Hurt in a crash? Call the team at Attorneys of Idaho to protect your rights. Our Boise-based legal team specializes in holding negligent drivers accountable throughout the state.
Every year, thousands of crashes occur on Idaho roads — and while some are the result of pure bad luck, most are preventable. At Attorneys of Idaho, we believe that understanding the most common contributing factors in local collisions is key to safer driving and stronger injury claims. In this article, we’ll break down the latest Idaho crash data and explain what it means for you as a driver, passenger, or crash victim.
1. Speeding Still Tops the List
According to the Idaho Transportation Department’s 2023 Crash Report, speeding was the leading contributing factor in single-vehicle crashes, involved in 21% of such incidents. High speeds increase stopping distance, reduce reaction time, and worsen the severity of injuries. Notably, overturns were the most harmful event in fatal crashes, many tied to excessive speed on rural roads.
- Rural roads accounted for 69% of all fatal crashes in 2023, despite lower traffic volumes. High speeds and limited visibility create a dangerous mix in these areas.
2. Impaired Driving: A Persistent and Deadly Risk
Although the number of impaired driving deaths decreased slightly in 2023, it still accounted for 38% of all fatalities — totaling 105 deaths. Most of those killed were the impaired drivers themselves, passengers riding with them, or pedestrians.
Driving under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or prescription medications can carry steep civil and criminal consequences in Idaho. If you’ve been hurt by an impaired driver, you may be entitled to significant compensation — not just for medical bills, but for pain, lost income, and emotional distress.
3. Aggressive Driving Contributed to Half of All Crashes
Idaho classifies aggressive driving based on behaviors like tailgating, weaving through traffic, running red lights, and road rage. In 2023, aggressive driving factored into 50% of all crashes and caused 103 deaths — a major increase from the prior year.
🚨 Failing to yield, following too closely, and ignoring signals or stop signs were among the top infractions linked to fatal multi-vehicle accidents.
4. Distracted Driving Continues to Climb
Smartphones, GPS, and even kids in the backseat can lead to dangerous inattention. In 2023, distraction played a role in 17% of all crashes, and 48 people lost their lives in distracted driving incidents. The most frequent distraction-related crashes were rear-end and angle collisions — typically in intersections and on highways.
📱 Idaho has banned texting while driving since 2012, but enforcement is challenging. As personal injury lawyers, we can subpoena phone records and dashcam footage to prove distraction in your case.
5. Youthful Drivers Are Disproportionately Dangerous
Drivers between 15 and 19 years old are 2.4 times more likely to be involved in a crash that results in injury or death compared to older drivers. In 2023, 40 people died in accidents involving teen drivers, often due to inexperience, speeding, or distraction.
If you or your child was involved in a crash with a teen driver, it’s important to evaluate the insurance policies and potential liability of the driver’s parents or guardians.
6. Seat Belts Save Lives — But Too Many Go Unbuckled
Only 42% of those killed in crashes in 2023 were wearing seat belts. Of the 50 people killed in rollover crashes, a majority of the unbuckled victims were either partially or fully ejected from their vehicles.
Wearing a seat belt reduces the chance of death by up to 80% in rollover accidents. From a legal standpoint, wearing a seat belt may also affect how damages are calculated in a personal injury lawsuit.
7. The Economic Toll: Nearly $6 Billion in 2023
Beyond the human impact, crashes cost Idahoans billions in medical bills, lost productivity, and property damage. The 2023 report estimates a $5.97 billion total cost, or $3,037 per resident — costs largely passed on through taxes and insurance.
What This Means for Idaho Crash Victims
If you’ve been injured in an Idaho crash — whether on a city street in Boise or a rural road in Canyon County — it’s crucial to determine what caused the crash and who may be held responsible. Common crash contributors like speeding, distraction, or alcohol use can open the door to enhanced compensation and punitive damages.
At Attorneys of Idaho, our car accident team is skilled in uncovering negligence, working with accident reconstructionists, and holding wrongdoers accountable. We know Idaho law. We know the roads. And we know how to fight for you.
Call for a Free Consultation
If you’ve been injured in a car crash in Idaho, don’t wait. Call Attorneys of Idaho today at (208) 314-8888 or visit www.attorneysofidaho.com to schedule your free consultation. We’ll handle the legal legwork so you can focus on healing.
📍 Serving all of Idaho.
