Minnesota Motor Vehicle Accident Statistics
The amount of car accidents that occur each year in Minnesota is staggering. The most recent “Comprehensive Annual Traffic Crash Data Report” offered by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety is from the year 2015. Below we’ll break down Minnesota motor vehicle accident statistics.
According to DPS, there were 74,772 traffic accidents in Minnesota in 2015. Involved in those crashes were 138,057 motor vehicles and 181,663 people. 29,981 of those people were injured and 411 of those individuals died. On a daily average, there are at least 205 accidents, 82 injuries, and at least 1 death. 3,634 of these accidents were alcohol-related with a total of 2,203 injuries and 137 deaths.
The 411 deaths were a 13.9% increase from 2014 despite Minnesota having an average seat belt use rate of 94%. The overall estimated economic cost of car accidents that occurred in Minnesota in 2015 was $1,773,219,300.00. That’s an average daily cost of $4,858,135.00. In comparison, alcohol-related crashes cost approximately $285,118,600.00 in 2015.
Accidents Involving Pedestrians
There was an 11% increase in pedestrian-involved crashes, totaling 911 accidents involving a pedestrian injury or death. This is the highest level in Minnesota since 2008. 41 of these incidents resulted in a pedestrian death, up from 17 the year before. Male pedestrians made up 68% of the fatalities and 53% of all injuries. 92% of these accidents occurred in urban areas.
Accidents Involving Teens
Accidents involving teenagers are on the decline over the past several years. Teen accidents made of 19.2% of all motor vehicle accidents in 2009. As of 2015, these statistics for a Minnesota motor vehicle accident involving a teen driver had dropped to 16.4%. Similarly, the amount of teen-involved fatalities dropped from 10% of all traffic fatalities in 2009 to 8% in 2015. Also, 19% of all accidents involving teenagers occurred in December and January.
Accidents Involving Trains
There has fortunately been an overall decline in accidents involving motor vehicles and trains in Minnesota as of late. 2015 showed a total of 48 of three types of accidents, 15 less than 2014. Of those 48 accidents, there were three deaths and 19 injuries. 19 of the 48 accidents happened in rural parts of the state.
Accidents Involving Senior Citizens
There were 11,184 crashes involving at least one senior citizen in 2015. A senior citizen in Minnesota is defined as being at least 65 years of age. 99 seniors were killed in motor vehicle accidents, which was up from 82 the year before. These accidents are fairly distributed throughout the course of the calendar year with about 26% of the accidents taking place in the winter months of November to January.
Bicycle Accidents
There were 898 bicycle involved crashes in 2015, up 16% from the previous year. Of these 898 crashes, 873 bicyclists were injured and ten were killed. 87% of these accidents occurred between April and October. 95% of these accidents occurred in urban areas. On this page, you can see all of the St. Paul bicycle accidents which occurred from 2016-2018.
Commercial Truck Accidents
2015 showed a 16% decrease in commercial truck accidents with a new figure of 4,226 accidents. 62 people were killed in truck accidents and 1,316 were injured. It should be noted that 58 of the 62 fatalities were people not riding in the truck.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycling popularity in Minnesota is at an all-time high. This is referenced by the state boasting the highest amount of motorcycle operator licenses in its history to date. Correlating with the increase of motorcyclists on the road is the amount of motorcycle accidents that occur each year. Referencing the same DPS report as is described above, Motorcycle accidents increased by 13%. Motorcycle fatalities increased by 33% and motorcycle accident injuries increased by 10%.
In comparison to car accidents, which have a 0.5% fatality rate for every 100 crashes, motorcycle accidents in Minnesota carry with them a 4.3% fatality rate for every 100 crashes. Other Minnesota motor vehicle accident statistics showed that 69% of all motorcycle injuries and fatalities involved people that were over the age of 40.
School Bus Accidents
There was a 14% increase in school bus crashes throughout Minnesota, bringing the grand total to 690 accidents. There were 151 crashes where a school bus was indirectly involved in the accident. 70 people were injured as a result of those accidents. There was also one fatality, which was the driver of a car that was hit by a school bus.
Common Reasons For Minnesota Motor-Vehicle Accidents
Distracted Driving
One of the most common reasons why people, not only in Minnesota, but also the entire country end up involved in car accidents is distracted driving. The lions share of accidents in the state and country involve distracted driving to some degree. It is estimated that 9 people are killed and 1000 injured every day because of motor-vehicle accidents caused by distracted driving. The behavior that people most commonly attribute with this cause of car accidents is texting while driving and it is perhaps the most common form of distracted driving but by no means the only dangerous example. Distracted driving encompasses a number of behaviors that can all be considered to be dangerous because they draw attention away from the task of driving to a degree that it endangers lives. Other examples of distracted driving include:
- Applying Makeup
- Eating/Drinking
- Rubbernecking
- Conversations
- Smartphone Use
- Reaching for Objects
- Adjusting Climate Controls
- Changing Music
Drunk Driving
Driving under the influence leaves thousands of people dead every year with even more injured. Drunk drivers are at immense risk of causing severe motor-vehicle accidents due to the impairment that comes with the consumption of alcohol. Those that drink and drive can suffer from slower reflexes, impaired perception, poor judgment, and decreased motor skills. Driving under the influence can also include the use of drugs such as amphetamines and hallucinogens that can cause severe impairment.
Drowsy Driving
Many people fail to realize that driving while fatigued and drowsy is extremely dangerous. When you drive drowsy, you are at risk to suffer severe impairment that can contribute to a car accident occurring. In fact, many of the impairments that come with drowsy driving are very similar to drunk driving. Drowsy driving is surprisingly common as many people can be caught fatigued while making long trips. Most commonly, this affects truck drivers that can end up driving for over eight hours with few brakes. This can take a massive toll on someone’s ability to react quickly and perceive road hazards that can cause accidents to occur.
CONSIDER SAND LAW AS YOUR MINNESOTA PERSONAL INJURY REPRESENTATION
If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious accident and sustained severe injuries then do not hesitate to contact Sand Law. Our attorneys are ready to talk to you about what we can do to assist you in your pursuit of compensation for your injuries. Injuries caused by the negligence of a liable party can mean that you may be able to file a personal injury claim or lawsuit to get the money you need to cover the damages you may have suffered. Things such as medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, loss of consortium, as well as the pain and suffering you have gone through, can be covered with a personal injury settlement.
Sand Law can help you determine what is the best course of legal action to take so that your case stands the best chance at securing compensation. Our attorneys have a long track record of successful cases that have resulted in fair settlements for our satisfied clients. When you enlist the assistance of Sand Law, you are not just hiring a personal injury attorney to work on your case. You are making an ally that has a vested interest in your case’s success thanks to contingent fees. When you have Sand Law at your side, you are giving your case years of legal insight, expert negotiating skills to ensure a fair settlement, and the resources of a respected and award-winning firm that will communicate with you through every step of the personal injury process. Contact Sand Law at 651-291-7263 or fill out a contact form online.