TOP CAUSES OF CAR ACCIDENTS IN NEW YORK
Car accidents in New York City can be devastating, especially when someone is injured or killed. When victims try to understand what caused their crash, they often experience a great deal of stress, potentially blaming themselves when another driver may have been at fault. As a New Yorker, it’s important to understand the most common causes of car accidents in the city and what to do if you or a loved one is injured in a crash.
At Chopra & Nocerino, our experienced New York car accident lawyers have successfully handled cases throughout the five boroughs. We’re ready to help you identify the cause of your accident and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Leading Causes of Car Accidents in New York
Motor vehicle fatalities are on the rise in New York, increasing by 24.8 percent from 2019 to 2022. Car accidents are frequent in our state for many reasons, including but not limited to the many possible types of driver error. Common causes of frequent car accidents in New York include the following.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the most common causes of traffic collisions in New York and elsewhere. Drivers can be distracted for various reasons, such as events outside the car, loud noises from children or passengers, and attempting to change vehicle features such as air conditioning or radio. Roughly 25-30 percent of New York car accidents in 2019 that resulted in fatalities or personal injury involved driver inattention or distraction. Nationwide, distracted driving killed 3,275 people in 2023.
One particularly common cause of distracted driving is cellphone use in the form of calls, texting, and other distractions. New York has specific laws against cellphone use while driving to combat distracted driving accidents. Over 1 million tickets were issued in New York state for cellphone violations from 2015 to 2019.
Drunk or Impaired Driving
Driving while drunk or under the influence of drugs, commonly known as DWI, frequently causes accidents and is illegal in all 50 states, including New York.
Alcohol-impaired driving remains a significant factor in fatal crashes across New York and the U.S. as a whole. Nationally, about 30% of all traffic crash fatalities involve drunk drivers, and drug impairment is also a contributing factor in New York crashes. Peak DUI times include nighttime, weekends, and holidays.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 12,429 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic crashes in the U.S. in 2023–roughly one person every 42 minutes.
State law includes many penalties for DWI infractions, including civil and criminal fines, license suspension or revocation, and even jail time, depending on the severity of the crime. DWI is also highly statistically likely to result in fatalities in car accidents, with nearly half of all fatal car crashes in New York in 2019 connected to drunk or impaired driving.
Speeding and Traffic Violation
Not only is speeding illegal, but it’s also incredibly dangerous. Speeding increases both the likelihood that an accident will occur and the likelihood that an accident will be severe, worsening the odds of injury or death in a car crash. Speeding was responsible for roughly one-third of all fatal crashes in New York in 2022.
Other traffic violations, such as tailgating, cutting off other drivers, and failure to use turn signals, put drivers, passengers, and pedestrians in danger. Other aggressive driving behaviors, such as weaving through traffic, running red lights, and ignoring traffic signals, also contribute to accidents in New York. All moving violations in New York cause points to accrue on your driving record. Accruing 11 points within 18 months will result in suspension or revocation of your driver’s license.
Bad Weather Conditions
Rain, snow, fog, and ice are common in New York, especially in the winter. Any bad weather can create dangerous driving conditions and lead to collisions due to poor visibility, traction problems, and unseen road hazards. Inclement weather is a particularly common cause of crashes along the New York State Thruway, and weather-related crashes have disproportionate impacts in places with reduced traffic volume.
Vehicle Malfunction
Mechanical issues such as brake failure, tire blowouts, and steering problems are common causes of car accidents, particularly when drivers experience issues unexpectedly while operating their vehicles. Malfunctions can lead to product liability when the vehicle has manufacturing defects.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving is illegal under New York state law and considered a moving violation. The legal concept of reckless driving refers to driving without regard for others’ safety. Reckless driving includes deliberate failure to heed traffic signals, speeding well above the legal limit, swerving and weaving through traffic lanes, racing other drivers, and similar behaviors. Reckless driving results in five points being added to the driver’s driving record and is considered a misdemeanor.
Unsafe Lane Changes
There are many ways a driver can change lanes unsafely, including failing to signal, not checking blind spots before merging, and cutting off other drivers. Unsafe lane changes commonly result in accidents and result in the addition of three points to the unsafe driver’s driving record.
Inexperienced Drivers
Young, inexperienced, or newly licensed drivers are often at higher risk of being involved in an accident. These drivers tend to be unfamiliar with traffic laws and have had less time to develop safe judgment about driving decisions, leading to mistakes, traffic violations, and collisions with other drivers or pedestrians. Young drivers in New York are consistently overrepresented in accidents and are likelier than the average driver to receive tickets for speeding violations.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving often resembles reckless driving and commonly includes behaviors such as tailgating, weaving, cutting off other drivers, and excessive honking or shouting at other drivers. However, aggressive driving is often more dangerous because it is specifically motivated by anger, often coupled with the desire to harm another driver by crashing into them or running them off the road.
Aggressive driving can escalate into incidents of road rage, generally involving verbal or physical confrontations between drivers that may involve drivers getting out of their vehicles to harass others on the road. Long Island, in particular, has cracked down on aggressive driving in New York after chronic incidents of road rage on local roadways that led to accidents.
How Common Are Car Accidents in New York?
New York City, a bustling metropolis known for its vibrant streets and heavy traffic, typically experiences between 90,000 and 100,000 car accidents each year. In the first quarter of 2025, alarming statistics revealed that driver inattention and distraction were the primary culprits behind these incidents, resulting in a staggering 5,322 crashes. In addition, the failure to yield the right of way was linked to 1,387 accidents, while tailgating accounted for another 1,319 collisions. Notably, the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens stand out, bearing the brunt of both accidents and injuries related to crashes, significantly impacting the safety of commuters across the five boroughs of this iconic city.
Interested in seeing the areas of New York with the most accidents?
- Brooklyn
2,280 total accidents, 1,016 injury accidents
- Queens
2,040 total accidents, 887 injury accidents
- Manhattan
1,198 total accidents, 497 injury accidents
- The Bronx
1,051 total accidents, 501 injury accidents
- Staten Island
403 total accidents, 146 injury accidents
Why the Cause of Your Accident Matters for Your Claim
The cause of a car accident — be it distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence, or something else — directly affects how you can prove negligence in a personal injury claim. It’s important to document the cause of the crash early to strengthen your case and to ensure you can file within New York’s three-year statute of limitations. With decades of combined experience and hundreds of millions of dollars won for our clients, Chopra & Nocerino can investigate your accident to identify the cause and prove the other party’s negligence to secure the compensation you deserve.
A 77-year-old woman was driving through an intersection in Brooklyn when her vehicle struck a public bus. The elderly woman sustained leg and neck injuries. The verdict was reached in Kings County Supreme Court.
In June of 2022, our client was sitting as a passenger in a parked car that was struck by a armored vehicle as it rolled down the sidewalk a few feet and off the curb. The driver of the armored vehicle went to the back of the truck to unload and failed to put it in park. The estimated impact was between 2-3 mph, but the weight of the vehicle caused significant injuries. Motions in limina were filed and the case settled while we were engaged in trial proceedings.
40-year-old client was injured in a car accident in Brooklyn and required fusion spine surgery. Case settled just prior to trial.
A family’s vehicle was struck in an intersection when a fire truck ran through a red light. The fire truck claimed to have sirens and flashing lights activated at the time of the accident and asserted an “emergency doctrine” defense, citing they were responding to an emergency and had the right of way.
Despite a heavily contested battle over liability, we secured $1.475 million dollar result to assist in the victim’s (female in 40s) recovery from injuries and cervical spine fusion.
Learn How Chopra & Nocerino Can Help With Your New York Car Accident
Car accidents are common in New York, and drivers are injured in accidents every day. If you’ve been injured in a car accident in New York City, no matter the cause, Chopra & Nocerino can help. Our experienced New York car accident attorneys are dedicated to serving victims of serious injuries across the five boroughs of the city. We’ll treat you like family, giving your case the personalized attention it deserves and aggressively fighting for you every step of the way. Call (855) NYC-HURT or contact us online to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. Para servir mejor a todos los miembros de nuestra comunidad, ofrecemos servicios en español.