Number, Rate of Fatal Washington Car Accidents Trend Downwards

By Pendergast Law on October 16, 2012

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau tracking fatal auto accidents in Washington from 1999 to 2009 found that, in both real numbers and in deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled (VMT), Washington has seen a decline in fatal car crashes in the past decade.

In 1990, the Census Bureau recorded a total of 825 car accident deaths in Washington, for a rate of 1.8 deaths per 100 million VMT. This number continued to go down in each recorded year that followed: 631 deaths in 2000 and 492 deaths in 2009, for a rate of 1.8 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled that year.

Compared to other U.S. states, Washington’s streets and roads remain relatively safe in terms of car accident death rates. Only Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Mississippi had lower rates of car accident deaths in 2009 than Washington, while several states had rates that were more than double the rates Washington faced.

The decline within the state of Washington is more pronounced than the change in fatal crashes nationwide, which has stayed relatively steady over the past 10 years, according to the Census Bureau. Across the United States as a whole, traffic accidents claimed 1.5 lives per 100 million VMT in 2000, and 1.1 lives per 100 million VMT in 2009.

At Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S., we know that any life lost in a car accident is one too many. That’s why our tireless Washington car crash wrongful death lawyers are dedicated to helping the families of those who lose their lives in car accidents. To learn more about your legal rights and the services we offer, call us today at (888) 228-3860 for a free, confidential case evaluation.