New York Car Accident Statistics
Although traffic collisions, fatalities and injuries have declined in New York City over the past few years, hundreds of people still lose their lives in motor vehicle accidents each year. In 2024, 252 people died as a result of traffic collisions, and the first three months of 2025 alone saw 41 traffic-related fatalities. When individuals survive these incidents, they are often left with life altering injuries, along with overwhelming medical bills and lost income.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle collision, the New York car accident lawyers at Lever & Ecker, PLLC will pursue the compensation you deserve for your injuries and other losses. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Key Takeaways
- While the number of car collisions in New York City has declined in recent years, hundreds of people are still killed and thousands are injured each year.
- If a person is seriously injured or killed in a car accident in New York, they or their family may be entitled to file a personal injury lawsuit to pursue compensation.
- The lawyers at Lever & Ecker have successfully litigated numerous car accident cases throughout New York City and are prepared to handle the legal process on your behalf.
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New York Car Accident Statistics
The year 2024 was especially dangerous for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians in New York City, with a record-breaking number of fatalities in the first nine months. So far, 2025 has shown a decrease in collisions, injuries and fatalities. According to data from the New York City Police Department, more than 31,000 collisions occurred in the first five months of 2025—an 11% decrease from the same period in 2024. Of those, approximately 13,000 involved injuries and 70 involved fatalities, both fewer than in 2024.
However, a study from the New York State Department of Health found that motor vehicle collisions are still the leading cause of injury-related death for New Yorkers. Between 2012 and 2014, traffic collisions statewide caused an average of 1,098 deaths, 12,093 hospitalizations and 136,913 emergency room visits each year.
Crash Data by New York City Borough
Data from the City of New York shows that there were just over 91,000 traffic collisions in 2024, with more than 40,000 involving injuries and 250 involving fatalities. Some boroughs experienced higher rates than others, with Brooklyn seeing the most collisions, injuries and deaths. Below is a breakdown by borough for 2024:
- Brooklyn: 22,781 crashes, including 9,990 with injuries and 53 with fatalities
- Queens: 17,808 crashes, including 7,632 with injuries and 30 with fatalities
- Manhattan: 11,902 crashes, including 4,875 with injuries and 28 with fatalities
- Bronx: 10,028 crashes, including 4,416 with injuries and 28 with fatalities
Staten Island: 2695 crashes, including 983 with injuries and 11 with fatalities
Primary Causes of Car Collisions in New York City
In New York City, motor vehicle collisions often involve multiple contributing factors. Data from the city shows that driver distraction, including texting while driving, is consistently the most common contributing factor in collisions involving injuries or fatalities. Other leading causes include:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Violations of traffic laws
- Dangerous driving
- Aggressive driving
- Fatigued driving
- Hazardous weather or road conditions
- Mechanical or vehicle defects
Pedestrian-Involved Traffic Collisions
Collisions involving pedestrians often lead to serious or fatal injuries, as pedestrians have no physical protection from vehicular impact. Between 2009 and 2011, pedestrians accounted for more than half of all traffic related fatalities in New York City, compared to 13% nationwide. The rate was particularly high in Manhattan, where pedestrians represented nearly 70% of all traffic related deaths.
Bicyclist-Involved Traffic Collisions
New York City also has a higher percentage of bicyclist related traffic fatalities compared to national averages. Between 2009 and 2011, 7% of traffic related fatalities in the city involved bicyclists, while the national average was 2%. More than half of all cyclist fatalities during this period occurred in Brooklyn.
New York’s Car Accident Laws
Statute of Limitations
Under New York’s personal injury statute of limitations, most personal injury lawsuits for car, truck, or pedestrian accidents must be filed within three years of the date of the incident. If the accident resulted in wrongful death, the deadline for a personal representative to file suit is generally two years from the date of death. In certain circumstances, however, these time limits may be far shorter, such as where municipal entities are involved.
No-Fault Insurance Coverage
New York’s no-fault law requires every automobile insurance policy to provide reimbursement for medical expenses, certain lost income and other economic losses, regardless of who caused the collision.
However, this does not prevent an injured person from filing a personal injury lawsuit against the at-fault driver if the injuries meet the legal threshold for a “serious injury.” Such injuries may include:
- Death
- Dismemberment
- Significant disfigurement
- Loss of a fetus
- A fractured bone
- Permanent loss of use of a body organ, member, function, or system
- Permanent consequential limitation of a body organ or member
- Significant limitation of the use of a body function or system
- An injury or impairment that prevents the injured person from performing substantially all of their usual and customary daily activities for at least 90 days during the 180 days immediately following the accident
Damage Caps
New York does not cap the amount of compensation that an injured person may pursue in a personal injury lawsuit for a car collision.
Contact Lever & Ecker – Award-Winning New York Car Accident Lawyers
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car collision in New York, you deserve a lawyer who will represent your interests and handle the legal process on your behalf. The award-winning New York personal injury lawyers at Lever & Ecker have more than 70 years of combined experience representing injured clients throughout New York.
Our approach is simple: we listen to you, guide you and get to work on what needs to be done. We treat every case like the most important one in our office; since to you, it is.
With offices in White Plains, the Bronx and Queens, we represent injured clients across New York state, including all five boroughs of New York City, Westchester County and surrounding counties. If you cannot come to us, we will come to you—whether that means a home visit, a hospital consultation, or a phone call. We provide top-tier legal representation and maintain an open line of communication at every stage of your case.
To get started with a free consultation, call us today:
- White Plains: (914) 288-9191
- Bronx: (718) 933-3632
- Queens: (347) 391-6337
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