Last updated: October 21, 2026
Your teenager just got a license, and tonight they’re driving across Bellevue to a friend’s house. You check the clock, then your phone, then the clock again. And you wonder how worried you should really be.
The probability of dying in a car accident in any one year is small, but it isn’t zero, and it adds up over a lifetime. Here’s what the national and Washington crash data show, what raises the risk the most, and what families can do if the worst happens.
The short answer: In 2023, 40,901 people died in U.S. traffic crashes. That’s 12.21 deaths per 100,000 people, about 1 in 8,200 a year. Washington’s rate was lower, 10.37 per 100,000 (810 deaths). At the U.S. rate, 80 years adds up to roughly 1 in 100. No seat belt, speed, alcohol, and motorcycles raise the risk most.
What is the probability of dying in a car accident each year?
If you’re an average American, about 1 in 8,200 a year. NHTSA counted 40,901 traffic deaths in 2023, or 12.21 for every 100,000 people. If you live in Washington, your odds were better by that measure: 810 deaths, or 10.37 per 100,000 people. Per mile you drive, though, Washington ran slightly higher.
| 2023 | Washington | U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic deaths | 810 | 40,901 |
| Deaths per 100,000 people | 10.37 | 12.21 |
| Deaths per 100,000 licensed drivers | 13.48 | 17.21 |
| Deaths per 100 million miles driven | 1.35 | 1.26 |
What are the lifetime odds of dying in a car accident?
Roughly 1 in 100 for you over a lifetime. That’s our math, not an official figure: if the 2023 U.S. death rate held for 80 years, it would add up to about a 1% chance. The National Safety Council uses a different method. Either way, a small yearly risk becomes a real one over your life.
Example only: 2023 death rate held for 80 years
Who dies in Washington crashes?
Not just drivers. In 2023, drivers were 40% of the people killed on Washington roads, and passengers were 20%. Pedestrians were 19%, a higher share than the national 18%, and motorcyclists were 18%, against 15% nationally. People on bikes were 2%. Since then the total has dropped: the state’s preliminary 2025 count is 659 deaths.
People killed in Washington traffic crashes, 2023
What raises the risk of dying in a crash?
A few of your own choices matter far more than luck. Skipping your seat belt is the biggest one: nearly half the car and truck occupants killed in 2023 whose belt use was known weren’t buckled. Alcohol was involved in 30% of U.S. traffic deaths, and speeding in 29%. If you ride a motorcycle, your risk is far higher.
| Risk factor | What the 2023 data shows |
|---|---|
| No seat belt | 49% of U.S. car and truck occupants killed (known belt use) were unbuckled, while 91.9% of people wear belts. Washington: 45%. |
| Alcohol | 12,429 U.S. deaths in alcohol-impaired crashes, 30% of all |
| Speeding | 11,775 U.S. deaths (29%). Washington: 252 of 810. |
| Motorcycle | 31.39 deaths per 100 million miles, almost 28 times the rate for car occupants (1.13) |
If you ride, read Washington motorcycle laws. For your odds of any crash, see the odds of getting into a car accident.
Does age change the odds of dying in a car crash?
Yes, at both ends. If your teen just started driving, know that young drivers were 5.1% of licensed drivers in 2023 but 8.9% of drivers in fatal crashes. People 65 and older were 19% of U.S. traffic deaths. In Washington, fatal crashes with a driver 70 or older hit a record in 2025.
Young men were almost three times as likely as young women to be in a fatal crash. Those figures come from NHTSA’s 2023 summary and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, which counted 112 such crashes.
How do car crashes compare with other causes of death?
The CDC calls motor vehicle crashes a leading cause of death in the U.S. Its count for 2023 is more than 44,000 deaths, over 120 a day. That’s higher than NHTSA’s 40,901 because NHTSA counts only crashes on public roads. Crashes in places like driveways and parking lots are left out of NHTSA’s number.
Sources: CDC Transportation Safety and NHTSA’s crash definition.
Can your family bring a wrongful death claim?
Yes, if another driver caused the death. In Washington, the claim is brought by the personal representative of your loved one’s estate. It’s for the spouse or registered domestic partner and the children, including stepchildren. If there are none, it can be for the parents or siblings. It can cover money losses and the loss of love and support.
- Get the police report. Ask for the report number and the investigating officer.
- Open the estate. A personal representative must be named to bring the claim.
- Keep your records. Save your bills, pay stubs, and the funeral costs.
- Talk to a lawyer early. Evidence fades, and deadlines apply.
The rules are in RCW 4.20.010 and RCW 4.20.020. If your family is facing this, we’ll talk with you for free and explain how a claim works. See how you prove wrongful death and how we handle wrongful death cases.
FAQ
What are the chances of dying in a car accident in Washington?
In 2023, Washington had 10.37 traffic deaths per 100,000 people, lower than the U.S. rate of 12.21. That’s about 1 in 9,600 a year.
How many people die in car crashes each day?
About 112 a day in U.S. traffic crashes in 2023, by NHTSA’s count. The CDC, which counts more types of crashes, says over 120.
Do seat belts really change the odds?
Yes. About 92% of people buckle up, but nearly half of the car and truck occupants killed in 2023 (where belt use was known) didn’t.
Is the risk higher at night or in bad weather?
Your own choices matter more than the clock. In Washington, impairment, speeding, distraction, and no seat belt are named as the four behaviors behind most traffic deaths.
What does No Win, No Fee mean?
You pay nothing up front. Our fee comes out of the money we win for you. No hourly bills. No retainer. If we don’t win, you owe us nothing. Not even the case costs.
Talk to Rich if you lost someone in a crash
The probability of dying in a car accident is a number until it’s your family. If someone you love was killed by another driver, call Rich Martin. He has handled more than 2,000 injury cases in 28 years and taken more than 30 to a jury, and he was named to the National Association of Distinguished Counsel’s Nation’s Top One Percent in 2023 and 2024.
We help families in Bellevue, Seattle, Tacoma, and across Washington. Your case review is free. No Win, No Fee. We speak English and Korean.
Call (425) 635-2000 or see how we handle wrongful death cases.
Keep reading
Can You Claim a Car Accident Without a Police Report?
Last updated: October 24, 2026 It was a slow crash in a parking lot off Bellevue Way. The other driver said sorry, you traded…
Car Accidents and Chiropractic Care: What to Know in Washington
Last updated: October 23, 2026 It’s been a week since the crash. Your neck is stiff every morning, and turning to check your blind…
How Much Does Car Insurance Go Up After an Accident?
Last updated: October 23, 2026 Your renewal notice came in the mail today. The crash was in the spring, the repairs are done, and…