Wilmington Car Accident Statistics [2024 Updated] – Traffic Crash Facts

Car accidents can happen anywhere. They are fairly common in the United States and are often due to distracted driving. Many cities in North Carolina, including Wilmington, see their fair share of accidents every year, as evidenced by the Wilmington car accident statistics.

Unfortunately, most accidents are a result of negligence on behalf of the driver. One way in which a driver can be negligent is through distracted driving. While cars are becoming more equipped to handle and anticipate an impending accident, crashes are still common due to human error.

Wilmington, North Carolina Car Accident Statistics

In the state of North Carolina in 2021, Wilmington ranked 14th worst when it came to driver safety among cities in its size category. For perspective, there are 95 cities that were included in this ranking. In the year that these statistics were gathered, the following facts were also found:

• 13,912 reported crashes
• 3,055 injuries as a result of a crash
• 45 deaths from fatal car accidents
• Wilmington ranked 6th worst in alcohol-related accidents (a total of 569).
• Wilmington ranked 7th in most fatal crashes.
• Wilmington ranked 9th in total number of crashes across the state.

Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Wilmington

Wilmington doesn’t differ much from other cities as far as what causes car accidents. Nationally, the number one cause of car accidents is distracted driving. Wilmington is no different.

Distracted driving is defined as any act that takes a driver’s hands or attention away from safe driving. This could include daydreaming, looking in the mirror, texting, reading, eating, and grabbing something in your car that causes you to look away and/or take your hand away from the wheel. Some other causes of car accidents in Wilmington include:

• Driving under the influence. A driver can drive under the influence of any substance that causes a person’s driving abilities to be impaired. Most commonly, DUI happens when someone drives drunk or under the influence of alcohol, but this can also include recreational or prescription drugs that lower or alter a person’s inhibitions and decision-making.
• Driving while drowsy. Being drowsy or sleepy can alter a person’s inhibitions similarly to drugs and alcohol. This includes a slowed reaction time, distorted vision, especially at night, and impaired coordination.
• Aggressive Driving. Speeding and tailgating are two of the most common types of aggressive driving. Speeding accounts for a large number of accidents. Tailgating happens when someone follows the car in front of them too closely. When the car in front of them reacts to a road change quickly (such as using their brakes because of an incoming hazard, such as a deer), the tailgating driver may not have enough time to react and can cause a rear-end collision.
• Other reasons for traffic accidents include failing to yield, improper lane changes, bad weather, construction, and vehicle error.

Most Dangerous Roads in Wilmington, NC

Like most other cities, Wilmington has some roads that are more prone to accidents than others. The ones ranked most dangerous are:

• College Road. College Road carries a significant amount of traffic. Most high-traffic areas are more prone to accidents. College Road and Randall Parkway is one of the more dangerous intersections on College Road, as it has a high volume of student traffic.
• Market Street: Like College Road, Market Street has a high volume of traffic. It also gets a large amount of pedestrian traffic, making it more susceptible to accidents.
• Carolina Beach Road. Carolina Beach Road, unfortunately, sees a multitude of pedestrian accidents. It has heavy road traffic, with very few sidewalks for pedestrians to walk on, which makes it accident-prone.

Most Common Injuries From Wilmington Car Accidents

Fortunately, not all accidents result in injury. Some people are able to walk away with minor damage to their cars and themselves. However, of those that do result in injury, these are the most common:

• Whiplash/neck injury
• Spinal injury
• Paralysis
• Broken bones
• Brain injury

FAQs About Wilmington, NC Car Accident Statistics

How Many Car Accidents Occur Per Day in NC?

In North Carolina, it was recently reported that 276,026 crashes happened in a single year, averaging about 756 crashes per day. Of these, 1,653 were fatal (about 4 per day), and 74,639 of them resulted in injury (about 204 per day). Car accidents happen more around holidays and months that see additional cars on the road.

What’s the Most Accident-Prone Car?

Depending on the study you find and which facts the study is considering in its evaluation, you may get different answers to what the most accident-prone car is. However, many studies agree that the Audi S4 has recently been the most accident-prone car. While the model does have advanced safety features, drivers of this car got into accidents 54% more than the national average.

Where Are the Most Fatal Car Accidents?

Mississippi is number one for the state with the highest percentage of fatal car accidents in the United States. Mississippi had double the rate of accidents as compared to the annual national average. Keep in mind this number is calculated by percentage, not the highest number. The state with the highest number of accidents is Texas.

What Is the #1 Type of Car Accident That Occurs in the US?

The most common type of car accident is a rear-end collision. This could be attributed to the fact that most accidents are a result of distracted driving. When someone is distracted, they may not see the person in front of them until it is too late to react. Tailgating is also a common cause of accidents. If a person stops too fast or too hard, the person tailgating will not have enough time to respond and can cause a rear-end collision.

Contact a Wilmington Car Accident Attorney

If you have been involved in a car accident, a Wilmington car accident attorney may be able to help. Christina Rivenbark & Associates knows how to handle these types of claims. We can assist with both legal claims as well as negotiations with insurance companies. If you have been injured and are in need of compensation but don’t know where to start, contact us today for more information.