US Statistics on Alcohol Related Crashes

1. Every day, approximately 37 individuals in the United States lose their lives due to accidents caused by drunk driving.

2. In 2021, there were 13,384 fatalities in alcohol-impaired crashes, representing a 14.2% rise from the 11,718 deaths in 2020.

3. In the United States, one person dies in drunk-driving crashes every 39 minutes.

4. Approximately 31% of traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drivers who are intoxicated, with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher.

5. During the span from 2012-2021, an average of 10,850 fatalities occurred annually due to drunk-driving accidents.

6. In 2021, there were 5,932 fatalities involving motorcycle operators in traffic accidents. Out of the motorcycle riders, 1,624 (29%) were under the influence of alcohol.

7. The annual cost of crash deaths involving alcohol-impaired drivers was approximately $123.3 billion in 2020.

8. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drunk driving is estimated to be responsible for approximately one-third of traffic fatalities.

9. The majority of alcohol-impaired crashes, precisely 67%, take place during nighttime, while 40% occur on residential streets.

10. In 2020, 62% of individuals who died in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers were the drivers themselves.

1.

Approximately 37 people in the United States die each day due to accidents caused by drunk driving.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol-impaired driving is one of the most common causes of death in motor vehicle crashes. In the United States, on average, 37 people die every day due to accidents caused by drunk driving. This equates to an estimated 13,000 lives lost each year as a result of alcohol-related crashes.

Alcohol-related crashes are preventable, and the tragedy of these deaths is compounded by the fact that many of those who die are under the age of 21. [1]

Approximately 37 people in the United States die each day due to accidents caused by drunk driving.
2.

The number of fatalities in alcohol-impaired crashes increased by 14.2% in 2021, with a total of 13,384 deaths, compared to 11,718 deaths in 2020.

According to the US Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of fatalities in alcohol-impaired crashes increased by 14.2% from 2020 to 2021, with a total of 13,384 deaths in 2021 compared to 11,718 deaths in the previous year. This increase is largely attributed to more drivers taking risks behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol.

3.

In the United States, there is an average of one fatality in drunk-driving crashes every 39 minutes.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an alarming number of traffic-related fatalities in the United States are alcohol-related. In 2018, 10,710 people lost their lives due to drunk driving crashes – that’s one life every 39 minutes. That number is not only heartbreaking, but it is also a stark reminder of the dangers that drinking and driving can have. [1]

In the United States, there is an average of one fatality in drunk-driving crashes every 39 minutes.
4.

Around 31% of traffic crash fatalities in the United States involve drivers who are intoxicated, with blood alcohol concentrations of 0.08 grams per deciliter or higher.

According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 31% of all traffic-related fatalities in the United States involve a driver who was intoxicated. This means that these drivers had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 grams per deciliter or higher. [2]

The NHTSA’s statistics also show that, in 2021 alone, there were over 13,000 fatalities due to drunk driving. This means that an average of one person was killed every 39 minutes due to drunk driving in the United States. [1]

5.

From 2012 to 2021, there was an average of 10,850 fatalities each year caused by drunk-driving accidents.

From 2012 to 2021, the United States saw an average of 10,850 fatalities each year due to drunk driving accidents. This represents a staggering number of deaths related to alcohol-impaired driving, making it a serious public health concern.

In the US, over 29 people die every day from alcohol-related crashes. On average, over 10 thousand people are killed annually due to drunk-driving crashes. [1]

From 2012 to 2021, there was an average of 10,850 fatalities each year caused by drunk-driving accidents.
6.

In 2021, out of 5,932 fatalities involving motorcycle operators in traffic accidents, 29% (1,624 riders) were under the influence of alcohol.

In 2021, there were 5,932 motorcycle operator fatalities in traffic accidents. This number is a 3% increase from 2020 and continues a trend of rising fatalities among motorcycle riders in the United States. Of the motorcycle riders who died in 2021, 1,624 (29%) were found to have had alcohol in their system at the time of the crash.

Alcohol-related crashes cause immense heartache and tragedy, but these statistics represent an opportunity to take action. The government, community organizations and the public must work together to reduce the number of lives lost due to drinking and driving. [1]

7.

The cost of crash deaths involving alcohol-impaired drivers in 2020 was approximately $123.3 billion.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), an estimated 10,511 people lost their lives in alcohol-impaired crashes in 2020. The devastating cost of these fatalities was approximately $123.3 billion. This included both tangible costs associated with medical expenses and lost productivity as well as intangible costs such as pain and suffering. [3]

The cost of these crashes reaches far beyond the lives lost and injuries sustained. Not only do families suffer the loss of a loved one, but they are also left with staggering medical bills and funeral expenses. 

The cost of crash deaths involving alcohol-impaired drivers in 2020 was approximately $123.3 billion.
8.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drunk driving is estimated to be responsible for approximately one-third of traffic fatalities.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol-related crashes are estimated to account for nearly one-third of fatal traffic accidents in the United States. The agency estimates that roughly 10,000 people die each year as a result of drunk driving

More than 250,000 people suffer injuries from alcohol-related crashes. This translates to more than one person killed every 50 minutes due to drunk driving. [4]

9.

The majority of alcohol-impaired crashes occur during nighttime (67%) and on residential streets (40%).

According to a report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), alcohol-impaired crashes are among the most serious and frequent types of traffic accidents. Of the total number of fatal crashes, 31% were related to alcohol use. Furthermore, recent statistics show that 67% of these fatal crashes occur at night, with 40% occurring on residential streets. [2]

The majority of alcohol-impaired crashes occur during nighttime (67%) and on residential streets (40%).
10.

In 2020, the drivers involved in the majority of fatal crashes caused by alcohol impairment accounted for 62% of the cases.

The data from 2020 shows that the drivers involved in alcohol-impaired fatal crashes accounted for a staggering 62% of all fatal crash cases. This is an alarming statistic as it shows the prevalence of drunk driving on US roads.

In 2020, there were 229 fatalities among children ages 0-14 in crashes involving a driver impaired by alcohol. This accounted for 21% of traffic-related deaths among children aged 0-14 years. [3]

The effects of alcohol-related crashes can be devastating for everyone involved. For those who have lost a loved one due to these crashes, the grief and pain go beyond words. The consequences of drunk driving extend far beyond the victim, often leaving family members feeling overwhelmed with anger, and sadness. 

If your life has been affected by a drunk driver, please contact Goldberg & Loren’s experienced personal injury lawyers by calling 1-888-522-0335 or by filling out the form for free legal advice. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries.

Sources:

[1] Drunk Driving | NHTSA. (n.d.). NHTSA. https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving

[2] Alcohol-Impaired Driving. (n.d.). National Safety Council. Retrieved 2023, from https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/motor-vehicle-safety-issues/alcohol-impaired-driving

[3] Impaired Driving: Get the Facts | Transportation Safety | Injury Center | CDC. (2022, December 28). Impaired Driving: Get the Facts | Transportation Safety | Injury Center | CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/transportationsafety/impaired_driving/impaired-drv_factsheet.html

[4] Drunk Driving Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved April 12, 2023, from https://www.valuepenguin.com/drunk-driving-statistics

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