Wilmington, NC, is the state’s eighth most populous city. However, according to the 2023 Crash Facts Report, the city is only ranked sixteenth for crash risk based on total collisions, accident rate, and population. In short, its crash risk may be far lower than expected, given the number of residents.
However, safe roads can still have car accidents. Wilmington, North Carolina, car accident statistics show that thousands of people suffer injury or death annually.
A Wilmington car accident lawyer from Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers can represent injured motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists against the drivers responsible for their injuries. Call (910) 889-4064 to schedule a free consultation.
How Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers Can Help After A Car Accident In Wilmington, NC
Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers was founded over 40 years ago to serve car accident victims in North Carolina. Our Wilmington personal injury attorneys have nearly two centuries of legal experience fighting insurers and at-fault drivers for fair injury compensation.
After you get injured in a car crash caused by someone else’s negligent or wrongful actions, our Wilmington personal injury lawyers can help by:
- Learning about your accident and injuries so we can determine your legal claims
- Building your case by gathering evidence and preparing an insurance claim
- Fighting to resolve your case with an insurance settlement
- Filing a lawsuit if we cannot negotiate fair settlement terms with the insurer
Car accidents can cause income losses and medical expenses. Contact Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation with a Wilmington car accident attorney to discuss the impacts of your injuries and how we can pursue compensation for them.
Car Accidents in Wilmington
Wilmington had 3,765 total traffic crashes in 2023. These crashes included 45 pedestrian accidents and 39 bicycle accidents.
According to the Statewide Crash Statistics Dashboard, most of the state’s vehicle accidents involve passenger automobiles. However, the city’s crashes also included 51 motorcycle wrecks and 82 commercial truck crashes.
The statistics do not identify how many of the city’s car accidents involved only one vehicle. Single-vehicle accidents happen when a vehicle runs off the road, rolls over, or hits an animal or fixed object. Thus, a driver who loses control of their vehicle on a wet road and hits a tree would be included in the city’s statistics even though they were involved in a single-vehicle crash.
Fatal and Non-Fatal Injuries in Traffic Accidents
Traffic crashes in Wilmington in 2023 resulted in nine fatal injuries and 1,593 non-fatal injuries.
These casualties included the following non-motorized road users:
- Two deceased pedestrians
- One deceased bicyclist
- 53 injured pedestrians
- 36 injured cyclists
The crash dashboard listed 24 fatal and serious injuries. Thus, you can calculate that 15 of the non-fatal injuries were classified as “serious.” Unlike other states that classify an injury based on its appearance and effects, North Carolina gives a list of injuries that fall within each classification.
According to the summary provided in the Crash Facts Report, the following injuries are considered “serious:”
- Lacerated skin that exposes the underlying tissue or causes significant blood loss
- Fractured or disfigured arm or leg
- Crushed soft tissues or bones
- Injured skull, chest, or abdomen other than bruises or minor lacerations
- Burned skin covering at least 10% of the body
A victim also has a serious injury if they were unconscious or paralyzed at the crash scene, regardless of whether they later recover.
Common Causes of North Carolina Crashes
The Crash Facts Report lists the following contributing factors as some of the most common causes of North Carolina car accidents:
Distracted Driving
Just under 17% of car crashes in North Carolina in 2023 resulted from distractions. Distracted driving occurs when a driver takes their hands off the wheel, their eyes off the road, or their minds off driving. As a result, they cannot spot or react to road hazards, such as slowing traffic. This risky behavior can result in intersection crashes and rear-end collisions.
Speeding
Speeding was a leading cause of fatal accidents in North Carolina. Speeding shortens the time a driver has to react to obstacles or other road users. It also increases the energy of any crashes. Thus, high-speed vehicles are both more likely to crash and more likely to cause injury or death.
Failing to Yield the Right of Way
A common cause of intersection collisions is a failure to yield. The right-of-way laws determine which driver can proceed in any given situation. When drivers go out of turn, they can collide with other vehicles. For example, a car might get T-boned when turning left into the path of an approaching vehicle.
Contact Our Wilmington Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
The cause of your car accident will determine who bears the liability for your injury-related losses. Contact Riddle & Riddle Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to learn about the injury compensation you can seek under North Carolina law. Our Wilmington car accident lawyers are standing by and ready to help.