Over 7 million people live in Washington State with many regions experiencing high population density. With high density comes a large volume of vehicles on the roads and highways, which increases the risk of car accidents. There are thousands of accidents in Washington State every year that cause hundreds of injuries and fatalities. Let’s take a look at some recent Washington State car accident statistics.
Washington State Car Accident Statistics
There are many different ways to look at car accident statistics to give us a picture of what is happening. Let’s get started.
Number of car accidents
In 2020, there were a total of 55,309 car accidents reported in Washington State. This number was a 23.5 percent decrease from the 72,296 accidents reported in 2019. This significant drop in accidents is likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the stay-at-home orders announced by Governor Jay Inslee in spring 2020, which led to fewer cars on the road as people stayed home and businesses closed.
Fatal car accidents
While the total number of car accidents decreased in 2020, the number of fatal accidents increased. In 2019, there were 567 fatal car accidents in Washington State, which led to the loss of 596 people. In 2020, there were 570 fatal accidents, resulting in 602 deaths. These numbers represent a 0.5 percent increase in fatal accidents and a 1 percent increase in deaths. Safety experts have been sounding the alarm about an increase in dangerous driving behaviors that led to an increase in motor vehicle deaths.
Motorcycle accidents
Motorcycle accidents can be particularly deadly for riders because they are more exposed and less protected than drivers of other vehicles. In 2020, there were 2,205 motorcycle accidents in Washington State, resulting in 64 deaths and 2,005 injuries. This was a decrease from 2019, when there were 2,508 motorcycle crashes, 72 corresponding deaths, and 2,308 injuries.
Pedestrian accidents
In 2020, there were a total of 1,274 pedestrian accidents reported in Washington State. Thankfully, this was a 17.7 percent decrease from the 1,548 pedestrian accidents reported in 2019. Unfortunately, fewer accidents did not translate into fewer pedestrian fatalities. In 2019, there were 102 fatal pedestrian accidents in Washington State, resulting in 106 deaths and in 2020, there were 115 fatal accidents and 120 deaths.
Bicycle accidents
In 2020, there were a total of 1,472 bicycle accidents reported in Washington State. This was a 12.8 percent decrease from the 1,686 bicycle accidents reported in 2019. In 2019, there were 14 fatal bicycle accidents, resulting in 14 deaths and despite the drop in accidents in 2020, that year had 15 fatal accidents, resulting in 15 deaths.
Alarming Increase in Dangerous Driving Behaviors
The truth is that most accidents are caused by negligent driving behaviors, which means that if drivers made better choices, we could reduce the number of motor vehicle accidents.
Alcohol-related accidents
Drunk driving remains a major issue in Washington state, with alcohol-related accidents accounting for a significant portion of fatal accidents. In 2020, there were 167 fatal accidents involving alcohol, representing 29 percent of all fatal accidents. This was a slight decrease from 2019, when there were 174 alcohol-related accidents resulting in a fatality.
Distracted driving accidents
Distracted driving, which includes activities like texting, talking on a hand-held phone, or eating while driving, is a big problem in Washington State. In 2020, there were 3,312 accidents caused by distracted driving, representing 6 percent of all accidents. This is a decrease from 2019, when there were 4,551 distracted driving accidents.
Seat belt usage
Wearing a seat belt is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce the risk of deadly injuries in a car accident. Washington State law requires all drivers and passengers to wear seat belts when the vehicle is in motion. In 2020, 96 percent of drivers and passengers were observed wearing seat belts, up from 95 percent in 2019. This is a positive trend, but 100 percent is the goal.
Overall, these statistics underscore the need for continued efforts to improve road safety in Washington State.
Seek the help of a car accident lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured in a collision because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
