Phoenix Car Accident Statistics

According to one study, Phoenix ranked 84th out of 200 cities for the nation’s safest drivers in 2019. Even though Phoenix fell in the middle of the cities surveyed, it still has tens of thousands of car accidents yearly. 

As the state’s most populous city, car accidents in Phoenix account for almost 34% of all crashes in Arizona, according to the 2021 Crash Facts report.

Understanding key car accident statistics and what to do in the event of one is vital for Phoenix drivers.

If you’ve sustained injuries in a collision in Phoenix, AZ, please contact the lawyers at Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers by calling (602) 595-5559 for a free consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer.

How Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in Phoenix, AZ

How Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in Phoenix, AZ

Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers is a personal injury law firm with offices across the Southwest, including Phoenix, Arizona. We have helped thousands of clients fight the parties who injured them.

Our Phoenix car accident attorneys have collected over $30 million in compensation to help clients pay medical bills and living expenses while they recover.

We provide each of our clients with:

  • A free consultation to discuss your legal rights and options
  • A legal team with a 98% success rate in settling or winning cases
  • Personalized attention and dedicated service
  • Thorough representation while you focus on healing from your injuries

A car accident in Phoenix can leave you disabled and facing massive medical bills. Contact Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss how you can recover compensation to help meet your financial needs after an accident.

How Safe Is Phoenix for Drivers?

You may see the raw numbers about car accidents in Phoenix but have no context for interpreting them. But the crash statistics suggest the city holds significant risks for drivers.

Phoenix had a population of over 1.6 million in 2021. Based on Phoenix’s total of 40,833 crashes from the 2021 Crash Facts report, this means roughly 2.5% of the city’s residents were involved in traffic accidents in just one year.

Almost 300 people died in Phoenix traffic crashes. Based on the city’s population, Phoenix’s traffic fatality rate was 18.1 deaths per 100,000 residents. From statewide data in the 2021 Crash Facts report, Arizona’s traffic fatality rate was 16.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, making Phoenix 11% deadlier than the state as a whole.

National data has not yet been released for the past few years. But in 2020, the U.S. traffic fatality rate was 11.7 deaths per 100,000 residents. Phoenix had nearly 55% more traffic fatalities per resident than the nation overall.

Car Accident Statistics in Phoenix, Arizona

According to Phoenix car accident statistics published in the Crash Facts report, the city had 40,833 traffic accidents in 2021. 

These crashes included:

  • 278 fatal crashes
  • 10,879 non-fatal injury crashes
  • 29,676 property damage-only crashes

The report also shows deaths and injuries resulting from these accidents. 

As noted in the report, these crashes caused:

  • 294 deaths
  • 16,062 non-fatal injuries

Injuries are categorized in the report according to their severity.

Among those who suffered non-fatal injuries:

  • 6.2% suffered serious injuries
  • 40.5% suffered minor injuries
  • 53.3% suffered possible injuries

Remember that police officers apply this injury rating at the accident scene; it does not necessarily reflect the eventual diagnosis.

For example, an accident victim might complain of a headache at the accident scene. Although the victim gets categorized with a possible injury on the crash report, the eventual diagnosis might include a permanent brain injury.

Causes of Crashes in Phoenix

In urban areas like Phoenix, about 71% of car accidents involved a multi-vehicle collision, according to the Crash Facts report. 

The remaining 29% included:

In urban areas, the evening commute is the most dangerous time of the day to drive. Crashes tend to peak between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. The most dangerous day of the week for car accidents is Friday. Accident numbers dropped significantly on weekends.

The most common collision in Arizona is a rear-end crash. These crashes often result from:

The crash that resulted in the most deaths was an angle collision. 

These crashes tend to happen at intersections when drivers:

  • Run red lights or stop signs
  • Fail to yield to oncoming traffic
  • Proceed before the intersection clears

Alcohol also played a significant role in Arizona’s car accidents. Intoxicated and drunk drivers caused 1,429 crashes in 2021, according to the Crash Facts report. These crashes caused 49 deaths and 872 non-fatal injuries.

Maricopa County Crash Statistics

Arizona does not report broader crash trends by city. Instead, it uses county data. Urban counties accounted for over 86% of all crashes in the state. Maricopa County, home to Phoenix and its suburbs, accounted for over 71% of the state’s crashes.

Maricopa County also had more pedestrian accidents and bicycle crashes than any other county. Drivers in Maricopa County hit 1,237 pedestrians and 702 cyclists. The next highest county only saw 243 pedestrian crashes and 137 bicycle crashes.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Phoenix Car Accident Attorneys

Despite the trends represented by Phoenix car accident statistics, crashes can happen anywhere and at any time. The experienced team at Curiel & Runion Personal Injury Lawyers is dedicated to your well-being — we work on contingency fee basis, you do not pay unless we win. 

To discuss your car accident, contact us for a free case evaluation.

Car Accident Resources