New York Auto Accident Statistics

Studies show that New York drivers routinely break traffic laws on the city streets with alarmingly high frequency. These studies are based primarily on field observations made at four intersections in Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn.

Alarmingly, motor vehicle operators commit approximately three potentially life-threatening traffic violations every minute at New York City intersections. This adds up to 157 violations per hour. Drivers continuously disregard traffic controls such as signals, signs, and roadway markings over 100 times an hour. Additionally, drivers fail to yield right of way to pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles 24 times every hour, accounting for the main cause of car crashes in the city.

Types of Auto Accidents

There were 323,106 motor vehicle accidents in the state of New York in 2007, including roughly 183,000 accidents resulting in property damage and 139,000 resulting in personal injury. There was approximately one injury caused by motor vehicles for every 100 residents of the state of New York. A total of 1,220 fatal accidents resulted in 1,317 deaths.

The accident total for 2007 includes 15,701 collisions with pedestrians, 5,535 collisions with bicycles, and 5,426 motorcycle accidents. Approximately 0.5 percent of vehicle accidents in 2007 were fatal. Another 4.3 percent resulted in serious injury.

Causes of Auto Accidents

About 73 percent of traffic accidents in 2007 were reported to involve negligence. The most common factors contributing to a crash were distracted driving (17.4 percent of accidents), failure to yield right of way (14.7 percent), following too closely (14.4 percent), and unsafe speed (12 percent). Slippery pavement was a factor in 11.7 percent of accidents.

These frightening numbers show that traffic is only getting worse in New York and that it is getting increasingly dangerous to travel the roadways. If you are a victim of an accident and deserve compensation for your injuries, you are not alone. Seek help right away.

Consult a Lawyer

If you or a loved one has been killed or injured in a car accident, you should contact a car accident attorney to find out whether you are eligible for compensation.