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The year 2021 has been vastly different from 2020 but in New York City, life has still not fully returned to normal. More people continue to work from home, meaning there are fewer people on the streets. Perhaps it is for this reason car accidents in the city were actually down this year from last year’s numbers. Still, 2021 has been the deadliest year for car crashes so far, despite Mayor de Blasio’s ‘Vision Zero’ plan. These are just two shocking NYC car accident statistics in 2021, and we will review them even further below.

A personal injury lawyer from Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. can advise on your case and if you were involved in a NYC crash. Contact us today to request a free consultation.

Car Accidents Statistics in NYC for First Quarter of 2021

During the first three months of 2021, 4,332 motorists were hurt in car accidents in the city, with 2,564 passengers also sustaining serious injuries. The roads were not just dangerous for those in vehicles either, but for bicyclists and pedestrians, too. In the first three months of the year, 1,393 pedestrians were injured, and 695 cyclists were also hurt. Those numbers are startling, but they do actually show a decline from 2020 when over 5,000 motorists were injured on the roads, and 3,306 passengers sustained injuries. In 2020, 2,206 pedestrians were injured and 715 cyclists incurred injuries on the road.

Car accident fatalities in New York City in the first three months of 2021 followed much of the same trend. In the first quarter of 2021, 22 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents, one cyclist lost their life, five passengers were killed, and ten motorists lost their lives. Compare that to the year 2020, when 26 pedestrians were killed on the streets, one cyclist, four passengers, and ten motorists were killed during the same time.

With reduced activity in the city, it makes sense that fewer people would become killed or hurt in car accidents. When comparing the number of injuries and fatalities for the different categories of people on the road, all numbers showed a decrease in injuries and fatalities. Except for passengers, which saw one more fatality in the first three months of 2021 from the first quarter of 2020.

The biggest difference was in the pedestrian category, which dropped below 2,000 in 2021 as many people in New York City continued to work from home or worked on an alternative schedule. The fact that European tourists were not allowed into the city for much of that time also likely contributed to the drop in pedestrian accidents. Between January 1 and March 1 in 2021, 22 pedestrians were killed in auto accidents compared to 26 from the year 2020.

Of the New Yorkers that did continue to go to work during the first three months of 2021, more of them used a bike to do it. Unfortunately, 695 of cyclists suffered injuries in traffic collisions, compared with 715 in the first three months of 2020. Although this year’s number is lower than last, there is clearly still a very high level of accidents involving cyclists in New York City.

There was only one fatal bicycle accident in 2021, and that occurred in the Bronx, which is still one of the most dangerous places in the city for cyclists due to the fact that not a lot of infrastructure has been developed for those on a bicycle. The one fatality was down from six deaths in 2020, and the record high of six fatalities in the year 2019.

2021 Turns into Deadliest Year for Car Crashes

While car accident stats are down in the first three months of 2021 compared with the year prior, the same trend did not continue into the later months of the year. As of the end of July 2021, more people died in traffic accidents in the first six months of the year than any other year since 2014 when Mayor de Blasio took office. This is despite his commitment to ‘Vision Zero’ in which he vowed to bring traffic fatalities to zero.

Prior to June 30, 2021, 124 individuals were killed in traffic accidents, according to Transportation Alternatives. Drivers, passengers, and pedestrians made up the majority of those fatalities, with 64 pedestrians and 52 occupants losing their lives in traffic accidents. Eight bicyclists were also killed in traffic accidents.

According to statistics from the New York Police Department, May 2021 was the third-deadliest year for fatalities since 2014 when de Blasio took office. Hit-and-runs in particular have increased. During the first half of 2021, there were 47 hit-and-run accidents in the city, which was more than the first half of any year since 2015, when law enforcement agencies started tracking this data. Only 11 arrests were made in those 47 hit-and-run cases.

Critics have been very vocal about the high number of traffic fatalities in the first half of this year. They blame de Blasio’s lack of commitment towards real solutions, such as creating more bike and pedestrian lanes that would keep them somewhat separate from the traffic on the road.

The mayor, however, defended the ‘Vision Zero’ program, which was initially meant to reduce traffic fatalities to zero by the year 2024. Commenting on the subject, de Blasio said that the COVID-19 crisis was to blame. He argued that prior to the pandemic, fatalities did drop, and the statistics seem to back up that claim. Unfortunately, just like the city’s commitment to reduce gun violence, COVID-19 hit the ‘Vision Zero’ program just as hard as it hit nearly every other aspect of life.

Hurt in a Crash? Get Legal Help Today

Clearly, there are shocking NYC car accident statistics in 2021. However, the risk of being on the roads in New York City is still very high for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. If you or someone you love has been hurt in a crash, our New York City car accident lawyers at Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C. can help you claim the compensation you need to fully cover the cost of your injuries. Call us today at 1-877-ASK4SAM or contact us online to schedule a free consultation so we can review your case.