Pennsylvania Car Accident Statistics & Tips on Staying Safe

Every year, car accidents on Pennsylvania roads affect thousands of families, from minor fender benders to life-altering collisions. Understanding the scope of the problem, and the specific risks drivers face here in Western Pennsylvania, can help you drive more safely and know what to do if the unexpected happens.

Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, P.C.’s car accident attorneys represent injured drivers throughout Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Call us today at (412) 391-7610 if you have been injured in a car wreck.

Why Pennsylvania Crash Statistics Matter for Every Driver

Crash data is not just a collection of numbers. It reflects real patterns in when, where, and why accidents happen, and understanding those patterns can help drivers recognize risk before it becomes a collision. The same data can help drivers, policymakers, and communities identify common crash risks and safety priorities.

Recent Pennsylvania Car Accident Statistics

PennDOT's 2025 Crash Facts and Statistics report offers the clearest picture of just how often, and why, crashes happen across the state.

Statewide Crash and Fatality Trends

According to PennDOT's 2025 Crash Facts and Statistics report, Pennsylvania recorded 109,541 reportable traffic crashes in 2025. Those crashes resulted in 1,047 fatalities and 64,988 reported injuries.

That works out to about 300 reportable crashes per day, one traffic fatality about every eight hours, and roughly 178 people injured per day statewide.

While that is a significant number of crashes, the trend is moving in the right direction. Compared with 2024, reportable crashes decreased 1.1% and fatalities decreased 7.1%. PennDOT reports that the 1,047 traffic fatalities recorded in 2025 were Pennsylvania’s lowest total since statewide recordkeeping began in 1928.

Alcohol-related crashes represented a relatively small share of reportable crashes in 2025 but accounted for a disproportionate share of traffic fatalities.  Pennsylvania’s 2025 fatality rate was 1.10 fatalities per 100 million vehicle-miles traveled, compared with a projected U.S. rate of 1.20. PennDOT reports that Pennsylvania’s fatality rate has been below the national average for most years since 1937.

Western Pennsylvania & Pittsburgh Crash Trends

While statewide numbers tell part of the story, Allegheny County and the greater Pittsburgh area have their own distinct crash patterns worth understanding.

Allegheny County and Pittsburgh by the Numbers

Allegheny County, home to Pittsburgh, recorded 10,502 total crashes in 2025, roughly 9.6% of all crashes statewide, making it one of the busiest counties in Pennsylvania for reported traffic incidents. The county saw 60 fatal crashes resulting in 62 total fatalities in 2025, about 5.9% of the state's traffic deaths. Allegheny County also recorded 13 pedestrian fatalities in 2025.

PennDOT Engineering District 11, which includes Allegheny County and other southwestern Pennsylvania counties, reported 12,287 crashes, 83 fatalities, and 6,348 injuries in 2025.

High-Risk Locations and Conditions Around Pittsburgh

Several conditions consistently contribute to a higher concentration of serious crashes in the Pittsburgh area and across Western Pennsylvania:

• Statewide, crash activity was concentrated during afternoon and early-evening hours. Local traffic congestion may increase collision risks during heavily traveled periods in the Pittsburgh area. 
• Winter weather can make driving more difficult in Western Pennsylvania. Statewide, however, 74.5% of reportable crashes in 2025 occurred on dry roads, showing that serious collisions also occur in ordinary driving conditions.
• Steep grades and winding roads are common throughout the region's hilly topography.
• Low-light conditions can increase crash risks. Statewide, crashes occurring outside daylight hours accounted for a disproportionate share of traffic fatalities in 2025.

Leading Causes of Car Accidents in Pennsylvania

While every crash has its own specific circumstances, PennDOT's 2025 data points to several factors that consistently contribute to serious accidents across the state:

1. Speeding was listed as a contributing factor in many Pennsylvania crashes in 2025. PennDOT reported 24,282 speed-related crashes and 198 speed-related fatalities.
2. Improper turning, a factor in 13,690 crashes.
3. Distracted driving, a factor in 9,174 crashes.
4. Alcohol-related crashes were associated with 196 fatalities in 2025, or about 19% of Pennsylvania traffic fatalities. 
5. Careless or illegal passing, a factor in 5,489 crashes.
6. Tailgating, a factor in 5,737 crashes.
7. Driver fatigue, a factor in 2,667 crashes.

Common Types of Serious Crashes in Pennsylvania

Certain crash types proved far more common, and far more deadly, than others in 2025:

• Angle crashes: 32,107 crashes and 245 fatalities, often occurring at intersections
• Hit fixed object crashes: 32,047 crashes but the single highest fatality count of any crash type, at 326 deaths
• Rear-end collisions: The most frequent crash type overall at 20,163 incidents, though resulting in far fewer fatalities (63) relative to their frequency
• Hit non-motorist crashes: Less common at 4,665 incidents but resulted in 195 fatalities, a disproportionately high toll for the number of crashes involved

Practical Tips to Stay Safe on Pennsylvania Roads

Drivers can reduce their risk on Pennsylvania roads by following a few key safety practices:

• Avoid distractions, including phone use, while driving
• Follow posted speed limits and adjust speed for weather and road conditions
• Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Maintain a safe following distance, especially in heavy traffic or poor weather
• Use turn signals and check blind spots before changing lanes, particularly at intersections where angle crashes are common
• Get adequate rest before long drives to avoid fatigue
• Always wear a seat belt

Statewide, nearly 83% of people involved in crashes were properly restrained, yet unbelted occupants made up 42% of all crash fatalities despite being a much smaller share of those involved.

What to Do After a Car Accident in Pennsylvania

Knowing what to do after a crash can help protect your health, preserve important information, and prepare you to address an insurance claim. At Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, P.C., we suggest taking these steps: 

1. Check for injuries and call 911 if needed.
2. Move to a safe location if possible.
3. Exchange information with the other driver.
4. Take photographs of the accident scene and vehicle damage.
5. Get contact information from any witnesses.
6. Seek medical attention, even if injuries seem minor at first.
7. Call us at (412) 391-7610 before speaking with any insurance company.

How a Pittsburgh Car Accident Lawyer Can Help

Pennsylvania policies may include limited-tort or full-tort coverage elections. That election can affect the ability to seek non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, although exceptions and other coverage issues may apply. 

Because this distinction can meaningfully impact a claim, it is worth having your specific policy and coverage reviewed by an attorney. Our motor vehicle accident lawyers can investigate the crash, review available insurance coverage, and explain the damages that may be available based on the facts of the case. 

Why Choose Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, P.C. After a Crash?

Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, P.C. represents people injured in car accidents throughout Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, and Western Pennsylvania. Our attorneys bring more than 170 years of combined experience to injury claims, and we win 99.7% of our cases. Other law firms promise you great results but we are the only injury lawyers in Pittsburgh who tell you how often they win.

Our fee is only 25%, rather than the 40% fee charged by other lawyers, so we put more money in your pocket! Call (412) 391-7610 or contact Shenderovich, Shenderovich & Fishman, P.C. online for a free consultation.