike, and in terms of fatal car crashes, the types of fatalities reported vary greatly from state to state. Data reported by the IIHS shows that the greatest number of crash fatalities in Florida during 2018 were among car occupants. 1,009 of Florida’s crash fatalities were occupants of cars, which accounted for 32 percent of the state’s total crash fatalities.
The second largest number of crash fatalities in Florida was among pedestrians. There were 704 Florida pedestrians killed in fatal car crashes during 2018. This means pedestrians accounted for 22 percent of the state’s yearly crash fatalities, one of the highest percentages among the 50 states.
Finishing out the types of crash fatalities that occurred in Florida in 2018:
- Motorcyclists - 574 fatalities (around 18 percent of the total)
- Pickup and SUV occupants - 562 fatalities (around 18 percent of the total)
- Bicyclists - 160 fatalities (around 5 percent of the total)
- Large truck occupants - 42 fatalities (around 1 percent of the total)
Minimizing Accident Risk
Daytona Beach drivers and others across the state should see the fatal crash accident data as a warning of the dangers that are on the road. While the risk of a car accident is always present, there are steps that drivers can take to minimize the threat of a crash, particularly those that are fatal:
- Adhere to posted traffic signs and speed limits
- Maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and other vehicles on the road
- Avoid distracted driving practices
- Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Always wear a seatbelt
Get In Touch with Our Law Firm
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car accident, the lawyers at Chanfrau & Chanfrau can help you hold liable parties accountable for damages. To discuss your accident with our legal team, contact us online, or call (386) 258-7313 to schedule a personal consultation.