Driving under the influence (DUI) can cause substantial harm to the impaired driver and anyone they encounter upon the road. DUIs can lead to single-vehicle collisions, multiple vehicle crashes, pedestrian accidents, and even severe structural damage that puts countless lives at risk. In this article, we explore key DUI facts and statistics in the United States. We primarily draw upon data from 2019, the most recent year for which data is available for most states.

What are the Different Types of Driving Impairments?

Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a criminal offense in all states. Some states group all charges of impairment into one category, usually either DUI or driving while intoxicated/impaired (DWI). In states that only charge one of these offenses, the terms are frequently used interchangeably. When a state charges for both DUIs and DWIs, a DWI typically refers to impairment by drugs and a DUI typically relates to alcohol.

State-by-State DUI Fatality Statistics

Using public data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), we tracked key DUI statistics across the U.S. in 2019. We primarily focused on fatal accidents. In the chart below, you can see the highest blood alcohol concentration (BAC) amongst all drivers involved in a collision and the percentage of a state’s fatal accidents that were alcohol related.

Notable findings:

  • In some order, California, Texas, and Florida had the highest number of crash-related fatalities in all three tracked BAC categories. According to the United States Census Bureau, these three states also had the highest populations in 2019.
  • The District of Columbia (26), Vermont (49), and Rhode Island (71) had the least crash-related deaths amongst our tracked categories.
  • In 20 states, at least 30% of traffic-related fatalities involved one or more impaired drivers.
  • The states with the highest percentages of alcohol-related crash fatalities were Rhode Island (44%), North Dakota (41%), and New Hampshire (40%). Despite having such a high percentage of alcohol-impaired fatalities, Rhode Island’s overall population was only at 1.06 million in 2019, resulting in less lethal accidents than more populous states.

 

State # Fatalities, Highest Driver BAC = 0 # Fatalities, Highest Driver BAC = 0.08+ # Fatalities, Highest Driver BAC = 0.15+ % Statewide Fatal Crashes Involved Alcohol
Alabama 603 277 187 30%
Alaska 41 22 12 28%
Arizona 670 260 176 27%
Arkansas 347 128 89 25%
California 2,473 949 630 28%
Colorado 395 164 121 27%
Connecticut 139 94 61 38%
Delaware 97 31 24 24%
District of Columbia 15 6 5 26%
Florida 2,258 790 529 25%
Georgia 1,066 353 224 24%
Hawaii 62 36 20 38%
Idaho 143 68 51 34%
Illinois 640 314 213 31%
Indiana 576 210 145 26%
Iowa 212 100 67 30%
Kansas 311 91 59 22%
Kentucky 552 150 106 20%
Louisiana 473 220 144 30%
Maine 99 50 36 32%
Maryland 332 167 112 32%
Massachusetts 202 110 78 33%
Michigan 681 261 169 26%
Minnesota 262 86 58 24%
Mississippi 443 170 118 26%
Missouri 598 235 154 27%
Montana 113 66 50 38%
Nebraska 177 58 38 24%
Nevada 191 92 66 30%
New Hampshire 55 40 29 40%
New Jersey 391 129 81 23%
New Mexico 267 129 89 31%
New York 614 262 170 28%
North Carolina 1,002 323 215 24%
North Dakota 52 41 32 41%
Ohio 727 351 232 30%
Oklahoma 457 154 120 24%
Oregon 283 167 118 22%
Pennsylvania 712 298 204 28%
Rhode Island 27 25 19 44%
South Carolina 671 285 197 28%
South Dakota 70 28 18 27%
Tennessee 800 290 201 26%
Texas 2,068 1,332 890 37%
Utah 199 39 26 16%
Vermont 33 9 7 19%
Virginia 548 236 171 28%
Washington 310 172 119 37%
West Virginia 196 56 36 22%
Wisconsin 361 183 126 32%
Wyoming 100 36 30 25%
U.S. Totals 24,114 10,143 6,872 N/A

Alcohol-Influenced Motorcycle Statistics

A comprehensive study by Salter, Healy, Rivera & Heptner tracks alcohol-impaired motorcycle fatalities in 2019. We can see that, in addition to leading all states in the percentage of total fatal accidents involving alcohol, Rhode Island also has the highest percentage of alcohol-influenced motorcycle deaths. Florida, California, and Texas again lead all states in the overall number of traffic-related fatalities, including those where a motorcyclist had a BAC of 0.08 or higher.

Rank State Total # Fatalities BAC .08+ % Fatalities With BAC .08+
1 Rhode Island 11 7 64%
2 Iowa 38 17 44%
2 Massachusetts 44 20 44%
4 Wyoming 12 5 43%
5 Montana 22 9 42%
6 Connecticut 43 18 41%
7 West Virginia 27 11 39%
8 Idaho 24 9 37%
8 Illinois 131 48 37%
8 Texas 400 147 37%
11 New Jersey 79 28 36%
12 Virginia 93 32 35%
13 Delaware 15 5 34%
13 Kansas 36 12 34%
13 Louisiana 85 29 34%
13 Minnesota 41 14 34%
17 Ohio 148 49 33%
18 North Dakota 9 3 32%
18 South Carolina 140 45 32%
20 Alabama 90 27 30%
20 Colorado 93 28 30%
20 Maine 25 8 30%
20 Michigan 126 38 30%
20 Nebraska 24 7 30%
20 New Mexico 49 15 30%
26 Indiana 120 35 29%
26 New Hampshire 27 8 29%
26 Washington 89 26 29%
26 Wisconsin 79 23 29%
30 Oregon 53 15 28%
30 Tennessee 147 42 28%
32 Arizona 169 46 27%
32 California 451 123 27%
32 District of Columbia 3 1 27%
32 Florida 559 149 27%
36 Hawaii 20 5 26%
36 Nevada 55 14 26%
36 New York 129 33 26%
39 Alaska 4 1 25%
39 Maryland 71 18 25%
39 Oklahoma 66 17 25%
42 Missouri 120 29 24%
42 Pennsylvania 166 39 24%
44 Georgia 164 38 23%
44 North Carolina 203 48 23%
46 Mississippi 37 8 22%
47 Utah 34 7 21%
48 Arkansas 58 12 20%
49 Kentucky 83 16 19%
50 Vermont 7 1 16%
51 South Dakota 14 2 15%

Annual DUI Crash Facts & Figures

From 2016-2019, the U.S. experienced no less than 10,142 annual alcohol-impaired crash fatalities. In addition to the tremendous cost in lives lost, DUI crashes caused considerable property and economic damages. In the state of Arizona alone, the costs associated with property damage, fatal crashes, and collision injuries in 2020 totaled $17,193,082,878 in economic damages.

Annual DUI Crash Stats, 2016-2019

Can I File a Lawsuit Against a Drunk Driver?

If you or a loved one suffered injury in a crash caused by an impaired driver, you may be wondering if you have grounds to sue. It’s important to note that every personal injury case is unique, and you should always speak to a local attorney that is familiar with your state’s laws and jurisdictions. Depending on the state you live in and the circumstances, you may be subject to:

  • No-fault laws: If you live in a no-fault state, there is a threshold in place preventing you from filing suit for a motor vehicle crash unless your damages exceed a mandated dollar amount or your wounds are of a statutory severity. If you suffered minor injuries or property damage, you will most likely be unable to file a civil suit and will need to reach out to your insurance company.
  • Pure negligence laws: In a state with pure negligence personal injury laws, you are most likely free to sue a drunk driver for injuries sustained. You will need to prove fault, as in any other personal injury lawsuit.
  • Wrongful death laws: If a loved one is killed by an impaired driver, you may be able to bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible motorist. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to recover economic, non-economic, and punitive damages.