Fatal Car Crashes on the Rise in U.S. and Michigan

Fatal car crashes are on the rise in the U.S. and in Michigan. NHTSA has announced that fatal auto accidents in the U.S. jumped 10.5% in 2021, hitting a 16-year record high. Earlier this year, NHTSA also reported that Michigan traffic deaths were up 10.9% during the first 9 months of 2021.

Unfortunately, this is continuation of a disturbing, ongoing trend.

Deadly auto accidents increased 6.8% in the U.S. and 10% in Michigan between 2019 and 2020.

To make our roads safer for our families, we need to focus on encouraging people to drive safer. That may involve increasing penalties for unsafe driving, such as texting and driving and other forms of distracted driving to deter people from driving so recklessly.

The usual suspects – drunk driving, speeding and distracted driving – that contribute to the growing danger on our roads continue to put us all risk.

These threats to the public safety and to the lives of our families, children and friends can no longer be ignored when we understand just how many of these tragic deaths are completely preventable.

This is a problem that needs to be dealt with.

We need stronger enforcement of our existing laws and with yet another year of increasing fatalities it is time to consider strengthening existing laws to make the penalties for dangerous driving behaviors proportionate to the deadly risk they pose for all of us.

Fatal car crashes in the U.S.

Fatalities from fatal car crashes in the U.S. increased 10.5% between 2020 and 2021, from 38,824 to 42,915. Between 2019 and 2020, motor vehicle crash fatalities in the U.S. increased 6.8%, from 36,355 to 38,824.

Fatal car crashes in Michigan

Fatal car crashes in Michigan increased 10% between 2019 and 2020 (from 985 to 1,083) and 10.9% between the first 9 months of 2020 and 2021 (from 795 to 882).

Alcohol-related auto accident fatalities

Deadly auto accidents that were alcohol-related in the U.S. increased 5% from 2020 to 2021, from 7,795 to 8,174. That was a continuation of the 16% increase between 2019 and 2020. Fatalities from alcohol-related crashes in Michigan increased 19% between 2016 and 2020.

Speeding-related auto accident fatalities

Deadly auto accidents that were speeding-related in the U.S. increased 5% from 2020 to 2021, from 11,258 to 11,780. They increased 17% between 2019 and 2020. In Michigan, excessive speed-related motor vehicle crashes increased 14% between 2017 and 2020.

Distracted-driving related auto accident fatalities

Deadly auto accidents where a driver was using a cell phone increased approximately 88% in Michigan between 2016 and 2020.

Have you lost a loved one in a fatal car crash? Call the auto accident attorneys at Michigan Auto Law

If you have lost a loved one in a deadly auto accident and you have questions about filing a wrongful death lawsuit to protect your family’s legal rights to pain and suffering compensation, economic damages and auto No-Fault insurance survivors benefits, you can speak to an experienced auto accident lawyer at (800) 777-0028 for a free consultation. You can also get help from an experienced No-Fault insurance attorney by visiting our contact page or you can use the chat feature on our website.

(Source: NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Crash * Stats, “Early Estimates of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities and Fatality Rate by Sub-Categories in 2021,” May 2022; NHTSA, “Overview of Motor Vehicle Crashes in 2020,” March 2022; NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Crash * Stats, “Early Estimate of Motor Vehicle Traffic Fatalities for the First 9 Months (January–September) of 2021,” February 2022; Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Statewide Reports, Quick Facts, 2020, 2019; Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Fact Sheets, Cell Phone Use, 2020, 2016; Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Fact Sheets, Speeding, 2020, 2017; Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Fact Sheets, Alcohol, 2020, 2016)