St. Louis Car Accident Statistics [2024 Updated]

By Zane T. Cagle | May 8, 2024 | Car Accidents

St. Louis and St. Louis County encompasses one of the more populated locations of the state, and a higher-density population typically results in more frequent car collisions. Drivers should always drive carefully and do what they can to avoid car accidents, but there is only so much that drivers can do to prevent a crash. By learning about the St. Louis car accident statistics, drivers may be better equipped to drive defensively and avoid common causes of accidents.

Car accidents can range from minor fender benders that cause only property damage to significant accidents that cause catastrophic injuries and deaths. If you or a loved one was injured or killed in a car accident in St. Louis, an attorney may be able to help you hold the at-fault party responsible.

Overall State Car Accident Statistics

Missouri saw 931 fatal crashes and 1,016 fatalities in 2021, making a rate of 16.5 deaths per 100,000 population and 1.27 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. This is a higher population rate than the rest of the U.S. but a lower miles-traveled rate.

35% of vehicle crash deaths occurred to occupants of a car, while 31% occurred to pickup and SUV occupants. 525 crashes, or 52%, were single-vehicle accidents, while 491 were multiple-vehicle accidents.

Car Accidents in St. Louis

In 2019, there were 60 reported fatalities in St. Louis city. So far in 2024, there have been 20 reported fatalities. Of the 2019 fatalities, 10 of them occurred in May, and eight of them occurred in September. In St. Louis County, there were 77 reported fatalities in 2019, which increased in 2020 to 94 and again to 110 in 2021. As of 2024, St. Louis County has so far reported 39 fatalities.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP), the city of St. Louis reported 71 traffic fatalities in 2021, a decrease of 10 from the prior year, with a 10-year average of 55.1 fatalities. St. Louis County reported 110 traffic fatalities, with a 10-year average of 75.6.

From 2017 to 2021, there were 97 fatalities in the city of St. Louis that were the result of the individual having no seatbelt. Of these fatalities over five years, 68, or 70.1%, were male, and 29 were female. 32 of the unbelted fatalities were individuals between 20 and 29, and 18 fatalities were between 30 and 39.

Common Causes of Car Accidents in St. Louis City

Some of the most common causes of car accidents are distracted driving, aggressive driving, and drunk or impaired driving.

There were seven fatalities in St. Louis caused by distracted driving between 2017 and 2021. Two of these occurred in September of 2017 and 2019. Two of them occurred in October of 2018 and 2021. There were nine drivers listed as causing an accident due to being distracted, six of which were male. Five of the distracted drivers were between the ages of 30 and 39.

Aggressive driving was involved in 144 traffic fatalities between 2017 and 2021. Two of those were the result of an aggressive driver following too closely, 15 were the result of improper lane changing or usage, 12 were caused by improper passing, and 131 involved a speeding driver. There were 124 reported aggressive drivers in these accidents, 105, or 84.7%, of which were male. 53, or 41.9%, of the aggressive drivers were between the ages of 20 and 29.

In the same five-year period, five fatalities involved a driver impaired by a substance, including drugs and/or alcohol. There were five drivers who were substance-impaired, four of which were male and one of which was female. Two of the drivers were between 30 and 39 years of age.

FAQs

Q: What Is the Cause of Most Traffic Accidents in Missouri?

A: The cause of most traffic accidents in Missouri is the failure to yield, according to information collected in 2021 by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. There were 184,878 motor vehicle accidents resulting in property damage, injury, or fatality, and 26,156 of those had the probable cause of an individual failing to yield. Of these accidents, there were:

• 152 fatal crashes
• 8,348 injury crashes
• 17,656 property damage crashes

Although failure to yield was the most common cause of accidents overall, it was not the most common cause of fatal accidents.

Q: Which Drivers Cause the Most Accidents in Missouri?

A: Although there are no clear overall statistics for which drivers cause the most car accidents in Missouri, some statistics do list the gender and age of drivers when tabulating the major causes of fatal accidents. From 2017 to 2021, these are:

• Distracted Driving: 70.9% were male drivers, and 23.3% of drivers between 20 and 29.
• Aggressive Driving: 78.6% were male drivers, and 38.6% were between 20 and 29.
• Impaired Driving: 81.4% were male drivers, and 29.9% were between 20 and 29.

Q: What Age Group Crashes the Most in Missouri?

A: The age group that crashes the most in Missouri is between the ages of 25 and 34. According to data gathered by the Missouri State Highway Patrol in 2021, there were 50,990 drivers between the ages of 25 and 34 involved in vehicle crashes in 2021, out of a total of 250,858 crashes. This age group was involved in 310 fatal crashes, 14,155 injury crashes, and 36,525 property damage crashes. In each of these categories, this age group had the highest number of accidents.

Q: At What Speed Do Most Missouri Traffic Deaths Occur?

A: There is no information about the speed at which Missouri’s traffic deaths occur, but both speeding and driving too quickly for the road conditions can contribute to an accident. In Missouri, according to data that the state’s highway patrol collected in 2021, 175 fatal crashes occurred where the probable contributing cause was exceeding the speed limit, resulting in 200 fatalities. 195 fatal crashes occurred due to the probable cause of driving too fast for the conditions, resulting in 208 fatalities.

St. Louis Car Accident Attorneys

At The Cagle Law Firm, we have helped many injured and grieving individuals get the compensation they deserve after a car accident. Contact our firm today.

About The Author

Zane T. Cagle

Zane T. Cagle is the founding president and lead trial attorney at The Cagle Law Firm. With a strong dedication to his clients, he has built a reputation for his tenacious representation in personal injury cases, ensuring each client's unique story is heard. Areas of Practice: Personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death. Bar Admissions: Supreme Court of Missouri, Illinois & Kentucky. Superior Court of U.S. Virgin Islands Education: Washington University School of Law. Awards: Super Lawyers, Top 40 Under 40 by The National Trial Lawyers Association, 10 Best in Missouri for Customer Satisfaction.

View all posts by Zane T. Cagle →