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(253) 272-5226Each year, thousands of car crashes happen on Washington’s roads. We’ve maintained this post for several years now on car crash statistics in Washington State. This means we revisit this post at least once per year to update with new data. Our hope is to shed light on some of the primary causes and risk factors so you can be better informed. Perhaps you’ll even be able to make adjustments to your own driving to reduce your chances of being in a serious collision.
Last updated: February 7, 2023
We maintain a table of key car crash statistics for Washington state on this blog post. Here are some of the key findings for 2022 crashes in Washington State.
It is our observation that these numbers may adjust over time, as additional data becomes available. Rest assured, we periodically double check and update our post to reflect these changes.
Overall, the car crash trends in Washington are moving in a negative direction. There were more traffic-related fatalities in 2022 than there have been since 1990. In addition, suspected serious injuries increased for the third year in a row to 2,623.
Crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians have remained fairly steady, but more needs to be done to reduce these incidents altogether.
| Year | Total Crashes | Fatal | Serious Injury | Drunk Driver | Teen Driver | Distracted Driving | Pedestrian or Bicycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 107,672 | 431 | 1,696 | 6,414 | 15,752 | 40,459 | 3,469 |
| 2015 | 117,062 | 498 | 1,767 | 6,705 | 17,570 | 42,277 | 3,624 |
| 2016 | 122,378 | 508 | 1,903 | 6,974 | 18,046 | 43,297 | 3,677 |
| 2017 | 121,146 | 532 | 1,925 | 8,254 | 17,419 | 40,953 | 3,422 |
| 2018 | 116,077 | 489 | 1,942 | 8,009 | 16,481 | 38,629 | 3,715 |
| 2019 | 111,706 | 517 | 1,936 | 7,628 | 15,415 | 35,761 | 3,421 |
| 2020 | 86,334 | 537 | 2,073 | 5,283 | 11,765 | 16,608 | 2,385 |
| 2021 | 103,280 | 596 | 2,507 | 5,799 | 14,225 | 15,542 | 2,240 |
| 2022 | 78,544 | 682 | 2,623 | 4,939 | 10,944 | 13,982 | 2,360 |
Data from WSDOT. Please note that numbers may be subject to adjustments.
Of course, even one death or serious injury is one too many.
Thankfully, the Washington State Traffic Commission agrees. In 2000, an aggressive plan called Target Zero was launched with the goal of having zero serious injuries or deaths by 2030. Target Zero is a multi-faceted, evolving plan that involves projects, programs, initiatives, and campaigns across the state. Some of the focuses include roadway design, establishing best practices in licensing, and public education.
We all have a part to play to keep our roadways safe. The good news is that most car wrecks are preventable.
The CDC has stated that the following three safe driving measures can save the most lives:
Not surprisingly, drivers who engage in one risky behavior tend to engage in others. For instance, it’s not uncommon to find speeding drivers who are also unbuckled.
Before getting in the car, make sure you are rested, calm, and sober. Learn to create basic driving safety habits, like clearing your car of distractions and wearing your seatbelts.
Even if you are a safe driver, sometimes you still find end up the victim of someone else’s carelessness. If you live in Washington and have been injured in a car accident, our attorneys are here to help. We offer free consultations, and you only pay us if we’re able to win your case.
Our family-owned firm has decades of experience helping car accident victims in Washington receive the compensation they deserve. Please reach out to us if we can answer questions about your legal rights after a car accident.