Speak to an experienced car accident lawyer in New York at Sattler Law Group, PC. Call our New Rochelle office at 914-239-4900 or NYC office at 212-766-4484 to schedule your free case review.
New York is the most densely populated city in the U.S., leading to traffic congestion and many traffic accidents. In 2021 alone, over 265 accidents occurred every day inside the city, according to the Traffic Safety Statistical Repository (TSSR) from ITSMR.
Here, an auto accident lawyer in New Rochelle from the Sattler Law Group, PC, shares important New York car accident statistics, including total numbers of motor vehicle collisions, motor vehicle crash types, and accident statistics for fatal crashes.
2021 Accident Statistics: Totals and Borough Statistics
According to ITSMR’s TSSR system, the total number of crashes in New York City in 2021 was 97,059. The report further breaks down motor vehicle crash statistics for each borough:
- 30,292 crashes in Brooklyn
- 29,491 crashes in Queens
- 17,347 crashes in the Bronx
- 14,764 crashes in Manhattan
- 5,165 crashes in Staten Island
In all five boroughs, drivers aged 30-39 were the most likely drivers in crashes, making up approximately 20% of all age groups involved in crashes in 2021. Drivers in crashes were also often male, making up over 60% of all drivers involved in crashes in 2021 compared to women or crashes where the driver’s gender was unknown.
In the Bronx and Brooklyn, June had the most crashes in 2021, while Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island had the most crashes in October.
2021 Accident Statistics: By Crash Type
Not all motor vehicle collisions involve another car. Other accidents involve a vehicle and a pedestrian, bicycle, or motorcycle. New York car accident statistics for those accidents include:
- 8,693 pedestrian collisions
- 5,568 bicycle collisions
- 1,723 motorcycle collisions
- 81,075 collisions with other vehicles or single-car accidents
Because pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists don’t have the protection of a vehicle around them in an accident, these types of accidents often have more injuries and fatalities compared to a motor vehicle crash involving two or more vehicles.
2021 Accident Statistics: Injuries and Fatalities
The accident statistics from the TSSR also describe statistics for fatal crashes and crashes with injuries, including:
- 245 fatalities due to motor vehicle collisions
- 120 fatal accident injuries occurred in pedestrian accidents
- 19 fatal accident injuries occurred in bicycle accidents
- 44 fatal accident injuries occurred in motorcycle accidents
- 65,111 injuries due to motor vehicle collisions
- 3,026 serious injuries
- 6,931 moderate injuries
- 51,579 minor injuries
The deadliest month for the Bronx was December, October for Brooklyn, and in Manhattan, July and August tied. In Queens, the deadliest month was May, and Staten Island had a three-way tie between January, March, and December.
Common Causes of Motor Vehicle Collisions in New York City
Accident statistics indicate several common causes of motor vehicle collisions in New York, including:
- Aggressive driving or road rage
- Alcohol or drugs
- Distracted driving
- Improper passing or lane changing
- Pedestrian or bicyclist error or confusion
- Speeding
- Environmental factors
According to NYPD Traffic Data, there were 8,480 accidents with 13 fatalities in September of 2022. Distracted driving was the largest cause of accidents leading to injuries and fatalities, causing 2,529 accidents.
Other causes of injury and fatal collisions that month included 651 accidents from following too closely, 648 accidents from failing to yield, 414 from improper passing or lane changing, and 332 accidents from passing too closely.
What to Know About Your New York Car Accident Case
If you were in a car accident in New York, here’s what you need to know about filing your insurance claim, seeking compensation for your injuries, or pursuing a wrongful death claim if you lost a loved one in an accident.
Insurance Companies Don’t Want to Help You
Insurance companies will try everything possible to avoid paying your claim, whether you attempt to file your injury claim through your own insurance company or want to pursue a lawsuit against the negligent driver who caused the accident leading to your injuries.
If you file a claim through your own insurance company, your provider may try to approve lesser treatments or deny certain diagnostic tests or other procedures. You may also find that your injuries exceed your no-fault insurance policy limits and that your claim payout doesn’t cover the cost of treating your injuries. Your injuries may also put you out of work and diminish your earning capacity.
With the help of a personal injury attorney, you can file a lawsuit against the negligent driver to pursue compensation to properly treat your injuries and recover lost wages. While the negligent driver (the defendant) will have their insurance company provide a defense against the lawsuit, you (the plaintiff) will need to hire an attorney.
Most car accident lawyers, like our legal team at Sattler Law Group, PC, work on contingency: you don’t pay unless you win or settle your case.
Compensation Goes Beyond Just Your Medical Bills
You can pursue economic damages to cover medical bills, transportation costs for treatment, lost wages, and rehabilitation. You may also be able to pursue non-economic damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, disability, or disfigurement.
Because New York is a no-fault state, your case must qualify under “serious injury” to pursue a liability claim. New York is also a comparative negligence state, meaning that if you are partly responsible for your injuries, the court may reduce your compensation by an equivalent percent.
Did You Lose a Loved One in an Accident? You Might Be Able to File a Wrongful Death Claim
Wrongful death cases are complex, as only certain people can file a claim in New York. Fatal crashes often leave behind bereaved loved ones worried about sudden final expenses. Speak with an experienced attorney from Sattler Law Group, PC to learn more about wrongful death lawsuits.
Contact a New York City Car Accident Attorney for Your Case
Review these New York car accident statistics and learn how you can recover compensation with a Lyft accident lawyer on our blog. For help with a car accident case in New York City, NY, call us at Sattler Law Group, PC, at 914-239-4900, 212-766-4484 or contact us online for a free case review.
