More than one in every ten fatal crashes in California is a hit-and-run, putting the Golden State at the top of an unfortunate list, according to a new study involving federal traffic data.
The research, commissioned by Suzuki Law Offices, looked at National Highway Traffic Safety Administration figures between 2017 and 2021.
Of the 18,137 fatal crashes in California during that period, 1,901, or 10.48%, involved drivers who fled the scene. That’s the highest total number of fatal hit-and-runs in the nation and significantly above the national rate of 6.33%, the data showed.
The top five also included Illinois (8.72%), New Jersey (8.51%), Alaska (8.49%) and Hawaii (8.49%). Maine had the lowest rate with less than one out of 100 fatal crashes involving a driver who fled.
“Analysis of nationwide data shows two-thirds of all hit-and-runs involved a pedestrian and a single vehicle during dark conditions,” said Richard Suzuki, the founding attorney at Suzuki Law Offices. “This suggests most hit-and-runs happen because the driver wants to avoid detection and the consequences of their actions.”
| 10 States with the Most Deadly Hit-and-Run Accidents | |||||
| Involving a Hit-and-Run | |||||
| Rank | State | Yes | No | Total | Fatal crashes involving a hit-and-run (%) |
| 1 | California | 1,901 | 16,236 | 18,137 | 10.48% |
| 2 | Illinois | 452 | 4,731 | 5,183 | 8.72% |
| 3 | New Jersey | 243 | 2,614 | 2,857 | 8.51% |
| 4 | Alaska | 27 | 291 | 318 | 8.49% |
| 5 | Hawaii | 41 | 442 | 483 | 8.49% |
| 6 | New Mexico | 157 | 1,696 | 1,853 | 8.47% |
| 7 | New York | 394 | 4,391 | 4,785 | 8.23% |
| 8 | Connecticut | 107 | 1,231 | 1,338 | 8.00% |
| 9 | Arizona | 367 | 4,405 | 4,772 | 7.69% |
| 10 | Texas | 1,341 | 16,208 | 17,549 | 7.64% |
Within the Golden State, the study found San Francisco had the highest fatal hit-and-run rate at 22%, followed by Los Angeles (15%) and Santa Clara (13%).
Depending on the cause, striking another driver or a pedestrian with your car isn’t always a crime – but deliberately fleeing is.
“If you hit a pedestrian with a car and flee the scene, it could potentially endanger their life and lead to more serious legal implications,” Suzuki said.