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The highest price we pay for car crashes is in the loss of human lives, however society also bears the brunt of the many costs associated with motor vehicle accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. motor vehicle crashes in 2024 cost almost $1.4 trillion in loss of productivity and loss of life.
There were 1,771 fewer people killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes on U.S. roadways during 2024, a 4.3-percent decrease from 41,025 in 2023 to 39,254 in 2024. The fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) decreased 5.6 percent from 1.26 in 2023 to 1.19 in 2024. It represents the third year-to-year decrease in both fatalities and fatality rate since 2021.
The estimated number of people injured on our roadways decreased in 2024 to 2.42 million, falling 0.8 percent from 2.44 million in 2023. This decrease was not statistically significant. The injury rate per 100 million VMT decreased 1.3 percent from 75 in 2023 to 74 in 2024.(NHTSA Traffic Stafety Fact)
Who Pays
Private insurers pay approximately 50% of all motor vehicle crash costs. Individual crash victims pay about 26%, while third parties such as uninvolved motorists delayed in traffic, charities and health care providers pay about 14%. Federal revenues account for 6%, while state and local municipalities pick up about 3%. Overall, those not directly involved in crashes pay for nearly three-quarters of all crash costs, primarily through insurance premiums, taxes and travel delay (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).
Crash Type & Driver Behavior
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In 2024 there were 6,180,241 police-reported motor vehicle traffic crashes; 36,297 people died and 1,676,700 people were injured. An average of 99 people died each day in motor vehicle crashes.
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Alcohol-Related Crashes: In 2024, 11,904 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes (any fatal crash involving a driver with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher), down -3.9 percent from 12.392 in 2023. Of the persons who were killed in traffic crashes in 2023, 30% died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes. (NHTSA).
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Speeding: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2024, 11,288 lives were lost due to speed-related accidents, down 5.2% from 11,913 in 2023.
- Speeding was a contributing factor in 29 percent of all fatal crashes in 2024.
- Male fatalities decreased 4.3 percent (29,671 in 2023 to 28,385 in 2024), and female fatalities decreased 4.5 percent (11,267 in 2023 to 10,764 in 2024).
- Fatal traffic crashes involving young drivers 15 to 20 years old decreased 5.1 percent from 4,957 in 2023 to 4,703 in 202
- Fatigue:Data for 2024 indicates that fatigue-related crashes remain a significant safety issue, with estimations suggesting
644 deaths and over 328,000 annual crashes involving drowsy drivers, resulting in roughly 109,000 injuries
. While preliminary 2024 traffic fatalities show a 5.9% decline overall from the 2022-23 average, drowsy driving remains a critically underreported factor.
- Distracted Driving: Distracted driving in 2024 claimed
3,208 lives in the U.S. and caused over 315,000 injuries
, according to NHTSA data released in April 2026
. While this is a slight 2% decrease in fatalities from 2023, it remains a major safety issue, with cell phone use in the form of texting or app engagement being a primary driver of these incidents.
- Cell Phone Use: In 2024,
distracted driving caused 3,208 deaths and over 315,000 injuries, with phone use involved in 14% of these fatal crashes
. While overall distracted driving dropped by 8.6%, phone manipulation for younger drivers (16–24) reached its highest point since 2005. Drivers now spend an average of 1 minute and 56 seconds per hour tapping screens, the lowest level since 2020.
- In 2015 according to statistics complied by the Department of Transporation, 3,477 people died and another 391,000 were injured in mortor vehicle crashes caused by drivers who were distracted because they were texting or using cell phones.
- A State Farm study released in late 2012 found that among drivers age 18 to 29, almost half (48 percent) accessed the Internet on a cell phone while driving. One-third of those drivers (36 percent) read social media networks while driving. Almost half of those drivers (43 percent) checked their email while driving. Other age groups engaged in these activities less frequently.
Fatalities
- The fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT) decreased 5.6 percent from 1.26 in 2023 to 1.19 in 2024. It represents the third year-to-year decrease in both fatalities and fatality rate since 2021.
- In 2024, Colorado saw a slight decrease in traffic fatalities, with
684 deaths
, a 5% drop from 2023. While overall fatal crashes dipped, there were roughly 100,000 total crashes statewide. Key, often fatal, factors included speeding, impairment, distracted driving, and a 23% rise in motorcyclist deaths
- Speeding-related fatalities (625 fewer fatalities, 5.2% decrease)
- Alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities (478 fewer fatalities, 3.9% decrease)
Injuries
- In 2023, more than 44,000 people died in motor vehcile crashes in the United States. CDC Information
- Motor vehicle crashes are a public health concern both in the United States and abroad. In the United States, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death, and kill over 120 people every day. CDC Information
- There were over 2.8 milion emergency department visits for injuries from motor vehicle crashes in 2023. Deathes from crashes in 2023 resulted in over $457 billion in total costs - including medical costs and cost estimates for lives losts. CDC Information.
State-By-State Crash Statistics & Costs
The per-capita costs for each state vary from roughly $600-$1,200 compared to the nationwide average of $897. Smaller, less populated states may have lower overall costs, but they may also have fewer resources to draw on. Differences between states may also result from different reporting practices that result in more or less complete reporting of injuries from state to state.
Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death in Colorado. The total number of motor vehicle fatalities increased from 691 deaths in 2021 to 764 deaths in 2022, an 11% increase.
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