Multiple-Vehicle Fatal Crash Rates in U.S. Call for Cautious Driving Over Christmas

Photo by Taras Makarenko

Article courtesy of Injured In Florida 

• A new study reveals which states are most likely to experience fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles.
• Nebraska ranks top, with over half (52.22%) of fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles, while Montana ranks lowest, with only 28.09% of fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles.
• Nationwide, 43.17% of fatal crashes involved multiple vehicles between 2018 and 2022.

A recent study conducted by personal injury attorneys Injured In Florida has identified Nebraska as the state with the highest percentage of multiple-vehicle fatal crashes in the United States.

Top 5 States with Highest Percentage of Multiple-Vehicle Fatal Crashes

1. Nebraska – 52.22% of fatal crashes involve multiple vehicles.

   Nebraska tops the list with over half of its fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles between 2018 and 2022. The state recorded 1,036 total fatal crashes during this period, with 462 involving two vehicles and 79 involving more than two vehicles.

2. Delaware – 47.93% of fatal crashes involve multiple vehicles.

   Delaware ranks second, with nearly 48% of fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles. Out of 605 total fatal crashes, 250 involved two vehicles, and 40 involved more than two.

3. Indiana – 46.85% of fatal crashes involve multiple vehicles.

   Indiana comes in third, with 46.85% of its fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles. The state saw 4,090 fatal crashes during the study period, with 1,587 involving two vehicles and 329 involving more than two.

4. Michigan – 46.63% of fatal crashes involve multiple vehicles.

   In Michigan, 46.63% of fatal crashes involved multiple vehicles. Out of 4,950 total fatal crashes, 1,936 involved two vehicles, and 372 involved more than two.

5. Oklahoma – 46.45% of fatal crashes involve multiple vehicles.

   Oklahoma ranks fifth, with 46.45% of fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles. The state had 3,111 fatal crashes, with 1,216 involving two vehicles and 229 involving more than two.

Summary of Top 5 States:

Bottom 5 States with Lowest Percentage of Multiple-Vehicle Fatal Crashes

46. Wyoming – 37.18% of fatal crashes involve multiple vehicles.

    Wyoming ranks 46th, with 37.18% of fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles. Out of 554 total fatal crashes, 175 involved two vehicles, and 31 involved more than two. The state’s low population density and vast open roads may lead to fewer opportunities for multi-vehicle interactions.

47. Hawaii – 35.34% of fatal crashes involve multiple vehicles.

    Hawaii is 47th on the list, with 35.34% of fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles. The state recorded 498 fatal crashes, with 144 involving two vehicles and 32 involving more than two.

48. Rhode Island – 34.15% of fatal crashes involve multiple vehicles.

    Ranked 48th, Rhode Island has 34.15% of fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles. Out of 287 total fatal crashes, 79 involved two vehicles, and 19 involved more than two.

49. Maine – 34.11% of fatal crashes involve multiple vehicles.

    Maine is 49th, with 34.11% of fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles. The state had 727 fatal crashes, with 199 involving two vehicles and 49 involving more than two.

50. Montana – 28.09% of fatal crashes involve multiple vehicles.

    Montana ranks lowest, with only 28.09% of fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles. Out of 929 total fatal crashes, 238 involved two vehicles, and 23 involved more than two.

Summary of Bottom 5 States:

Nationwide Trends

• Nationally, 43.17% of fatal crashes involved multiple vehicles between 2018 and 2022.
• States with higher percentages of multi-vehicle fatal crashes often feature busy highways and higher traffic densities.

Expert Commentary

A spokesperson for Injured In Florida commented on the findings:

“Identifying states with the highest rates of multiple-vehicle fatal crashes helps highlight areas where safety improvements are crucial. Factors such as traffic volume, driver behavior, and road conditions play significant roles in these incidents. Drivers should always stay alert, maintain safe following distances, and be cautious, especially on busy highways, to help reduce the occurrence of such tragedies.”

Conclusion

This study sheds light on the prevalence of multiple-vehicle fatal crashes across the United States, emphasizing the importance of targeted road safety initiatives. Understanding these patterns enables policymakers and safety organizations to implement strategies aimed at reducing fatal accidents nationwide.

Methodology

Fatal crash data was collected from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), covering the years 2018–2022. The data aggregates fatal motor vehicle crashes by state and the number of vehicles involved.

The percentage of crashes involving at least two and at least three vehicles was calculated for each state. These percentages were summed to determine the total percentage of fatal crashes involving multiple vehicles. States were then ranked based on this metric to identify where multiple-vehicle fatal crashes are most common.

Sources

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration – https://cdan.dot.gov/query