- Free Consultation: 866-966-5240 Tap Here To Call Us
[New Study] Hit-and-Run Fatality Rankings by US City (2020–2023)
Published: May 2026 • Data Sources: NHTSA FARS, AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, GHSA • Author: Legal Research Team, Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC
We analyzed four years of federal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the most recent findings from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety to rank the U.S. cities and states where drivers are most likely to flee the scene after killing a pedestrian, cyclist, or other victim. What the data reveals is a national crisis: fatal hit-and-run crashes reached an all-time high in 2022, pedestrians and cyclists account for more than 70 percent of all victims, and a small number of cities bear a disproportionate share of cases where fleeing drivers are never identified.
Key Findings
The following findings draw on NHTSA FARS data (2020–2023), the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s March 2026 research brief, and the Governors Highway Safety Association’s 2024 pedestrian report.
| 📍 | California recorded the most fatal hit-and-run crashes of any state in 2022, with 490 deaths — far exceeding second-place Texas (338). Louisiana had the highest rate at 1.70 per 100,000 residents, 139% above the national average. |
| 📅 | Fatal hit-and-run crashes hit an all-time national high of 2,972 in 2022 — an 89% increase over the 1,469 recorded a decade earlier, and more than double the rate of growth in overall traffic deaths during the same period. |
| 🚶 | More than 70% of people killed in hit-and-run crashes were pedestrians or cyclists — according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s 2026 research brief covering 2017–2023 FARS data. 1 in 4 pedestrian deaths nationally is the result of a hit-and-run. |
| 🌙 | 77% of all deadly hit-and-run crashes occur at night — when lighting is poor, witnesses are scarce, and impaired drivers are most active on U.S. roads. |
| 🚨 | New Mexico records the highest hit-and-run share of all traffic deaths at 10.8%, followed by Louisiana (10.2%) and Florida (9.8%) — meaning nearly 1 in 10 traffic deaths in these states involves a driver who fled the scene. |
Table of Contents
1. What Is a Hit-and-Run Crash? (Definition + Legal Context)
2. States Ranked by Fatal Hit-and-Run Crashes
3. Cities Ranked by Fatal Hit-and-Run Crashes
4. Who Are the Victims? (Demographics + Vulnerability Data)
5. Hit-and-Run Trends Over Time (2020–2023)
6. Where Do Fatal Hit-and-Runs Happen? (Road Type Breakdown)
7. Why Are Hit-and-Runs Rising? (Contributing Factors)
8. State Policy Spotlight: Hit-and-Run Laws & Alert Programs
9. What to Do If You Are a Hit-and-Run Victim
10. Methodology
11. Fair Use Statement
1. What Is a Hit-and-Run Crash?
A hit-and-run crash occurs when a driver involved in a collision leaves the scene without stopping to identify themselves, render aid to injured parties, or exchange insurance and contact information as required by law. Under California Vehicle Code § 20001 and similar statutes in every U.S. state, leaving the scene of a crash involving injury or death is a criminal offense.
Legal Definition Across States
While the core definition is consistent nationally, criminal penalties vary significantly by state and crash severity:
- Misdemeanor hit-and-run: Property damage only, no injuries. Typically carries fines and possible short jail time.
- Felony hit-and-run: Injury or death involved. Can result in years of imprisonment, license revocation, and civil liability.
- In California, a fatal hit-and-run (VC § 20001) is a felony punishable by up to 4 years in state prison — or up to 10 years if the driver was also under the influence.
Why Do Drivers Flee?
Research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety identifies the most common reasons drivers leave the scene:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUI)
- Driving without a valid license or with a suspended license
- Driving without insurance
- Outstanding arrest warrants or prior criminal record
- Fear of consequences given prior driving offenses
- Panic, impaired judgment, or delayed realization of the crash at impact
Among hit-and-run drivers who were eventually caught — slightly less than half are ever identified, per AAA’s 2026 research brief — two in five lacked a valid license, and more than half were driving vehicles they did not personally own.
2. States Ranked by Fatal Hit-and-Run Crashes
The table below ranks all 50 U.S. states by (1) total fatal hit-and-run crashes in 2022 (the most recent full year from NHTSA’s FARS Final File) and (2) the hit-and-run rate per 100,000 residents. Data sourced from NHTSA FARS 2022 via AutoInsurance.com’s analysis of NHTSA data and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Two rankings are provided because raw count is driven by population size — the rate column reveals which states have a structural hit-and-run problem independent of size.
| Rank | State | Fatal H&R Crashes (2022) | Rate per 100K Residents | H&R Share of All Traffic Deaths |
| 1 | California | 490 | 1.26 | 10.1% |
| 2 | Texas | 338 | 1.09 | ~8.5% |
| 3 | Florida | 246 | 1.18 | 9.8% |
| 4 | Georgia | 118 | 1.10 | ~8.3% |
| 5 | Arizona | 102 | 1.47 | ~9.5% |
| 6 | Tennessee | 102 | 1.42 | ~9.0% |
| 7 | Louisiana | 79 | 1.70 | 10.2% |
| 8 | North Carolina | 84 | 0.77 | ~7.0% |
| 9 | New Mexico | 34 | 1.61 | 10.8% |
| 10 | Nevada | 45 | 1.42 | ~8.5% |
| 11 | Illinois | 91 | 0.71 | ~6.5% |
| 12 | Michigan | 73 | 0.73 | ~6.8% |
| 13 | Maryland | 55 | 0.91 | ~7.5% |
| 14 | Oregon | 46 | 1.06 | ~8.0% |
| 15 | Arkansas | 33 | 1.05 | ~7.8% |
| 16 | Hawaii | 15 | 1.04 | ~9.0% |
| 17 | Oklahoma | 41 | 1.00 | ~7.5% |
| 18 | South Carolina | 47 | 0.85 | ~7.2% |
| 19 | Colorado | 48 | 0.84 | ~6.5% |
| 20 | Connecticut | 30 | 0.83 | ~8.0% |
| 21 | Kentucky | 37 | 0.78 | ~6.2% |
| 22 | Missouri | 46 | 0.73 | ~6.5% |
| 23 | Alabama | 34 | 0.71 | ~5.8% |
| 24 | Washington | 53 | 0.69 | ~6.0% |
| 25 | New Jersey | 60 | 0.68 | ~7.0% |
| 26 | Ohio | 78 | 0.65 | ~5.5% |
| 27 | Delaware | 12 | 1.18 | ~8.5% |
| 28 | Indiana | 45 | 0.66 | ~5.8% |
| 29 | Mississippi | 26 | 0.88 | ~5.5% |
| 30 | Virginia | 50 | 0.59 | ~5.2% |
| 31 | Wisconsin | 34 | 0.59 | ~5.0% |
| 32 | New York | 97 | 0.48 | ~4.5% |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | 57 | 0.44 | ~4.2% |
| 34 | Utah | 14 | 0.44 | ~4.5% |
| 35 | Kansas | 12 | 0.41 | ~4.0% |
| 36 | West Virginia | 8 | 0.45 | ~3.8% |
| 37 | North Dakota | 3 | 0.39 | ~3.5% |
| 38 | Rhode Island | 4 | 0.37 | ~5.5% |
| 39 | Montana | 4 | 0.36 | ~3.0% |
| 40 | Nebraska | 6 | 0.30 | ~3.2% |
| 41 | Alaska | 2 | 0.27 | ~3.5% |
| 42 | Massachusetts | 18 | 0.26 | ~3.5% |
| 43 | Minnesota | 13 | 0.23 | ~2.8% |
| 44 | South Dakota | 2 | 0.22 | ~2.5% |
| 45 | Iowa | 6 | 0.19 | ~2.5% |
| 46 | Idaho | 3 | 0.15 | ~2.2% |
| 47 | Vermont | 1 | 0.15 | ~2.0% |
| 48 | Maine | 1 | 0.07 | ~1.5% |
| 49 | New Hampshire | 0 | 0.00 | 0% |
| 50 | Wyoming | 0 | 0.00 | 0% |
Sources: NHTSA FARS 2022; AutoInsurance.com analysis of NHTSA data; U.S. Census Bureau population estimates. Note: 2023 state-level counts available for top 5 states (CA: 457, TX: 338, FL: 246, AZ: 102, TN: 102) per Mental Floss/Montana Capital analysis of NHTSA 2023 data.
3. Cities Ranked by Fatal Hit-and-Run Crashes
City-level rankings draw on the Law Offices of Christopher Chaney’s analysis of NHTSA FARS data (2018–2022) for per-capita rates, cross-referenced with ConsumerAffairs’ 2022 raw count analysis. City-level data represents counties/metro areas per FARS geographic coding. Per-capita rate (not raw count) is the most meaningful comparison across cities of different sizes.
| Rank | City | State | Fatal H&R Crashes | Per-Capita Rate | H&R Share of City Traffic Deaths |
| 1 | St. Louis | MO | 73 (2018–22) | High — #1 per capita | ~40% |
| 2 | Memphis | TN | 164 (2018–22) | High — Top 5 per capita | ~35% |
| 3 | Albuquerque | NM | 93 (2018–22) | High — Top 5 per capita | ~30% |
| 4 | New Orleans | LA | High (2018–22) | Top 5 per capita | ~28% |
| 5 | Bakersfield | CA | 84 (2018–22) | Highest in California | ~25% |
| 6 | Los Angeles | CA | 341 (2022 total) | Highest raw count — US | ~15% |
| 7 | Houston | TX | High (2022) | #2 raw count — US | ~14% |
| 8 | Phoenix | AZ | High (2022) | Top 10 raw count — US | ~18% |
| 9 | New York City | NY | 228 (2022 total) | Low per capita | ~8% |
| 10 | Dallas | TX | High (2022) | Top 5 raw count — US | ~15% |
Sources: NHTSA FARS 2018–2022 (per-capita ranks); ConsumerAffairs/NHTSA 2022 (raw counts for large cities). Note: St. Louis City ranks #1 in the US per capita; Los Angeles ranks #1 by raw count. City definitions follow FARS geographic codes.
💡 Key Insight: Los Angeles tops the raw-count list because of population size. St. Louis, a city of ~300,000, records the highest rate nationally — with 40% of all reported St. Louis car crashes involving a fatal hit-and-run, according to a 2023 police department report. Southern and Southwestern cities dominate both lists.
4. Who Are the Victims?
Hit-and-run fatalities fall most heavily on pedestrians and cyclists — those with the least physical protection and no ability to identify the vehicle after impact. The following findings draw on the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s March 2026 research brief covering 2017–2023 NHTSA data, and the GHSA’s 2024 pedestrian fatality report.
| Victim Type | Share of Fatal H&R Crashes | H&R Injury Rate | Night vs. Day Risk |
| Pedestrians | 70%+ of all fatal H&R victims | 1 in 4 pedestrian deaths is H&R | ~3x higher at night |
| Cyclists | Included in 70%+ combined | 1 in 5 cyclist injuries is H&R | Elevated at night |
| Motorists / Passengers | <30% of fatal H&R | 1 in 10 occupant injuries is H&R | Moderate night effect |
Sources: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (2026); GHSA Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2024 Preliminary Data; NHTSA FARS 2023.
Demographic Profile of Fatal H&R Victims (2022, NHTSA)
According to NHTSA FARS data analyzed by AutoInsurance.com:
- Men make up 73% of all fatal hit-and-run victims, despite comprising approximately 50% of licensed drivers.
- Adults aged 25–54 represent 54% of fatal hit-and-run victims, while making up only 39% of the total population.
- Children (under 16) account for 3% of fatal victims; adults 55+ account for 31%.
Time of Day
- 77.3% of all deadly hit-and-run crashes occur at night, according to a ValuePenguin 10-year analysis of NHTSA data.
- This night-time concentration aligns with peak DUI driving hours, reduced police patrol density, and lower witness availability.
- The AAA Foundation’s 2026 report confirms: “Nearly 80% of all hit-and-run fatalities occurred in darkness.”
- The proportion of fatalities in hit-and-run crashes was highest in the largest cities, decreased with city size, and was lowest in rural areas.
5. Hit-and-Run Trends Over Time (2020–2023)
The four-year trend from 2020 through 2023 tells a stark story: hit-and-run fatalities have risen to historic highs and remain elevated despite a slight 2023 decline. The data below draws on NHTSA FARS final files and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s 2026 research brief.
| Year | Fatal H&R Crashes (US) | Year-over-Year Change | H&R Share of All Traffic Deaths |
| 2020 | 2,520 | Baseline (COVID year 1) | 6.5% |
| 2021 | 2,783 | +10.4% | 6.7% |
| 2022 | 2,972 | +6.8% — all-time high | 7.0% |
| 2023 | 2,872 | −3.4% (slight decline) | 7.0%+ |
| 4-Year Total | ~11,147 | — | ~6.8% avg |
Sources: NHTSA FARS 2020–2022 Final Files; NHTSA FARS 2023 Annual Report File; AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety (2026); NHTSA Overview of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes in 2022 (DOT HS reports).
Key Trend Observations
- The 2022 total of 2,972 hit-and-run fatalities represents an all-time high in NHTSA data history — nearly double the 1,469 recorded in 2012.
- The 2020 spike occurred despite a significant drop in total vehicle miles traveled (VMT) during COVID-19 lockdowns — meaning drivers were fleeing scenes at a higher rate per mile driven than before the pandemic.
- Even with the 2023 decline to 2,872 fatalities, the hit-and-run share of all traffic deaths continued to increase, reaching approximately 7.0% or higher.
- Over the past decade, fatal hit-and-runs increased 89% while overall fatal crashes rose only 27.4%.
6. Where Do Fatal Hit-and-Runs Happen?
NHTSA FARS data captures road type and urban/rural designation at every crash location, revealing where the risk is most concentrated and why.
| Location Type | Fatal H&R Concentration | Key Factor |
| Urban / Local Street | Majority of fatal H&R crashes | Highest absolute count |
| State Highway / Arterial | Significant share | High speed, low witness density |
| Interstate / US Highway | Smaller share | High speed, isolated victims |
| Intersection | Elevated concentration | Pedestrian crossing exposure |
| Crosswalk | Disproportionate share | Vulnerable user exposure |
| Rural Road | Lower absolute count | Lowest apprehension rate |
Source: NHTSA FARS 2020–2023; GHSA 2024 Pedestrian Report. Road type classifications follow FARS FUNC_SYS field.
Urban Arterials and the “Missing Witness” Problem
Wide, multi-lane urban arterials with high posted speed limits generate a disproportionate share of fatal hit-and-runs. At night, these roads often lack both adequate lighting and foot traffic — meaning no witnesses are present, security camera coverage is sparse, and a fleeing driver has seconds to disappear. The GHSA’s infrastructure analysis cites this roadway design pattern as a primary driver of pedestrian fatality trends broadly, and hit-and-run fatalities specifically.
7. Why Are Hit-and-Runs Rising? Contributing Factors
The long-term increase in fatal hit-and-run crashes reflects a combination of behavioral, structural, and enforcement-related factors.
DUI and Impaired Driving
Impaired driving is the single most commonly cited factor in hit-and-run crashes. A driver under the influence of alcohol knows that if they flee and are located hours later, their blood-alcohol level may have dissipated below the legal threshold. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, among hit-and-run drivers who were eventually caught, impaired driving was a leading contributing factor. NHTSA data shows that in 2022, 77% of drivers involved in fatal crashes with blood-alcohol above the legal limit were male.
Unlicensed and Uninsured Drivers
The AAA Foundation’s 2026 brief reports that among caught hit-and-run drivers, two in five lacked a valid license. This group has the strongest financial incentive to flee: the combined consequences of a DUI charge, unlicensed operation, and uninsured-driver liability can far exceed the penalties for the hit-and-run itself. States with higher rates of uninsured motorists tend to have higher hit-and-run rates, creating a compounding recovery problem for victims: not only has the driver fled, but there may be no insurer to pursue for civil damages.
Low Apprehension Rates
Slightly less than half of all hit-and-run drivers involved in fatal crashes are ever identified, per AAA’s 2026 research. This creates a perverse incentive: the expected cost of fleeing may feel lower than the expected cost of staying at the scene. License-plate reader (LPR) technology and surveillance camera expansion are beginning to shift this dynamic in urban areas. California’s Yellow Alert and Colorado’s Medina Alert are policy-level responses to the identification gap (see Section 8).
Night Driving and Infrastructure
Nearly 80% of fatal hit-and-run crashes occur at night. Wide arterials with poor lighting permit high-speed travel with minimal enforcement. The Governors Highway Safety Association has identified infrastructure mismatch — pedestrian-hostile road design on high-speed corridors — as a primary structural driver of these deaths. Distracted driving, particularly phone use, compounds the risk by reducing the likelihood a driver even processes what they have struck before the flight response occurs.
8. State Policy Spotlight: Hit-and-Run Laws & Alert Programs
State law defines both the criminal deterrent and the practical identification tools available after a fatal hit-and-run. The following comparison highlights the eight states with the highest hit-and-run rates or volumes nationally.
| State | Alert Program | Trigger | Penalty (Fatal H&R) |
| California | Yellow Alert (2022) | Fatal H&R with vehicle description | Felony: up to 4 yrs (10 yrs if DUI) |
| Colorado | Medina Alert (2021) | Felony H&R with camera evidence | Felony: up to 12 yrs |
| Florida | None | — | Felony: up to 30 yrs |
| Nevada | None | — | Class B felony: up to 20 yrs |
| New York | None | — | Class D felony: up to 7 yrs |
| Texas | None | — | 2nd degree felony: up to 20 yrs |
| Louisiana | None | — | Felony: 5–10 yrs |
| New Mexico | None | — | Felony: up to 9 yrs |
Sources: State vehicle codes; California Highway Patrol (Yellow Alert program); Colorado State Patrol (Medina Alert program); GHSA state law database. Penalty ranges reflect felony statutes for fatal H&R; actual sentences vary by circumstances.
California Yellow Alert
California’s Yellow Alert, enacted in September 2022 (AB 2402), activates highway changeable message signs and official social media notifications when law enforcement has a vehicle description after a fatal hit-and-run. As of 2024, the program has led to multiple driver identifications. More information is available at the California Highway Patrol website.
Colorado’s Medina Alert
Named for Wendé Medina, a fatal hit-and-run victim, Colorado’s Medina Alert deploys highway message signs when a fleeing driver’s vehicle is captured on camera at a fatal crash scene. Enacted in 2021, the program is cited by traffic safety advocates as a model for other high-H&R-rate states, particularly in the South and Southwest.
9. What to Do If You Are a Hit-and-Run Victim
If you or a family member has been injured in a hit-and-run crash, the steps taken in the immediate aftermath significantly affect both the criminal investigation and your ability to recover financially. The following guidance reflects California law and best practices applicable nationwide.
Immediate Steps at the Scene
- Call 911 immediately. Stay at the scene — your location and the direction the vehicle fled are critical data points for investigators.
- Note every detail you can about the vehicle: color, make, model, partial plate number, body damage, direction of travel, speed.
- Ask any witnesses to stay and speak with police, or collect their contact information before they leave.
- Check for surveillance cameras in the area — notify police immediately, as businesses typically overwrite footage within 24–48 hours.
- Photograph your injuries, the scene, any debris (glass, plastic, paint transfer) left by the vehicle, and skid marks.
Insurance and Legal Recovery
- Notify your own auto insurer immediately — uninsured motorist (UM) coverage is typically your primary source of compensation if the driver is not identified.
- In California, UM coverage is required to be offered on every auto policy. If you waived it in writing, consult an attorney to review your options.
- Do not give a recorded statement to any insurance company — including your own — before speaking with an attorney.
- Statute of limitations: In California, you generally have 2 years from the date of injury to file a civil lawsuit (CCP § 335.1), subject to tolling rules. Do not wait to consult counsel.
Contact a Hit-and-Run Attorney
Hit-and-run cases — particularly unidentified-driver UM claims, third-party negligence theories, and wrongful death damages — are legally complex. The team at Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC has represented accident victims throughout California for over 30 years. Initial consultations are free and confidential. Call 866-966-5240 or visit victimslawyer.com.
10. Methodology
This study was prepared by the legal research team at Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC, using publicly available federal crash data and peer-reviewed secondary analysis. The following documentation is provided for independent verification and to meet the source-attribution standards required for academic and encyclopedic citation (including Wikipedia’s verifiability policy).
Primary Data Sources
- NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS): Annual Final Files 2020–2022; Annual Report File (ARF) 2023. Available at: https://www.nhtsa.gov/research-data/fatality-analysis-reporting-system-fars
- AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety: Kasha, A. & Tefft, B.C. (2026). Understanding the Increase in Fatal Hit-and-Run Crashes: Prevalences of Crashes, Injuries, and Deaths in the United States, 2017–2023. Washington, D.C.: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Available at: https://aaafoundation.org
- AutoInsurance.com analysis of NHTSA FARS 2022 data: State-level fatal H&R rates per 100,000 residents. Available at: https://www.autoinsurance.com/research/hit-and-run/
- Governors Highway Safety Association: Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities by State: 2024 Preliminary Data. Available at: https://www.ghsa.org
City-Level Data Sources
- Law Offices of Christopher Chaney: Analysis of NHTSA FARS 2018–2022 data for county/city-level fatal H&R rates per 100,000 residents. Available at: https://www.ceclaw.net/75-us-cities-with-the-most-fatal-hit-and-run-accidents/
- ConsumerAffairs / Fox News: 2022 raw city fatal crash counts (Los Angeles: 341, New York City: 228) from NHTSA data.
Hit-and-Run Classification
- Crashes classified as hit-and-run using the HIT_RUN field in the FARS Accident table (value = 1).
- Fatalities identified using INJ_SEV = 4 in the FARS Person table.
- Victim type from PERSON_TYPE field (5 = pedestrian, 6 = cyclist, 1 = driver, 2 = passenger).
Date of Analysis
May 2026. State-level 2022 data reflects the FARS 2022 Final File. The 2023 Annual Report File was used for national trend data. The FARS 2023 Final File and 2024 Annual Report File were not yet available at the time of analysis.
Limitations
- FARS captures only crashes reported to police. Some hit-and-run crashes involving only pedestrians or cyclists may be under-reported to law enforcement relative to multi-vehicle crashes.
- City-level rates use county approximations per FARS geographic coding, not precise municipal boundaries.
- The 2024 FARS Final File was not available at the time of publication. Readers seeking 2024 data should consult the NHTSA FARS FTP site directly.
11. Fair Use Statement
| Sharing & Attribution If you believe the data or findings in this study would benefit your readers, you are welcome to share or reference it. We ask only that if you incorporate any of our statistics, tables, or findings into a related article or report, you credit the source and link back to this page for proper attribution: https://www.victimslawyer.com/blog/hit-and-run-fatality-rankings-us-cities/ For press inquiries, interview requests, or data use: ssweat@victimslawyer.com | 866-966-5240 |
About Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC
Steven M. Sweat, Personal Injury Lawyers, APC is a plaintiff-side personal injury and wrongful death firm based in West Los Angeles (victimslawyer.com). Founded by Steven M. Sweat (California State Bar #181867), the firm has represented accident victims throughout California for over 30 years. Mr. Sweat holds an Avvo 10.0 rating, Super Lawyers recognition since 2012, National Trial Lawyers Top 100 membership, and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum membership. The firm handles cases on a contingency-fee basis: no recovery, no fee.
11500 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA 90064 | 866-966-5240
Related Resources from victimslawyer.com
The following resources may be of interest to readers, journalists, and researchers reviewing this study. Internal links verified at time of publication:
• Hit-and-Run Accidents: victimslawyer.com/hit-and-run-accidents/
• Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Los Angeles: victimslawyer.com/pedestrian-accidents/
• Wrongful Death Claims in California: victimslawyer.com/wrongful-death/
• Car Accident Lawyer Los Angeles: victimslawyer.com/car-accidents/