New Analysis Reveals the States With the Highest Hit-and-Run Death Rates - California Tops the List at 11.3% - Social Media Explorer

"A new study from the Law Offices of James A. Welcome highlights a concerning and uneven trend in U.S. roadway safety: fatal hit-and-run crashes are rising disproportionately in certain states, particularly those with large metropolitan areas and dense traffic networks. Using National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data from 2019 to 2023, the analysis reviewed more than 186,000 fatal crashes nationwide. Of these, 13,001 involved a driver who fled the scene, meaning 7% of all fatal U.S. crashes now involve hit-and-runs."

"California recorded 2,178 fatal hit-and-run crashes, giving it the highest rate in the country at 11.3% - a full 4.3 percentage points above the national average. Nevada follows at 9.8%, and New Jersey takes third at 9.7%, marking a clear concentration of elevated hit-and-run percentages in high-density coastal and metro regions. These states share similar characteristics: larger cities, greater pedestrian volumes, high vehicle density, and more complex commuter networks"

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data from 2019 to 2023 cover more than 186,000 fatal crashes; 13,001 involved a driver who fled the scene, representing 7% of fatal crashes. State rates vary sharply and correlate with population density, congestion, and urban mobility patterns. California had the highest hit-and-run share at 11.3% (2,178 incidents), followed by Nevada (9.8%) and New Jersey (9.7%). New York, Illinois, Connecticut, and New Mexico each recorded about 9%. Rural and sparsely populated states report much lower hit-and-run fatality rates, exemplified by Maine.

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