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Car Accident Lawsuit | Get the Right Lawyer

Car accidents are a leading cause of serious injury and death in the U,S., as well as the number one source of personal injury litigation in the nation.

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Table of contents
  1. Latest Car Accident Lawsuit Updates
  2. August 5, 2026: DOT Updates Its Crash Estimate
  3. December 20, 2024: NHTSA Releases Early Traffic Death Estimates
  4. What Is a Motor Vehicle Crash?
  5. Who May Be Affected?
  6. Reported Injuries or Damages
  7. Evidence to Preserve
  8. Filing Deadlines
  9. Potential Compensation
  10. Frequently Asked Questions
  11. What Does the Research Say About Car Crash Deaths?
  12. Can I File a Claim If the Car Accident Was Partly My Fault?
  13. How Much Do Car Crashes Cost the Country?
  14. How Many Car Crash Deaths Involve Speeding?
  15. References
Car accidents killed 39,254 people in the United States in 2024, according to IIHS. The Department of Transportation says millions more suffer serious injuries each year. Many survivors face medical costs and lost income. No single car accident lawsuit or MDL exists. A car accident claim is an individual claim over injuries or losses from a motor vehicle crash. Injured people bring claims individually against the people or companies they hold responsible. Drivers, passengers, pedestrians, motorcyclists and bicyclists are among those hurt. Claims are allegations until a court decides them. Each claim depends on the facts of the crash and state law.
Lawsuit at a glance
  • Case or litigation name: No single case or MDL (claims are filed individually)
  • Defendants: None named
  • Court and docket number, when available: No filed case
  • MDL number, judge, and case count, when an MDL exists: No MDL
  • Filing date: No filing yet
  • Main allegations: None filed in a named case
  • Products or people involved: People injured in motor vehicle crashes

Latest Car Accident Lawsuit Updates

August 5, 2026: DOT Updates Its Crash Estimate

The U.S. Department of Transportation updated its Impact of Motor Vehicle Crashes page on August 5, 2026. The page estimates that 36,640 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2025 [1]. The figure is a federal estimate.

December 20, 2024: NHTSA Releases Early Traffic Death Estimates

NHTSA released early estimates of traffic fatalities for the first nine months of 2024. It estimated that 29,135 people died in traffic crashes [2]. That is a decrease of about 4.4% from the 30,490 fatalities projected for the first nine months of 2023. The release covers only part of the year.

What Is a Motor Vehicle Crash?

According to NHTSA, a crash in its Crash Investigation Sampling System involves at least one motor vehicle in transport on a trafficway [3]. NHTSA collects the data to help analyze crashes and injuries.

Who May Be Affected?

According to IIHS Fatality Facts 2024, 58% of crash deaths were passenger vehicle occupants, 18% pedestrians, 16% motorcyclists, 3% bicyclists and 2% large truck occupants [4]. These shares cover deaths only. Whether you have a claim depends on your own facts and your state’s law, and only an individual legal review can answer that.
Think you may qualify?
Schmidt & Clark offers a free case review for people hurt in car accidents. A review does not promise eligibility or any result. Start My Free Case Review

Reported Injuries or Damages

The figures below come from government crash statistics. They describe the scale of harm across the country, and they do not show who caused any one crash. A CDC fact sheet puts the cost of traffic crash deaths in Nebraska in 2018 at $349 million. That includes $3 million in medical costs and $346 million in work loss costs [5].

Evidence to Preserve

Keep anything that shows how the crash happened and what it cost you. NHTSA describes crash evidence such as skid marks, vehicle damage and medical records. Useful items include:
  • Photographs and video of the scene, the vehicles and your injuries
  • The police crash report number
  • Names and contact details of drivers and witnesses
  • Insurance information for everyone involved
  • Medical records and bills
  • Repair estimates for your vehicle
  • Proof of lost income
  • The vehicle itself, where possible

Filing Deadlines

Deadlines for filing a car accident lawsuit come from state law, and they depend on where the crash happened and where the claim is filed. Some states count from a different start date for injury or death. Missing a deadline can end a claim, so check with a lawyer promptly about the dates that apply to your crash.

Potential Compensation

Possible categories of damages after a car accident include medical expenses, lost income, property damage and pain and suffering. In a fatal crash, they also include funeral costs and wrongful death damages. Which categories apply depends on the facts and state law. Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Potential compensation differs for every crash. Related Articles:

Frequently Asked Questions

What Does the Research Say About Car Crash Deaths?

Research on car crash deaths says the problem can be reduced. The CDC says motor vehicle crashes and their resulting injuries are preventable. IIHS reports the rate of crash deaths per 100,000 people in 2024 was 44% lower than it was in 1975.

Can I File a Claim If the Car Accident Was Partly My Fault?

Whether you can file a claim if the car accident was partly your fault is a question of state law. A claim is only an allegation until a court decides it, so the facts of your crash matter.

How Much Do Car Crashes Cost the Country?

Car crashes cost the country about $340 billion a year in economic terms. IIHS cites the Department of Transportation’s most recent estimate of the annual economic cost of crashes. The figure covers the whole country and no single claim.

How Many Car Crash Deaths Involve Speeding?

Many car crash deaths involve speeding: in 2024, speeding was a factor in 29% of motor vehicle crash deaths, according to IIHS. That means roughly three in ten deaths involved speed. Speed is one factor among many, and it does not decide fault in any single crash.

References

  1. https://www.transportation.gov/NRSS/SafetyProblem
  2. https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/nhtsa-estimates-traffic-fatalities-declined-44-first-nine-months-2024
  3. https://www.nhtsa.gov/crash-data-systems/crash-investigation-sampling-system
  4. https://www.iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/yearly-snapshot
  5. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/120613