Raleigh is the capital of North Carolina and the 2nd largest city in the state. Unfortunately, car accidents happen every day in our city. Read on to learn about Car Accident Statistics for Raleigh and what they can mean for you and your loved ones.
The Bishop Law Firm represents Raleigh Car Accident Injury Victims in personal injury cases. We offer free case reviews and no fee unless you win. Call us today, 919-615-3095, or start your free case review online now.
Raleigh Car Accident Statistics: 2023
Per the North Carolina Department of Transportation, in 2023, there were 16,778 car accidents in Raleigh, which resulted in 6,424 injuries and 44 deaths. Those numbers average to almost 46 car accidents and over 17 car accident injuries per day.
However, per the Raleigh City Traffic Engineer, Jed Niffenegger, the number of accidents in Raleigh in 2023 was even higher at 23,295 within the city limits.
Alcohol was involved in 499 of those car accidents and 11 of the fatal accidents. The 44 Raleigh deaths in 2023 also included nine pedestrian deaths. Also, 162 of the car accidents involved pedestrians, while 50 involved bicycle riders.
From 2020 to 2023, there were 67,782 car accidents in Raleigh with 12,737 injuries and 137 deaths. For reference, in Charlotte, there were 125,075 car accidents with 29,776 injuries and 339 fatal crashes during the same period.
In Wake County from 2019 to 2023, there was an average of 93 deaths, 11,643 injuries, 234 pedestrian injuries, 74 bicycle accidents, and 239 motorcycle accidents per year.
Also read Raleigh Car Accident Injuries.
Based on the above data, a car crash occurs every 12 minutes in Wake County, with an injury resulting from a car accident every 42 minutes. One fatal injury occurs every 76.2 hours.
In 2023, in North Carolina, 71.5% of all crashes occurred between 7:00 a.m. and 6:59 p.m. Speeding was involved in almost 24% of all fatal accidents.
In 2023, the 4th of July resulted in the most injuries from the holidays, followed by Christmas, Easter, and Memorial Day. The Christmas holiday resulted in the most fatalities, followed by the 4th of July.
Distracted driving was involved in 16.9% of the crashes in North Carolina in 2023 (this is a self-reported number, so the data collected may not reflect the severity of the issue).
Distracted driving caused 47,986 auto accidents, 19,194 injuries, and 132 deaths in 2023.
Drivers engaging in activities such as using their phone, eating, performing personal grooming, adjusting radio stations, or watching children in the back seat (NC DOI) can cause distracted driving.
Dangerous traffic areas in Raleigh
According to Jed Niffenegger (Raleigh City Traffic Engineer), in December 2024, the 10 highest crash locations in Raleigh (vehicular) are:
- Buffaloe Road at New Hope Road (ranked 23rd statewide)
- Edwards Mill Road at Wade Avenue (ranked 35th statewide)
- Fox Road at Old Wake Forest Road at Segal Dr (ranked 48th statewide)
- Forestville Road at Old Wake Forest Road (ranked 50th statewide)
- Jones Sausage Road at Integrity Drive (ranked 59th statewide)
- Millbrook Road at Old Wake Forest Road (ranked 60th statewide)
- Raleigh Blvd. at Glascock (ranked 81st statewide)
- Edwards Mill - Trinity (ranked 87th statewide)
- Front at North Hills Street at I-440/Six Forks Road (ranked 91st statewide)
- Blue Ridge - Wade (ranked 123 statewide)
In addition, the top 10 highest Raleigh crash locations for pedestrians and bicycle riders are:
- Capital Boulevard at Calvary Drive (ranked 1st statewide)
- New Bern Ave at Trawick Road (ranked 2nd statewide)
- Wake Forest Road at Ollie Street/Ronald Drive (ranked 6th statewide)
- Six Forks Road at Millbrook Road (ranked 17th statewide)
- Western Blvd at Kent Road/Method Road (ranked 20th statewide)
- Capital Boulevard at Crabtree Boulevard (ranked 21st statewide)
- Capital Boulevard at Huntleigh Drive (ranked 23rd statewide
- New Bern Avenue at Corporation Parkway (ranked 24th statewide)
- Hammond Road at Rush Street (ranked 28th statewide)
- Western Boulevard at Avent Ferry Road (ranked 35th statewide)
Also read: What not to do after a Raleigh Car Accident
Tips to Avoid Raleigh Car Accidents
Based on the data above, to reduce your chances of being involved in a car accident in Raleigh, avoid the dangerous intersections mentioned earlier, avoid driving during Raleigh holiday travel, and be extra cautious at intersections and ramps.
If possible, limit travel to between 7:00 a.m. and 6:59 p.m., and avoid speeding or driving distracted.
This would be especially relevant to those 16-19 years old, as their risk of being in a motor vehicle crash is higher (via CDC).
Also read Twenty Tips to Avoid Raleigh Car Accidents
Also, watching out for tractor-trailers or buses can help avoid accidents. Despite a commercial vehicle driver's best efforts to keep a lookout, we do know that large vehicles have large blind spots (via FMCSA).
Distracted driving is problematic for all North Carolina drivers. While a fellow driver may be driving distracted, keeping a close lookout for distracted driving behaviors can prevent you from being hurt due to their negligence.
Distracted driving behaviors to watch out for can include lane departure, swerving, visibly holding a phone, driving too fast or too slow, tailgating, sudden braking, and failure to use a turn signal, to name a few (via EverCare).
Avoiding car accidents at all costs and protecting yourself and your family is always the best action to take.
Please don't assume that the other driver sees you or that they will do the right thing. Putting your life in the hands of someone else is never a good idea.
What to do if you have been involved in a Raleigh Car Accident
- After an accident, always call 911 and report motor vehicle accidents. If you do not report the accident, the at-fault party can say that the accident did not really occur.
- Be courteous to the at-fault party. Mistakes happen, and you do not want to take any action that will diminish your position as a victim.
- Take photos of your car and the at-fault parties' car, if you can, at the scene.
- Seek immediate medical treatment after the accident or tell the officer you need EMS.
- Follow all medical advice.
- If you are in pain, you need to report that pain to your medical providers and also inform them about when the pain started.
- Take photos of your bodily injuries when the accident first occurred and also throughout the healing process. Pictures of injuries speak volumes!
- File a claim with the at-fault party's insurance company.
- Please obtain a copy of the accident report from the police officer who was at the scene or the agency that they work for. Also read Raleigh Car Accident Reports.
- Verify that the police report is correct about what happened. If the police report is not accurate, you will need to contact the officer.
- Decide if you need a Raleigh Car Accident Lawyer to help with your case.
Also read: Twenty Steps to Take After a Raleigh Car Accident
How a Raleigh Car Accident Lawyer near you can help
If you have sustained an injury in a Raleigh motor vehicle accident that was not your fault, under North Carolina Law, you can recover the cost of your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain & suffering. If a physician determines that you will need future medical care and resulting missed time from work, you can also be compensated for those future needs.
Also read What does a Raleigh Car Accident Lawyer Do?
If the at-fault party was willful or malicious, you may also be entitled to punitive damages. An attorney can help you ensure you receive all compensation that you are entitled to. Don't rely on the insurance company to inform you of your right to recovery!
A Raleigh Car Accident Lawyer can help you achieve fair compensation and help you negotiate with the insurance adjuster. If the insurance adjuster will not offer a fair settlement, a car accident attorney can help you decide if litigation is the correct choice for your case and then navigate your case through the North Carolina courts.
The Bishop Law Firm is a contingent fee law firm, which means that we do not get paid unless we win, and we offer free case reviews. Call us today, 919-615-3095, or start your free case review online now.
Also read North Carolina Car Accident Lawyer
