Car Crash Facts & Statistics In Maryland

If you are involved in a car accident, you may feel like you are left all alone to deal with the mess. You may have the stress of dealing with the insurance company, scheduling medical appointments, getting your car repaired, and trying to get back to work. However, with as many car accidents as there are in Maryland every year, your problems may be more common than you may realize.

Maryland Car Accidents Statistics

According to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), there are an average of more than 100,000 car accidents every year. Based on Crash summary statistics from 2003 to 2007, of the 103,734 average accidents per year, 580 of those were fatal. More than 36,000 accidents on average involve injury crashes, with over 66,000 involving only property damage. On average, 635 people are killed, and more than 55,000 people are injured every year in Maryland car accidents.

In comparison to the rest of the United States, the rate of fatalities per 100,000 population is lower in Maryland, averaging about 11%, while the U.S. averages about 14%. The number of fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled is also lower in Maryland, at about 1.15 compared to about 1.4 in the U.S. overall.

Through 2014, Maryland continues to have lower fatality rates than the rest of the United States. In 2014, there were 0.78 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, compared to 1.08 for the U.S. overall. By population, there were 7.40 fatalities per 100,000 population in Maryland compared to 10.25 in the U.S. By county, Prince George’s County has the highest number of fatalities, followed by Baltimore County, Montgomery County, and Anne Arundel County.

Compared to neighboring states, Maryland has a lower rate of traffic fatalities. West Virginia has 14.7 deaths per 100,000 population and the number of fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled is 1.42. Those rates for Virginia are 8.4 per 100,000 population and 0.87 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. In Pennsylvania, those rates are 9.3 per 100,000 population and 1.20 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. In Delaware, there are 12.9 fatalities per 100,000 population and and 1.26 per 100 million miles traveled. This compares to 7.4 and 0.78 respectively in Maryland.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the most recent three-year averages for Maryland run from 2012 to 2014. This includes 473 total traffic fatalities, at a rate of 0.84 fatalities per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. This represents a significant decrease from prior years. Passenger vehicle occupant fatalities have also been on the decline. From 2005 to 2014, the number of occupant fatalities fell from 397 to 255.

The number of alcohol-impaired driving fatalities has also continually declined over the years. Fatal accidents involving a driver with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher fell from 165 in 2005 to 130 in 2014. Similarly, speeding-related fatalities fell from 215 to 134 over the same time period.

The number of pedestrians cyclists killed has not changed significantly over the past 10 or so years. From 2005 to 2014, the average number of pedestrians killed remained at about 100. The number of cyclists killed hovers around 6 people per year.

Of the 442 Maryland fatality crashes in 2014, 254 involved a single vehicle, 49 involved a large truck, 134 involved speeding, 65 involved a rollover accident, 205 involved going off the road, and 127 occurred at an intersection. 56% of fatal accidents involved a single vehicle and 44% involved multiple vehicles.

Despite having lower number of fatalities compared to the U.S. in general, drivers in Maryland pay car insurance rates close to the national average, and in some areas, above the average amount. According to a survey, the average Maryland car insurance premium was about $1,368.32 a year, compared to a nationwide average of about $1,500. However, Baltimore drivers paid an average of more than $1,800 per year. Areas in and around Washington D.C. pay some of the highest rates in the country.

Baltimore Car Accident Attorneys

If you were involved in an automobile accident, you are not alone. It may be overwhelming to face your injuries, recover, getting back to work, and fighting with the insurance company. You deserve to have an advocate fighting for you, to make sure you get the compensation you deserve so you can focus on recovery. If you or someone you love has been injured, please contact our legal team. We offer a free consultation and will fight for you, to make sure you are fully compensated for your injuries.