Year after year, thousands of victims die in what is a top cause of unintentional injury death in the United States: motor vehicle accidents. In many states, the rates of car accident injuries and fatalities are increasing – not decreasing. In 2021, Louisiana set a record for total motor vehicle fatalities in the state, with New Orleans coming in first, across a four-year average, with the highest rate of fatal bicyclist accidents in US Major Metro Areas. In 2022, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association, Louisiana logged 78% more pedestrian fatalities than the national average, following a four-year upward trend, seeing 44% more pedestrian fatalities in 2022 than in 2019.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Louisiana, contact the New Orleans car accident attorneys at Morris Bart for a free case consultation.
Louisiana Car Accidents by the Numbers
In 2021, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development found an all-time high in the number of traffic accident deaths, with 997 fatalities. In 2023, the most recent year for which data is available, Louisiana saw 799 traffic accident fatalities in 743 deadly crashes along all public highways from January 1 through December 31, 2023.
Preemptive traffic accident statistics for 2024 by the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety at LSU show a decrease in the number of car accident fatalities compared to 2023. In 2023, 799 people died in fatal motor vehicle collisions in Louisiana, reflecting an 11.9 percent decrease in the number of people killed on interstates in Louisiana and a 27.9 percent decrease in the number of deaths involving drunk drivers the year prior in 2022.
While the 799 fatalities are a significant decrease from the 997 and 907 car accident deaths recorded in Louisiana in 2021 and 2022, respectively, fatal crashes due to distractions by cellphones and other electronic devices are on the rise in Louisiana.
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How Does Louisiana Compare to the Rest of the United States?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the nation reached a 16-year high in the number of traffic fatalities in 2021, with motor fatalities reaching their highest rate since 1986. National car accident fatalities increased by 10.5 percent from 2020 to 2021—the largest annual percentage increase in the history of the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
In 2023, the estimated number of traffic collision deaths in the U.S., as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported, was 40,990, a 10.9 percent decrease over 2022’s 46,027 motor vehicle fatalities. As of the most recent report in 2021, according to the IIHS, Louisiana had a fatal crash rate of about 1.78 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled in 2021, putting it above most other states; with only South Carolina, New Mexico, Mississippi, and Arkansas logging higher vehicle crash death rates that year.
Top Causes of Louisiana Car Accidents
Statistics show that driver error was Louisiana’s number one cause of car accidents in 2023. Both injury and fatal accidents were caused primarily by driver negligence or the failure to use an appropriate amount of care behind the wheel. Drunk and distracted drivers frequently caused fatal traffic accidents; the GHSA reported in 2021 that 39.6% of fatal crashes in Louisiana resulted from alcohol use on the part of one or both drivers. In 2023, theCenter for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety at LSU logged that20.4%of drivers who were involved in fatal crashes and tested had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level at or above 0.08 percent. Drunk drivers are seen most often during holiday periods in Louisiana, such as Christmas / New Year and Mardi Gras.
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Who Is Most at Risk?
Statistics published by the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety at LSU for 2023 states that most drivers and passengers killed in fatal traffic accidents in Louisiana were pickup trucks/vans/SUVs (36.96%), followed by passenger car occupants (35.2%), and motorcyclists (14.26%).
Pedestrians are also highly at risk. According to reports by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), Louisiana logged 1.5 pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 population between Jan – June of 2023, the fourth-highest pedestrian fatality rate in the Southeast United States.
Where Do Most Collisions Occur?
According to the Center for Analytics and Research in Transportation Safety at LSU, for a consecutive year, 64.2% percent of deadly car accidents in Louisiana occurred on rural roads. In comparison, only 35.8% percent occurred in urban areas, contrary to the split seen in 2021. Urban areas refer to city streets or metropolitan regions, such as downtown New Orleans. Fatal car accidents in these locations tend to be more common than on rural roads in Louisiana, however, in recent years, we are seeing a notable increase in rural road fatalities.
The Center for Analytics at LSU reported that the highest number of traffic fatalities occurred in the Parish of East Baton Rouge in 2023, also logging the highest number of pedestrian deaths, making it the parish with the highest number of deaths all around in Louisiana; Followed closely by Orleans parish.
In 2023, 47.3% of interstate fatalities occurred on I-10, with I-49 and I-20 both logging the second-highest number of car accident deaths. In an analysis of 2.16K fatal car accidents between 2018 – 2020, researchers found the deadliest stretch of road in Louisiana is the I-10 East from Exit 231A to 239B, seeing 13 fatal car accidents within the study period. Other deadly Louisiana roads include Blues Highway, I-12 West, US-190, US-61, US-165, and Walker South Road.
How Can You Prevent Car Accidents in Louisiana?
Many car accidents in Louisiana are preventable. Obeying traffic speed limits and laws, as well as maintaining safe distances while traveling on interstates and highways, can give drivers enough response time to avoid and prevent major automobile accidents in Louisiana. Avoiding common mistakes such as texting and driving, speeding, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can significantly reduce the probability of a serious car accident or fatality, especially on rural roads.
In Louisiana, distracted driving outnumbered drunk driving and speeding as the highest contributing factor to deadly car accidents in the state. Of 799 fatalities in 2023, 145 were pedestrian fatalities, 33 were bicyclists, and 95 were motorcyclists. Of the 743 crashes that resulted in those fatalities, 19% involved alcohol, while distracted drivers caused 48%.
Never get behind the wheel after drinking alcohol; even a small amount can be enough to alter your ability to operate a vehicle. If you plan on drinking, arrange for a safe and sober ride home. Avoid distractions while driving, as well. This is especially important in Louisiana areas with high pedestrian traffic volume, such as Bourbon Street in New Orleans, or cities with university campuses, such as Baton Rouge.
Avoid distractions while driving, as well. This is especially important in areas of Louisiana that have high pedestrian traffic volume, such as Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Always pay attention to the road and avoid common driver distractions, such as looking at a cell phone or eating and drinking while driving. Obey traffic laws and reduce your speed to help avoid distracted driving-related vehicle collisions.
What to Do if You Are Injured in a Car Accident
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident in Louisiana, contact a lawyer at Morris Bart to discuss your legal rights and options. You may be able to recover financial compensation from the other driver or party involved in the crash. Our lawyers can help you with an insurance claim or car accident lawsuit in Louisiana. We are experienced legal advocates who have recovered over $1 billion in case results for past clients. Call (800) 537-8185 today for more information.
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