75 US Cities with The Most Fatal Hit and Run Accidents

Which Cities and Counties Have the Most Fatal Hit and Run Accidents in the US? A Deep Dive into The Data and What It Means for Defendants Facing Criminal Charges

Where do most fatal hit and runs occur in the US? Across America, a fatal hit and run accident happens approximately every 43 seconds—more often at night, often at a crosswalk, and sometimes ending in a fatality. But which cities and counties are the hotbeds of these accidents? Where are the most fatal hit and run accidents in America happening? Our team of criminal defense attorneys at The Law Offices of Christopher Chaney gathered fatal hit and run accident statistics by county and city to find which areas have the highest rates of accidents that leave defendants facing serious charges of fleeing the scene.

By CECLaw.net

What City Has the Most Fatal Hit and Run Accidents in the US?

Deadly hit and run accidents occur with greater frequency in some areas compared to others. These are the top counties and cities with the highest rates of fatal hit and run accidents in the US when compared to their populations:

• St. Louis City, Missouri (73 deaths): St. Louis is the city with the highest rate of fatal hit and runs per 100,000 people in the US. A 2023 police report estimated that 40 percent of their reported St. Louis car crashes were fatal hit and runs. Reckless driving carried out in broad daylight has been the norm. Locals cite the fact that road conditions and infrastructure have worsened.
• Shelby County, Tennessee (164 deaths): USA Today recently named Memphis as the nation’s most dangerous city for drivers, period. But it also ranks very highly on our list for fatal hit and run accidents.
• Bernalillo County, New Mexico (93 deaths): On the whole, New Mexico as a state has the worst pedestrian fatality rate in the country. Albuquerque is suffering from poor road conditions even though it has tried to make itself safer for pedestrians.
• Orleans Parish, Louisiana (50 deaths): New Orleans has seen a significant increase in hit and run accidents since 2021. Some blame a decrease in the number of drunk driving arrests as the cause for the area’s increase in traffic fatalities overall.
• Clayton County, Georgia (38 deaths): Jonesboro, located just south of Atlanta, connects and intersects with several major roadways, but urgent highway improvements are needed. Community members have struggled for years to find safe areas to cross and end up crossing the highway, leading to deaths, including that of small children. Community protests have advocated for the creation of an overpass to avoid preventable accidents.

Our investigations into accident data in these locations highlight how important it is for attorneys defending clients charged with hit and run violations to understand the full history of hit and runs in the vicinity of their clients’ alleged offense, as well as statistical trends. We can use this data to strengthen your defense strategy and establish mitigating circumstances, helping us pursue more favorable outcomes in the charges against you.

How Do California Counties Fit Into the Areas With the Highest Fatal Hit and Run Rates?

Numerous counties in California, where The Law Offices of Christopher Chaney practice, also made the list of the 75 deadliest counties for hit and run accidents in the United States, including:

• Kern County, California: 84 fatal hit and run accidents occurred between 2018 and 2022 in this county that’s home to Bakersfield, CA
• Fresno County, California: 91 fatal hit and runs were reported in this county, home to Fresno, CA
• Merced County, California: 25 fatal hit and run accidents occurred in this county, home to Merced, CA
• Stanislaus County, California: 47 fatal hit and runs were reported in this county, home to Modesto, CA
• Tulare County, California: 39 fatal hit and run accidents occurred in this county, home to Visalia, CA
• San Joaquin County, California: 63 fatal hit and run accidents were reported in this county, home to Stockton, CA
• Sacramento County, California: 122 fatal hit and runs occurred in this county, home to Sacramento, CA
• San Bernardino County, California: 160 fatal hit and runs were reported in this county, home to San Bernardino, CA
• Los Angeles County, California: 591 fatal hit and run accidents occurred in this county, home to L.A.
• Riverside County, California: 150 fatal hit and run accidents were reported in this county, home to Riverside, CA
• Solano County, California: 25 fatal hit and run accidents were reported in this county, home to Fairfield, CA

Our legal team has extensive experience defending those accused of hit and run crimes throughout Southern California.  We understand the workings of local court systems, as well as infrastructure issues and other factors that may have some bearing on your criminal defense strategy.

Which State Has the Highest Rate of Fatal Hit and Runs?

According to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) (2022), Louisiana was the state with the worst rate of fatal hit and runs when compared to the state’s overall population. When you look at the sheer number of instances, however, California has the worst fatal hit and run rate for 2022, amounting to 490 deadly hit and run crashes.

Zooming out to all crash fatalities, Mississippi has the highest amount of crash deaths per population, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Where Are the Most Fatal Hit and Run Accidents in California?

When we narrow our investigation to hit and run rates to regions closer to home, we find numerous California counties that rank among the worst in the nation for fatal hit and run accidents. The California counties with the highest rates of fatal hit and run accidents from 2018 through 2022 were:

• Kern County, California (84 deaths): According to Smart Growth America, Bakersfield ranks highest out of any city in California and fourth in the country overall for its pedestrian death rate. Unsafe pedestrian crosswalks are a part of the problem. Illegal street racing is also a known issue in Bakersfield. According to the nonprofit organization Helping Hit and Run Tragedies (HHART), lawmakers have received more than 6,000 calls in one year related to street racing.
• Fresno County, California (91 deaths): Fresno has a rough profile across the board, and local news channel ABC 30 has a section specifically for reporting fatal hit and run accidents. Fresno ranks 7th in the nation for its pedestrian death rate, according to Smart Growth America.
• Merced County, California (25 deaths): According to 2021 data from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), the city of Merced is the second highest in the state for crashes involving underage drinking but nearly the lowest in the state for DUI arrests.
• Stanislaus County, California (47 deaths): Modesto has topped lists of the most dangerous cities for many kinds of traffic safety issues for years. The city has actively tried to slow down traffic, including redesigning sections of College Avenue and introducing a Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program (NTCP). There has been increasing pressure on local authorities to slow the traffic down.
• Tulare County, California (39 deaths): Looking at its overall traffic safety profile, Visalia has experienced an unusually high bicyclist fatality and injury OTS ranking, and UC Berkeley cited Tulare County as having a high per capita bicyclist fatality. Hopefully, this will change now that the city has secured $19.5 million for pedestrian and bike safety projects.

Wherever you have been charged with fleeing the scene of an accident, the guidance of an experienced hit and run defense attorney offers the best chance for putting up an effective defense and achieving a favorable outcome.

How Common Are Fatal Hit and Runs?

The Pew Research Foundation estimated in 2022 that 14.5 percent of all crashes involved a hit and run driver. Roughly 7.3 percent of fatal motor vehicle accidents involved a hit and run that year.

Some of the most important statistics about fatal hit and run accidents pertain to who is most likely to be a victim of these deadly crashes.  The vast majority of fatal hit and runs are pedestrians—62 percent, according to the League of American Bicyclists. Next most at risk are drivers of motor vehicles, at 17 percent, followed by passengers, at 11 percent, and finally, bicyclists, at 8 percent.

According to the AAA Foundation’s research, between 2006 and 2016, 19.5 percent of all pedestrian deaths were the result of fatal hit and runs, whereas only 1 percent of vehicle driver deaths were fatal hit and runs. (In 2021, that number was 23 percent.)

What that translates to, essentially, is that when pedestrians in America are fatally hit by a car, there is a one-in-five chance that that driver will leave the scene. If you’re facing hit and run charges, you’re far from alone—and, like others charged with this offense, you have the opportunity to minimize the impact on your life through an effective criminal defense strategy.

In traffic accidents, as in many other areas, marginalized populations are often disproportionately impacted. According to research conducted by the Governors Highway Safety Association, when considering all types of traffic crashes—not only fatal hit and runs—minorities are disproportionately represented in fatalities across the board. This figure especially affects pedestrians who are Black children ages four to 15.

Why Do Drivers Flee?

In the split-second that determines whether a driver stops the vehicle or leaves the scene, so many thoughts and fears may cross your mind that it’s difficult to even process them. You may not even know why you took the actions that eventually led to facing hit and run charges, but the fact that this phenomenon is so common shows how important it is to develop a further understanding of the reasons drivers flee the scene.

According to the AAA Foundation meta-analysis of numerous studies on the topic, factors that influence whether or not the perpetrator flees the scene include:

• The time of day or night
• The influence of substances
• The likely fault of the driver
• The age of the victim

For example, at-fault drivers are less likely to abandon a child under the age of six or an elderly person over the age of 80 compared to an adult between 31 and 55 years old.

Sometimes, there are other factors at play. Of all drivers who were involved in fatal crashes (and identified), 18.5 percent were driving too fast, 5.2 percent were distracted, and 11 percent were under the influence of drugs, medication, or alcohol, according to the NHTSA.

Although you can be charged with a hit and run for fleeing the scene even if you didn’t cause the accident, assertions that you were speeding, texting while driving, or driving under the influence can strengthen the case against you. That’s why it’s important to have reliable legal counsel on your side, challenging the prosecution’s arguments, introducing mitigating factors, and exposing all of the ways the prosecutor falls short of proving your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

What Else Should Californians Know About Fatal Hit and Run Accident Rates?

Efforts to reduce hit and run rates in the state have been made, but fatalities are still up. Between 2018 and 2021, California as a whole saw a 25 percent increase in fatal hit and runs (page 48), even though rates of all crashes and injuries went down (page 77).

Both rural and urban Californian communities are affected by fatal hit and runs. In the areas we serve, such as Los Angeles, as many of 3,097 fatal hit and run crashes occurred in 2021, according to the California OTS. When looking at all fatalities across the board (factoring in population per 100,000), rural communities like Alpine County, Inyo County, and Sierra County also had a surprisingly high rate of deaths in 2022.

At The Law Offices of Christopher Chaney, we recognize the importance of understanding the nuances of local court systems, traffic accident trends, and contributing factors in both urban and rural communities in Southern California. With our extensive local knowledge, we’re ready to help defendants throughout the region present the most effective defenses possible.

Why Hit and Run Accident Data Matters for Motorists Facing Charges

When you’re accused of having hit someone and left the scene, there may still be more to the story. Maybe you genuinely didn’t realize an impact had occurred. Perhaps you fled in a moment of panic but now want to make things right. Our hit and run defense attorneys can help you challenge the case against you, present compelling evidence and arguments in your defense, and pursue the most favorable possible resolution to this criminal legal matter.

If you’re facing charges of fleeing the scene of a crash, there are many factors that may have contributed to the offense: panic, confusion, and fear of getting in trouble. You likely weren’t thinking about the statistics of how many hit and run accidents happen or where they most commonly take place during the alleged violation—but this data still provides key insights when it comes to preparing your defense.

In locations where hit and run rates are on the rise or exceptionally high, your legal issue could potentially be complicated by local prosecutors’ efforts to crack down on offenders or make an example of them. Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors across the country face pressure to take tough stances on hit and runs—and to make arrests and secure convictions—particularly in areas where high rates of hit and run accidents have garnered publicity.

This data can also shed light on mitigating factors. For example, if numerous hit and runs occur on a certain stretch of road, it may be possible to identify factors like poor visibility due to road design or road conditions that may result in increased accidents, including situations in which a motorist was genuinely unaware of the impact or collision—which may provide an effective defense argument against hit and run charges.

Ultimately, your defense against hit and run accident charges requires extensive knowledge of the incident, the events that preceded and followed it, and all relevant details. The more information your defense attorney has, the better we’re able to build effective arguments in your favor.

Steps to Take After a Hit and Run Accident

Hit and run accidents can have serious legal implications in both the criminal justice system and the civil legal system. If you have been involved in a hit and run accident in any capacity, having the knowledgeable guidance of a trusted legal professional can help you make informed decisions about how to protect your legal rights.

What Should Someone Do If They or a Loved One Was Hit and the Driver Fled the Scene?

1. Call 911 immediately for medical assistance.
2. Don’t leave the scene to follow the driver. You may miss eyewitness accounts and will often look suspicious to police. Attempting to follow a driver who flees the scene could even put you in a dangerous situation.
3. Get as much information as possible, such as the license plate number, the make, model, and color, the damage to the vehicle, and where it was going. If you saw the driver, include their sex, hair length, color, race, attire, tattoos, piercings, or any other distinguishing features.
4. Take photos of the scene, yourself, and your vehicle.
5. Call the police as soon as possible.
6. Ask any witnesses if they can supply additional information and provide a statement to the police.
7. Contact your insurance. Some may require that you do this within 24 hours.
8. Find a lawyer in the area of the accident who can help you explore any avenues for legal recourse, including claims for financial compensation.

What Should You Do If You Have Been Charged With a Hit and Run?

1. Exercise your right to remain silent. If you are notified that you are under investigation or have been charged with a hit and run, avoid making any statements that could be used against you or attempting to explain the situation without an attorney’s guidance.
2. Gather any evidence you have in support of your defense, such as witness statements or photos that could establish an alibi or support arguments that you were unaware of the accident or did not intend to leave the scene.
3. Consult an experienced criminal defense attorney at The Law Offices of Christopher Chaney as soon as possible. Provide your attorney with the full facts, information, and evidence available so we can begin formulating the most effective defense strategy possible.

Your choice of attorney matters. Different states, cities, and counties will have different laws and regulations, as well as specific court procedures, perspectives on hit and run prosecution, and factors that can mitigate or aggravate the circumstances. You need our firm’s winning combination of local and legal knowledge to effectively pursue the most favorable outcome possible. Locals and visitors charged with a hit and run in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California choose The Law Offices of Christopher Chaney when they need a skilled, dedicated defense attorney on their side.

Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation, and let us help you fight criminal hit and run charges with confidence.