New Orleans Car Accident Statistics [2025 Updated]

By understanding New Orleans car accident statistics, both residents and visitors can better understand how to drive defensively in the city.

Car Collisions in New Orleans

New Orleans saw 4,852 suspected injury crashes in 2024. In all vehicle accidents, there were 8,186 suspected injuries. There were 60 fatalities in the city in the same year from 58 fatal crashes, and 82 vehicles were involved in fatal accidents. Twenty-three of these fatalities were drivers, and 28 were pedestrians. More than 12,350 crashes occurred in the city, which resulted in only property damage.For anyone involved in a crash, understanding what to do after a car accident in New Orleans is essential for both your safety and your ability to recover compensation. The greatest percentage of both fatal and suspected injury crashes in New Orleans by day of week occurred on Fridays. 32.76% of fatal crashes in the city occurred on city streets, while 31.03% occurred on U.S. Highways.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in New Orleans

There are numerous causes of car accidents in New Orleans, but the most common is driver negligence. In rare cases, accidents are caused by product defects or poor road maintenance, but this is uncommon. Some frequent causes of accidents in New Orleans include:

• Distracted driving. In fatal crashes in the city caused by distracted drivers in 2024, four of these drivers were inattentive, and another driver was talking or listening. Distracted or inattentive drivers caused crashes that resulted in five fatal injuries, 46 suspected serious injuries, and more than 700 suspected and minor injuries. There were also 2,241 crashes that only resulted in property damage. If you’re dealing with injuries after a crash, knowing what to do after a car accident in Louisiana can help guide your next steps.
• Driving under the influence. More than 500 accidents in New Orleans were attributed to alcohol in 2024. Fourteen of these were sadly fatal, and 294 resulted in suspected serious
• Weather conditions. Of the 58 fatal crashes, most of them occurred when the weather was clear. Four occurred in rain and two in cloudy weather. While nearly 4,000 suspected injury crashes of the nearly 4,900 occurred in clear weather, nearly 440 occurred in cloudy conditions, and more than 370 occurred in the rain.One hundred twenty-four injury crashes and two fatal crashes were caused by wet, snowy, or icy road conditions. While inclement weather can increase the likelihood of accidents, they are most often caused by drivers who fail to adjust their speed to the conditions of the roadway.
• Construction zones and poor roads. In New Orleans, 127 suspected injury crashes were caused by regular congestion. Fifteen suspected injury crashes occurred because of a construction zone. Roadway problems, such as ruts and potholes, were responsible for 23 suspected injury crashes, while debris in the road caused 24.

Cost of Louisiana Car Accident Injuries

Car accidents can lead to a host of injuries, from minor sprains to serious fractures and traumatic brain injuries. Injuries can be fatal in the worst accidents or lead to death at a later date.

In Louisiana, car accidents in 2024 resulted in millions of dollars in costs. Fatal accident costs totaled over $2 million in the state, while serious and minor injuries cost over $671,000. Accidents with possible injuries resulted in over $33,000, while accidents with no apparent injuries cost over $6,300. Property damages to vehicles cost $8,810.
If you’re wondering what types of injuries might qualify for compensation, you might find it helpful to review the most common car accident injuries that attorneys handle in Louisiana. For more information on how much these claims are worth, take a look at average car accident settlement figures in Louisiana.

Seatbelt Usage in New Orleans Car Accidents

All drivers and passengers in vehicles in Louisiana are required to wear seat belts. In a crash, a seatbelt is crucial for keeping people inside the vehicle and minimizing the severity of injuries. In 2024, an observational study cited by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission stated that 88.40% of drivers and passengers wore their seatbelts.

Unfortunately, this is not all drivers and passengers. In 2024 in New Orleans, 58.33% of drivers who were killed in fatal accidents were not properly restrained. 100% of passengers aged six and over and 41.67% of occupants who were killed in accidents were not properly restrained.

One driver fatality and one passenger fatality in New Orleans occurred because the party used no restraint system and was fully ejected from the vehicle.

FAQs

What Is the Worst City for Car Accidents in Louisiana?

New Orleans had the highest number of car accidents in Louisiana in 2024, with 60 fatalities, more than 8,200 suspected injuries, and over 5,600 people without injuries in accidents. New Orleans was followed by Baton Rouge, which had 36 fatalities, 5,600 suspected injuries, and 4,500 people without injuries. New Orleans has the highest population and significant tourist traffic, increasing the number of accidents in the area.

Which Parish in Louisiana has the Highest Number of Fatal Car Accidents?

East Baton Rouge Parish had the highest number of fatal car accidents in 2024. In the parish, there were 61 fatal crashes. Orleans Parish had the second-highest number of fatal accidents, with 58. Caddo Parish, which includes the parish seat of Shreveport, had the next-highest number of fatal crashes, with 38. Fatal car accidents are frequently caused by impaired drivers, speeding, and fatigued driving.

How Many Car Accidents Are There in Louisiana?

There was a grand total of 146,210 crashes in 2024 throughout all the parishes in Louisiana, including fatal, suspected injury, and property damage only crashes. Over 108,000 of those crashes resulted in no injuries. Seven hundred five crashes were fatal.

Vehicle collisions can be caused by numerous acts of negligence, including driving while distracted, committing moving violations, and driving at unsafe speeds for the prevailing weather conditions. In 2023, a total of 143,392 crashes occurred. For more background on how negligence is handled after a crash, negligence in Louisiana car accident lawsuits is a key legal topic for injury victims.

Is Louisiana an At-Fault State for Car Accidents?

In Louisiana, after a car accident, drivers can file with the insurance provider of the at-fault driver. A driver may be at fault for various actions, such as texting or failing to yield the right of way. Other at-fault parties may be a driver’s employer, a trucking company, or a product manufacturer. It’s important to determine who caused the accident, as this is the party who you can hold liable for compensation.

Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in New Orleans After a Collision

While it is important to drive carefully and defensively, you cannot always prevent an accident. If you were involved in a vehicle crash in New Orleans, you need to hire a skilled car accident lawyer. By working with the right New Orleans car accident attorney, you can protect your financial interests and recover full compensation for your injuries from a negligent driver. Contact Murphy Law Firm today.

About The Author

Peyton Murphy

Peyton Murphy, is the founder of Murphy Law Firm, LLC, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, specializing in personal injury law. Peyton obtained his law degree from the prestigious Tulane School of Law in 1991 and has been licensed to practice law in Louisiana since 1993. With over 28 years of experience, Peyton is dedicated to representing injured victims and actively contributing to his community. Education: Obtained his law degree from Tulane School of Law in 1991. Professional Associations: Member of the Louisiana State Bar and active in the Baton Rouge Bar Association and the Louisiana Association for Justice. Experience: Founder of Murphy Law Firm, LLC, with extensive experience in personal injury law and licensed in multiple federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court.

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