Latest Car Accident Injury and Fatality Statistics in Virginia
Virginia saw a modest increase in crash-related injuries and fatalities from 2023 to 2024:
- 2023: 127,597 total crashes, resulting in 907 fatalities and 63,876 injuries
- 2024: 129,244 total crashes, resulting in 918 fatalities and 64,086 injuries
Although total numbers rose across each category, a closer look at the data suggests a modest improvement in crash outcomes relative to the amount Virginians were driving. The statewide fatality rate declined from 1.09 deaths per 100 million miles traveled in 2023 to 1.05 in 2024. During the same period, estimated vehicle miles traveled increased by 5.1%, indicating that even as more driving occurred, the fatality rate per mile decreased.
Even with that marginal improvement, crashes remained frequent throughout the commonwealth. In 2024, a traffic crash occurred approximately every 4 minutes statewide. These collisions resulted in an average of 2.5 deaths and 175 injuries each day.
Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Virginia in 2024
- Following too closely — 11.3%
- Failure to yield — 7.7%
- Improper lane changes — 4.5%
- Running a red light or stop sign — 3.2%
- Speeding — 2.1%
Speed-Related Crashes
Speeding is a constant and growing concern in Virginia, where speed-related crashes increased by 1.7% from 2023 to 2024. At the same time, speeding convictions in the state rose by 20.4%.
Overall, Virginia saw 25,705 speed-related crashes in 2024. Those crashes killed 410 people and injured 13,743 others.
Alcohol-Related Collisions
Virginia recorded 6,767 alcohol-related crashes in 2024. The commonwealth defines these crashes as any collision involving a driver who had consumed alcohol before the crash, sometimes including drivers with a BAC of as low as 0.01. Statewide, these crashes killed 318 people and injured 4,306 others.
The total number of alcohol-related crashes dropped 3.0% from 2023 in Virginia. However, the number of drunk drivers killed in these collisions increased by 17.8%.
Distracted Driving Data
In 2024, there were 20,758 traffic collisions involving distracted drivers in Virginia. While distracted driving crashes decreased 3.6% from 2023, distracted driving remains a contributing factor in thousands of preventable injuries and deaths. The most common distractions that led to these crashes included taking eyes off the road, talking on the phone, texting, and looking at roadside incidents.
Cell phone use played a notable role in many of these collisions. Drivers talking on a cell phone at the time of the crash were involved in 7.7% of all distracted-driving incidents, contributing to 1,596 crashes. Of those incidents, 14 were fatal, and 517 caused injuries.
Texting while driving accounted for a smaller share but still led to serious outcomes. Virginia recorded 132 total crashes involving texting drivers, representing 0.6% of all distracted-driving crashes. Forty-seven of those crashes resulted in car accident injuries.
Most Dangerous Roads in Virginia in 2024
Virginia crash data shows a clear divide between where accidents happen most often and where drivers face the highest fatality risk. Virginia’s most populated counties recorded the highest number of crashes overall, while less populated rural counties had significantly higher death rates per 1,000 drivers.
Counties With the Most Total Crashes
| County | Total Crashes | Death Rate | Alcohol-Related | Speed-Related |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fairfax | 12,626 | 0.07 | 617 | 3,380 |
| Prince William | 6,332 | 0.09 | 400 | 1,386 |
| Chesterfield | 6,191 | 0.12 | 311 | 1,182 |
| Henrico | 5,479 | 0.21 | 289 | 575 |
| Loudoun | 4,906 | 0.04 | 254 | 732 |
Counties With the Highest Fatal Crash Risk
| County | Total Crashes | Death Rate | Alcohol-Related | Speed-Related |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath | 59 | 1.15 | 10 | 20 |
| Charles City | 102 | 1.14 | 6 | 26 |
| Brunswick | 333 | 0.93 | 14 | 98 |
| Essex | 205 | 0.91 | 10 | 30 |
| King and Queen | 130 | 0.75 | 11 | 32 |
Interstate vs. Non-Interstate Car Accident Statistics
Most Virginia crashes happen on non-interstate roads. There were 104,783 non-interstate crashes in 2024, accounting for 81.1% of all collisions statewide. By comparison, interstate crashes totaled 24,461, or 18.9%.
Fatal car accidents in Virginia followed a similar pattern. Non-interstate crashes resulted in 779 deaths, representing 84.9% of all traffic fatalities. Interstate crashes accounted for 139 deaths, or 15.1%.
Breaking Down Virginia Crash Data by Age Group
Virginia’s 2024 crash data divides drivers into age groups, revealing different patterns of risk. While teen and senior drivers account for a small minority of drivers on Virginia’s roads, both groups are involved in a significant share of serious crashes.
Teen Driver Statistics (Ages 15-19)
In 2024, 38 drivers between 15 and 19 years old were killed in Virginia car crashes, an 18.8% increase from 2023. The commonwealth also reported 3,828 injured drivers in this age group.
The data shows several common contributing factors in teen driver collisions. Of all the teen drivers involved in crashes in 2024, 284 were drinking, and 3,504 were speeding. Another 683 teen drivers were injured in crashes due to being distracted behind the wheel.
Senior Driver Statistics (Over 70)
Due to increased physical vulnerability, older drivers represented a significant share of crash-related injuries in Virginia. In 2024, crashes across the commonwealth injured 3,751 drivers over age 70 and killed 102 others in this age group.
Alcohol also contributed to some of these collisions. Virginia reported 100 drivers over age 70 who had been drinking and were involved in traffic crashes.
We’re Here To Help After a Virginia Car Crash
Virginia car accident statistics show how often serious collisions occur across the commonwealth. Each of these crashes has the potential to disrupt a person’s life and create overwhelming physical, financial, and emotional stress for victims and their families. When someone else’s negligence is to blame, victims can often pursue compensation for their losses.
Car accident victims with legal representation often receive significantly higher compensation—statistically up to 3.5 times more—than those who handle their claims alone. When you choose Cooper Hurley Injury Lawyers to represent you, you’ll have over 120 years of combined experience dealing with insurance companies for Virginia crash victims on your side.
If you’ve been injured on Virginia’s roads, our Virginia car accident lawyers are ready to pursue a fair settlement on your behalf. Contact us online or call (757) 333-3333 for a free case evaluation now.
