Baltimore, Maryland has a mixed record regarding car accidents. Your likelihood of getting into a car accident in Baltimore is about 153% higher than the national average. The typical local driver has an accident every four years.
On the other hand, Baltimore has a much lower rate of fatal car accidents than other large cities. The most dangerous cities for drivers, like Dallas, Baton Rouge, and Fort Lauderdale, have fatality rates two to three times higher than Baltimore’s.
Instead of fatalities, Baltimore’s higher-than-average number of accidents leads to greater injuries among drivers and passengers.
Read on for a summary of Baltimore car accident statistics and how you can seek compensation for your car accident injuries.
Table of Contents
How WGK Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in Baltimore, MD
Experience matters when you need personal injury compensation. The lawyers at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers have over 80 years of combined experience. The firm was established in 1977, and over the past 45 years, our Baltimore personal injury attorneys have recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients.
If you hire the experienced attorneys at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers to represent you in your car accident case, we’ll:
- Investigate what caused the collision and who may share liability
- Gather evidence and work with leading experts to value your losses
- Negotiate and communicate with insurance companies and others on your behalf as we work towards a fair settlement
- Protect you against victim-blaming strategies
- Take your case to court if we cannot work out an equitable out-of-court settlement
The injuries you suffer in a car accident can prevent you from working and require expensive medical treatment. Contact our Baltimore car accident attorneys for a free consultation to discuss your injuries and the compensation you can seek for them.
How Common Are Baltimore Car Accidents?
According to the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Baltimore accounts for 9.8% of Maryland’s population but 16.5% of its traffic accidents. This means your risk of having a traffic accident in Baltimore is about 1.7 times higher than in the rest of the state.
However, Baltimore only contributes about 9% of the state’s traffic fatalities. Your odds of getting into a fatal accident in Baltimore are slightly less than your odds of dying in a car crash elsewhere in Maryland.
In short, Baltimore car accidents are more common than expected, but fatal accidents in the area are less common than expected, given the city’s population.
Overview of Baltimore Car Accident Statistics
According to MDOT’s 2021 statistics (released on July 22, 2022), Baltimore endured 17,888 traffic accidents in 2021. This number continued a downward trend that began in 2017 when Baltimore traffic accidents peaked at nearly 20,000. The total number of traffic accidents in 2021 also fell below the city’s five-year average of 18,047.
The most dangerous time to drive in Baltimore is during the afternoon rush hour. The hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. account for over 22% of accidents in the city.
The most dangerous days to drive are Fridays and Saturdays. Friday evenings see the most accidents resulting in injuries, while most fatal accidents occur on Saturdays.
Injuries and Deaths from Baltimore Car Accidents
Most of Baltimore’s accidents only cause property damage.
Of the 17,888 car accidents reported in 2021:
- 47 involved at least one fatality
- 5,259 caused at least one injury
- 12,582 only caused property damage
Nearly 8,600 people were harmed in car accidents in Baltimore in 2021. The injured included 937 pedestrians and bicyclists. Of the motorists killed in Baltimore car accidents, 54% were not wearing seat belts.
Overall, 24.7% of people not wearing seat belts were either injured or killed in 2021. By contrast, only 18.3% of people wearing seat belts were wounded or killed that year.
What Causes Most Baltimore Car Accidents?
As in most cities, most of Baltimore’s car accidents result from driver behavior and mistakes. According to MDOT, some significant causes of traffic accidents in 2021 included the following:
Speeding
Though cited as a factor in slightly less than half of Baltimore’s fatal accidents, speeding is one of the most significant causes of traffic fatalities in the city.
Speeding cuts down on your reaction time to changing traffic, weather, or road conditions. It also increases the chance that you will lose control over your vehicle during an emergency maneuver.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving plays a significant role in traffic fatalities. In 2020, over 35% of traffic deaths were blamed on distracted driving. A contributing factor to this high number was the number of pedestrian accidents caused by distracted drivers.
Distractions also contribute to the overall number of injury accidents. In 2020, nearly 26% of injury accidents involved a distracted driver.
Intoxicated Driving
Traffic deaths from impaired drivers have steadily increased recently in Baltimore. Over that time, drunk and drugged driving fatalities increased from six in 2018 to 21 in 2020.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Baltimore Car Accident Lawyers
Baltimore car accidents, particularly those that cause injuries, are common. These collisions often leave motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists unable to work or pay their medical bills.
To discuss the compensation you can seek for your car accident injuries, contact WGK Personal Injury Lawyers at (410) 837-2144 for a free consultation.
