Virginia Car Accident Statistics [2024 Updated] – Traffic Fatalities

Car accidents are an unfortunately common occurrence, ranging from minor property damage accidents to seriously harmful collisions. By knowing the basic Virginia car accident statistics, drivers can understand common causes of accidents and drive more carefully on the road. While drivers cannot prevent all accidents, they can do what is possible to make smart choices while driving.

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and Virginia Highway Safety Office recorded the number and causes of motor vehicle accidents in Virginia in 2023. Virginia has 6.13 million licensed drivers in 2023 and 8.59 million registered vehicles. There were an estimated 83,489 million miles traveled in the year.

Virginia Overall Motor Vehicle Accident Statistics

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the most common causes of personal injury. There were 127,597 motor vehicle crashes in Virginia in 2023, an average of one crash every 4.1 minutes. In the past five years, the year with the lowest number of crashes was 2020, with 105,600 crashes. 2019 had the highest in those five years, with 128,172 crashes, although there were fewer fatalities in 2019 than in 2020. From 2022 to 2023, there was a 4.2% increase in crashes.

81.7% of motor vehicle crashes occurred on non-interstate roads, or 104,288 crashes. 70.7% of all motor vehicle crashes in the year were multi-vehicle crashes. There were 25,274 speed-related crashes in Virginia in 2023, making it one of the leading causes of accidents in the state. There were 5,659 crashes with unrestrained individuals, resulting in 3,936 injuries and 225 fatalities.

Virginia Counties – Motor Vehicle Collision Statistics

Fairfax County had the highest number of crashes, with 12,538 crashes. Fairfax County had 42 fatalities and a death rate of 0.05 per 1,000 drivers. There were 653 alcohol-related crashes in the county, resulting in 17 fatalities. There were 3,336 speed-related crashes and 26 resulting fatalities. The county with the next-highest number of crashes was Prince William County, with 6,265 crashes and a death rate of 0.09. There were 394 alcohol-related crashes and 1,327 speed-related crashes.

The county with the highest death rate in Virginia was Highland County, with a rate of 2.10 deaths per 1,000 drivers, arising from 32 crashes and four fatalities. There were two alcohol-related crashes in the county, resulting in one fatality. 11 speed-related crashes occurred, resulting in one fatality. There were also four crashes where an individual was unrestrained, resulting in two fatalities.

Alcohol-Related Crashes in Virginia

When drivers operate their vehicles under the influence of alcohol, they reduce their reaction speeds and cognitive abilities. Drivers who drive drunk limit their ability to make rational decisions on the road, increasing the chances of causing an accident.

In 2023, there were 6,979 alcohol-related crashes, resulting in 4,400 injuries and 293 fatalities. This was a 1.0% increase in alcohol-related crashes from the prior year, a 5.4% increase in injuries, and a 6.9% increase in fatalities. Within the fatalities from alcohol-related accidents, there were 180 drunk drivers who were killed.

The age group with the highest number of drivers that were drinking was 21 to 25, with 1,219 drunk drivers. There were 1,150 drunk drivers between the ages of 26 and 30 and 967 between the ages of 31 and 35. There were 14,246 driving under the influence (DUI) convictions in 2023, 66.5% of which were male.

87.7% of alcohol-related fatalities occurred on non-interstate roads, and 66.9% of fatalities were single-vehicle crashes. The most common action engaged in by drunk drivers before a collision was following too closely, resulting in 6.2% of the crashes. 6.0% of the crashes were caused by drunk drivers speeding.

FAQs

Q: What Is the Number One Reason for Crashes in Virginia?

A: The number one reason for crashes in Virginia was speeding and speed-related crashes. There were 25,274 speed-related crashes in 2023, making up 19.81% of all traffic crashes in the state. Speed-related crashes in 2023 had an increase of 1.6% from 2022. Of these crashes, 16,488 were property damage crashes, 8,378 were injury crashes, and 408 were fatal crashes. In the 408 fatal crashes, there were 449 persons killed. 83.5% of those fatalities occurred on non-interstate roads.

Q: How Many Car Accidents Happen in Virginia?

A: In 2023, there were 127,597 motor vehicle crashes in Virginia. This was an increase from 122,434 in the previous year, but it was still less than in 2019, several years prior, when there were 128,172 crashes. Of the motor vehicle crashes that occurred in 2023, there were 907 fatalities, which is an estimated death rate of 1.09 per 100 million miles traveled. The 2023 motor vehicle crashes resulted in 63,876 injuries.

Q: What Percent of Traffic Crashes in Virginia Are Caused by Distracted Driving?

A: The percentage of traffic crashes in Virginia caused by distracted driving was 16.87% in 2023. There were 21,528 crashes due to the involvement of a distracted driver out of 127,597 total crashes. There was a 4.1% increase in distracted driving crashes from 2022. Of the crashes involving distracted driving, 61 were fatal crashes, 7,200 were injury crashes, and 14,267 were property damage crashes. 65.6% of distracted driving fatal crashes involved multiple vehicles in the collision.

Q: Is Virginia a No-Fault State for Accidents?

A: No, Virginia is not a no-fault state for accidents. Virginia is an at-fault state, which means that the driver who is at fault for the accident is liable for the injuries that result. Typically, this means that injured parties file with the at-fault driver’s insurance provider to recover their damages. These include property damage, the cost of medical care for their injuries, and other losses.

While insurance was not required for all drivers, this is no longer the case as of July 1, 2024, where drivers are now required to carry insurance coverage.

Contact a Car Accident Attorney After a Motor Vehicle Accident

If you are involved in a car accident in Virginia, an experienced car accident attorney can help you navigate your next steps. If you were not at fault for an accident, you can recover the costs of your injuries and other losses, but other parties may try to claim that you were at fault. An attorney can protect your rights and financial interests. Contact Whitlock Law, LLC, today.