Car Accident Deaths: Latest Statistics And Figures (2023)

Any car accident resulting in death is a tragic situation, but it is made worse when a person dies due to the recklessness or negligence of another person. Car accident death statistics show that these numbers are not improving nearly as much as they should. Mistakes, like distractions or speeding, cause people to suffer untold losses that they struggle for years to overcome.

At Tyroler Leonard Injury Law, our trusted, experienced legal team works consistently with you to ensure you receive the very best level of support for what you are facing – financial loss, pain and suffering, and disruption to your future because of the negligence of someone else. Our wrongful death attorneys in Minnesota are available to discuss your case with you today.

Minnesota Car Accident Fatalities

Car accident fatalities in Minnesota for 2023 show that there are many who have died unnecessarily. The Office of Traffic Safety, a division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, shares the following details about car accident deaths for 2023:

In 2023, there were 376 fatal car crashes in the state.
In those crashes, 414 people died.

The worst months of the year for car accident deaths were not during the winter months when weather conditions are bad. Instead, the most dangerous months were:

July, with 52 deaths from car accidents
June, with 52 deaths from car accidents
September, with 47 deaths from car accidents.

Minnesota motorists also cause pedestrian accidents that lead to death. The 2023 data from the Office of Traffic Safety shows:

44 pedestrians died as a result of an accident with a vehicle.
7 bicyclists died as a result of an accident with a vehicle.
70 riders died as a result of a motorcycle accident with a vehicle.

These statistics show the number of needless deaths in the state. Each of these individuals left their homes with the full intention of coming back; in some cases they were unable to do so because of the negligence of others.

What Causes Fatalities in Car Accidents Is Often Complex

One of the most common questions people have about fatal car accidents is what makes them happen? The causes of car accident deaths include the following from 2023:

Speeding: In 2023, 115 people who died in a car accident did so because one or more parties were speeding. The highest number of speeding-related deaths for the year was in June, followed by August.
Alcohol: An estimated 109 people died in the state from alcohol-related car accidents. In June, a total of 21 lives were lost due to this factor.
Unbelted: The police attributed 84 deaths for the year to one or more parties in the vehicle not wearing a seat belt or other protected device. The highest figure here occurred in June.
Distracted driving: A total of 31 people died as a result of distracted driving in 2023, with the highest number of these occurring in July and August when 6 people each month died.

These car accident death statistics paint a worrisome picture. If you are one of the many people who have lost a family member to a car accident, we encourage you to seek out legal guidance and support. Our trusted, experienced legal team can help you every step of the way with the process of holding those who did this responsible.

Alcohol-Related Deaths

One of the most worrisome factors related to car accident deaths in Minnesota is the number of people impacted by intoxication. As noted, 109 people died as a result of an alcohol-related car accident, but the number of people who were charged with DWI in Minnesota in 2023 is staggering.

A total of 27,192 DWI arrests were made throughout the year, according to the Office of Traffic Safety. The highest number of these occurred in July when police officers arrested 2,582 people for DWI in the state. As one of the most preventable of all causes of car accident deaths, alcohol (and drug) intoxication takes lives most days of the year.

Comparing Car Crash Data from 2022 to 2023

Car accident deaths in Minnesota have long been a significant cause of loss of life throughout the state. In 2022, the state reports a total of 412 fatal crashes occurred in Minnesota, leading to 439 deaths. The worst months for those deaths were July, when 56 people died, and both August and September, when each saw 53 deaths.

What Your Legal Options Are After the Death of a Family Member from a Car Accident

Car accident fatalities leave families devastated. Your grief can be very challenging, and you may be facing years of trying to recover not just from the emotional damage but also the financial losses. Our legal team can but provide compassion and support to you for the loss of your loved one – though nothing can bring them back. We cannot take away the grief, but we can fight for compensation.

We are aggressive wrongful death attorneys. That means we work hard to determine who is at fault, what they cost you, and how they should pay you. If you are an immediate family member of a person who lost their life due to a car accident someone else caused, contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation. We can tell you, often right away, if you have a wrongful death case.

Proving Fault After a Car Accident

Our experienced car accident attorneys will pursue any person at fault for the losses. For some, this will be a single driver of the other car. Other times, it may be the company that owns the car, the organization that manufactured the car, or the repair company that failed to perform duties as expected.

Once we determine fault, we know who to pursue compensation from in your car accident case. Keep in mind that while most police reports are accurate, there are times when they may not be. Our obligation to you is to identify all people involved and their level of responsibility.

The Value of a Wrongful Death Car Accident Claim

One of the most substantial components of our job as your car accident attorney is to determine value – what your car accident case was worth. Again, there is no way to put a financial value on a person’s life for you. However, there are strategies that the courts use to help estimate the financial losses suffered in an accident like this.

There are times when the judgment amount may be thousands of dollars. Other times, this can quickly climb into the millions. This is why you need a skilled wrongful death attorney to support and guide you through this legal process.

The value of a wrongful death car accident claim is dependent on factors such as the following:

The financial earnings of the person who died, as well as their occupation and potential future earnings
The role the decedent played in your family, such as providing financial support as the breadwinner in the household
The costs of medical bills and any final medical care received before death
Funeral and burial costs
A person’s life expectancy and age (as well as overall health).

In addition to these factors, our wrongful death car accident lawyers will also work to better understand the value of your non-economic losses. This is where it can become very challenging. Factors like the following must be considered:

The emotional support this person may have provided
The pain and suffering the decedent experienced at the time of death
The loss of assistance from that person in your life
Loss of comfort and companionship.

Our legal team recognizes the dynamics of complex relationships and the importance of having financial support in these challenging times. We will work hard to ensure you file a claim that includes the maximum possible compensation under the law.

Notes About Wrongful Death Awards

In Minnesota, it is possible for the court to provide compensation to family members or the estate based on the pain and suffering experienced. This is often a very big factor in determining your losses.

However, it is also important to recognize that the jury is instructed not to apply “grief” to the decisions of monetary judgment in the case. This means that the jury cannot take into consideration the amount of grief you suffered.

Our car accident attorneys will prove the losses you have sustained under the law. We hold the negligent party responsible for the damage they imposed on your life and your family. Every situation is quite different, and there is no way to provide an accurate value of what a car accident death may result in without knowing the details. When you meet with our legal team, we will provide you with better overall insight into what you can expect.

How Our Car Accident Death Attorneys Maximize Your Claim

As highly experienced car accident attorneys with an extensive history of supporting victims and their families, we are the team you want by your side. Our car accident attorneys provide comprehensive legal support and guidance for our clients from the start of the process through the actual filing of your claim and securing compensation. Consider the ways we help you:

Determine whether Wrongful Death Occurred

Our first step is to examine the evidence and clearly define whether wrongful death occurred. This also enables us to determine who is at fault in the case. We are exhaustive in finding all available evidence to support this claim, including:

Photos and videos of the incident
Statements from all parties involved
Toxicology and medical reports from the other driver
Evidence at the scene
Statements from expert witnesses
Documented accident re-creation information
Any logs from a “black box” type of device that some commercial vehicles have
In the case of truck accidents, we use logs of time on and time off to ensure federal regulations were not overstepped.

This extensive process enables our legal team to pursue full and fair compensation in your case. It lets us know who is to blame.

Estimating the Value of the Wrongful Death Claim

We then work through the process of determining the value of the wrongful death claim. This typically will include exploring a wide range of strategies to prove loss. We document those losses. We prove you are owed those funds.

We Fight the Insurance Company

Our legal team does not leave your side when it comes to fighting the insurance company for the losses you incurred. This means we:

Answer their questions
Provide verification of the losses
Fight for you to receive full and fair compensation for the losses, even with pushback.

If they have questions or concerns, we mitigate them for you. This allows you to focus on your grief and restore your quality of life.

We Head to Court

When there is a need to do so, our wrongful death attorneys have the experience and dedication to pursue the responsible party for losses in a court of law. In situations where insurance companies will not settle fairly, this is the next step.

As experienced trial attorneys, you can expect us to work tirelessly to support you in this recovery process. This includes handling all depositions, evidence requests, and preparation for you.

In most situations, we do not need to go to trial. After negotiations, the insurance company or responsible party pays what they owe, and the matter is settled. Though every situation is different, you can expect the same level of dedication and pursuit of compensation for you. We know how important it is to have that financial support to move forward with your life.

Schedule a Consultation with Our Car Accident Attorney

If a car accident death impacts someone in your family, contact Tyroler Leonard Injury Law to learn more about the legal options we can offer to you. Our team is dedicated to fighting aggressively for our clients. Set up a free consultation with us now to get started by calling our office.

Attorney Isaac Tyroler

Attorney Isaac Tyroler has been a strong advocate for injured people his entire legal career. He has a passion for righting wrongs, and he deeply cares about representing injured clients who may feel overwhelmed or uncertain about how to navigate the legal system. He is compassionate toward clients and aggressive with insurance companies and defendants. He is on the elected Board of Governors of the Minnesota Association of Justice (MAJ), the top personal injury lawyers’ group in Minnesota. And is currently the chair of MAJ’s legislative committee. [ Attorney Bio ]