The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has a notable feature on their homepage: a large, red number. Updated each day, the number shows the number of deaths on Arizona roads in the current calendar year. By the end of February 2019, this figure had already reached 129,
Two years prior, road
Drivers who create unsafe environments often don’t realize the amount of power they have in their hands. We know you want to do everything you can to be aware and end unsafe driving practices in Arizona, so check out these 12 Phoenix car accident facts.
Consequently, should you suffer an injury in Phoenix at no fault of your own, reach out to Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys for a free case review.
No one likes seeing the harsh reality of traffic numbers. However, it’s important to understand the dangers present on Arizona roads so those numbers do not rise. For instance, there were a total of approximately 127,000 car crashes in Arizona in 2017. Fortunately, less than 1% of these accidents were fatal. However, over 2 people per day were killed in Arizona.
Furthermore, over 150 people per day suffered injuries. The daily numbers incur a troubling statistic; one person died every 8 hours and 46 minutes, and one person every 9 minutes and 29 seconds suffered an injury.
Who drives on Arizona roads? Men disproportionately dominated the percentages in each category, including the percentage of:
- Fatal crashes,
- Injury crashes, and
- Property Damage Only (PDO).
Men constituted approximately 53% of drivers involved in crashes. Women constituted about 41% of drivers involved in crashes, and 6% were of unknown gender.
Impairment, whether it be from alcohol or drugs, cause many accidents in Arizona. Over 4,800 car accidents in Arizona involved alcohol consumption. Of those, over 280 involved fatalities. While alcohol-related crashes are about 3.8% of all Arizona crashes, they account for nearly one-third of fatal accidents.
The weekly peak day for all crashes in Arizona in 2017 was Friday. 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. saw the most crashes in general, while 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. saw the most fatal crashes. The day with the most crashes was January 20, when 640 crashes occurred.
Moreover, did you know Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys offer 24/7 assistance? So, whether it’s peak time, Sunday, or a holiday, you have a backup when your accident happens. You can also download our app for even faster assistance.
Phoenix isn’t the only city in Maricopa County, Arizona where you may need legal backup in case you are hurt in an accident. (Although, Phoenix itself did have nearly 44,000 crashes in 2017!)
In fact, according to statistics provided by the Arizona Department of Transportation, Maricopa County as a whole overwhelmingly dominated the other Arizona counties in total car accidents. Following Maricopa County were Pima and Pinal counties.
However, you don’t need to worry. Our car accident lawyers have offices throughout cities located in various Arizona counties, to include Arrowhead, Bullhead City, Gilbert, Glendale, Mesa, Tolleson, Tucson, Yuma, and two in Phoenix.
Pedestrians are often involved in the most devastating accidents. There were approximately 1,700 pedestrian accidents. More than 1,500 of these occurred in urban areas. About 85% of all these pedestrian-related crashes resulted in an injury of some kind. Furthermore, a total of 226 pedestrians died; 23% of these fatalities involved car crashes in Arizona.
There were over 55,000 total injuries related to car accidents in 2017; a 2% decrease over the year previous. Common injuries included:
- Lacerations and bruising
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Burns
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Spine injuries
- Damage to internal organs
As noted previously, 1,000 deaths were caused by vehicle crashes in 2017. Unfortunately, this was a 5% increase from 2016.
Private vehicle owners aren’t the only ones hurting after an accident. Arizona’s total economic losses from vehicle crashes in 2017 were well over $10 billion. Maricopa County lost the most money, netting a loss of over $6 billion. Pima County lost over $1 billion, and Pinal County lost over half a million dollars.
Many people are injured each year on Arizona’s roads. In 2017, people from ages 25 to 34 were the most affected. People from ages 35 to 44 took second in terms of injuries, while the 45 to 54 age bracket took second for the most deaths category. Men consistently dominated each category, having more deaths and injuries than women.
Of the people in a vehicle, drivers tend to be the most affected when an accident occurs. They are far more likely to suffer than passengers or even pedestrians. Young drivers and adolescents are especially likely to get in a car accident.
The holidays are dangerous times to travel. So, it’s no surprise that the travel period for Thanksgiving (from November 22 to November 27) had 16 fatal crashes, the most of all holiday periods for Arizona in 2017. The New Year’s travel period (from December 30 to January 3) had 12 fatal crashes, and the Christmas travel period (from December 22 to December 26) had 11 fatal crashes.
This is partially due to the heightened amount of traffic during these popular travel times, as well as bad weather conditions. Winter often brings black ice, whiteouts, and sudden slowdowns. So, if you travel during the holidays, plan ahead and be prepared.
What causes most road accidents? The most common type of accident in Arizona involves vehicles in transport. Surprisingly, the next common category is collisions with stationary objects. Collisions with non-fixed objects follow this, and a good chunk of accidents (over 6,000) have an unknown category.
BONUS: Phoenix Car Accident Tip!
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury or died on Arizona’s roads, contact Lerner and Rowe Injury Attorneys. Our experienced personal injury lawyers want to help you. You can visit us during our office hours: Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Give us a call anytime at 844-977-1900. Additionally, you can contact us online and check out our LiveChat feature. Consultations are free, and we don’t collect a dime until we win your case. So don’t wait! Contact Lerner and Rowe today!
The information on this blog is for general information purposes only. Nothing herein should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.
