What Causes Car Accidents in Arizona?

When people ask what causes car accidents in Arizona, the answer almost always comes back to driver behavior. The top causes of car accidents in Arizona (impaired driving, speeding, and distracted driving) are responsible for the vast majority of serious crashes statewide, and each one involves a choice that puts other people at risk. In 2024 alone, Arizona recorded 121,107 motor vehicle crashes, including more than 1,100 fatal collisions. The state averages more than three traffic deaths every single day.

Understanding what leads to these crashes matters for more than awareness. If another driver’s behavior caused your accident, that behavior is directly relevant to your legal claim. The cause of the crash shapes who is liable, what evidence matters, and how an attorney builds your case. The sections below break down what Arizona data shows about how and when these accidents happen.

Three key factors are the primary causes of car accidents in Arizona.

The three biggest causes of car accident deaths in Arizona are alcohol, speeding, and distracted driving. This aligns with national statistics; interestingly, while the number of alcohol-related deaths is on the decline, the incidence of distracted driving fatalities is on the rise. Factors such as texting while driving, using navigation apps, and engaging with passengers contribute significantly to this trend. 

Given the prevalence of these dangers on the road, securing legal representation for car accidents can be vital in ensuring that victims receive the compensation they deserve.  Experienced attorneys understand the complexities of these cases and can help navigate the legal process, hold reckless drivers accountable, and fight for the rights of those injured or affected by these tragic incidents.

In Arizona, the three biggest causes of car accident deaths are alcohol, speeding, and distracted driving. This tracks national statistics. Interestingly, the number of alcohol-related deaths is on the decline, while the incidence of distracted driving deaths is on the rise.

Human Conduct Causes Car Accidents in Arizona

While human conduct causes car accidents in Arizona, other factors contribute to these dangerous events. Numerous factors contribute to the risk of collision, and cause car accidents, including:

• impairment due to alcohol or drugs,
• aggressive behavior, notably speeding, weaving through traffic, and road rage,
• distractions, like cell phones, radio, food, and passengers,
• vehicle design,
• road design,
• road conditions, and
• driver skill.

Car accidents lead to death and disability, property damage, as well as financial costs to both society and the individuals involved.

In 2021, more than 38,000 Americans died in car accidents. Over 1,000 of those people were killed in Arizona crashes, resulting in over $11.2 billion in economic losses. Arizona had over 121,345 car accidents, resulting in total economic losses of almost $20.2 billion. That is more than the GDP of almost half the countries in the world!

Since 2011, Arizona has seen a steady increase in the number of car accidents—rising from 103,958 to 121,345. This percentage increase correlates with the percentage increase in registered vehicles. In other words, more vehicles on the roads mean more car crashes. Thankfully, though, the number of fatalities has only risen a minor amount—rising from 827 to 1,063.

What is the most dangerous time to drive in Arizona?

Arizona data shows you are least likely to have a car accident between the hours 8:00 p.m. and 5:59 a.m., likely because there are far fewer vehicles on the road. Not surprisingly, you are more likely to have a car accident during rush hour (e.g., 3:00 p.m. – 5:59 p.m.). The number of fatalities does not follow the same logic. Peak times for traffic fatalities are the 3:00 p.m. hour, and 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., with an uptick between 11:00 p.m. and 12:59 a.m.

Since alcohol is a significant cause of car accident fatalities, it is not surprising that the deadliest periods on the road are from Friday at 8:00 p.m. to Saturday at 2:59 a.m. and from Saturday at 1:00 p.m. to Sunday at 2:59 a.m.

Drowsy Driving: The Cause Behind the Late-Night Numbers

The late-night fatality spike does not happen by accident. While alcohol gets most of the attention in discussions about nighttime crashes, drowsy driving is a significant and frequently underreported factor. Drowsy driving produces outcomes nearly identical to impairment, and drivers often fail to recognize it in themselves until it’s too late.

Fatigue slows reaction time, reduces the ability to sustain attention, and impairs judgment in ways that closely mirror the effects of alcohol. A driver who has been awake for eighteen hours performs at a level comparable to someone at the legal blood alcohol limit. 

Unlike impairment, though, drowsy driving leaves little physical evidence at a crash scene, which means it is often coded in reports as ‘inattention’ rather than identified as its own cause. This undercount makes it easy to overlook, but the pattern in the data (elevated fatality rates in the late-night hours, a high proportion of single-vehicle crashes, and incidents concentrated on rural stretches of highway) points to fatigued driving as a consistent factor.

Single-vehicle crashes account for roughly 18,000 incidents in Arizona annually, and many involve sudden lane departure or loss of control with no apparent external trigger. Drowsiness fits that profile closely. For anyone injured in a late-night collision where the other driver showed signs of fatigue, an attorney can investigate whether exhaustion played a role and build a case around that cause even when it was not noted in the initial police report.

How to avoid common causes of car accidents in Arizona.

If you are driving during any of the times discussed above, try to be more attentive to your driving and watch out for other drivers who are not doing the same. With the vast majority of crashes being rear-end collisions, you want to make sure you are slowing down way before you need to stop in hopes that the person behind you will respond with enough time to avoid hitting you.

What do I do when someone else causes my car accident in Arizona?

If you, or someone you care about, is hurt in a car accident in Arizona, call the experienced car accident lawyers at Gage Mathers Law Group now.

We have successfully handled thousands of car crash cases, from simple fender benders to multi-vehicle pileups. We will manage all legal aspects of your case while you focus on getting through this difficult time.

We will keep in frequent contact with you to make sure nothing is missed. We’ve developed innovative methods to deliver legal services focused on getting you justice and the results you deserve.

About the Author

Joseph D'Aguanno

Guided by the belief that being a highly skilled specialist in a narrow field is better than being ordinary in everything, Joseph “JD” D’Aguanno leads Arizona’s best personal injury law firm in Phoenix, AZ. Having extensive cross-training in pre-litigation negotiations and trial lawyer skills, with decades of experience, JD strives to provide clients with the most valuable legal services a personal injury lawyer can provide. Under his direction, Gage Mathers Law Group is an award-winning personal injury law firm providing aggressive representation to victims of a car accident, medical malpractice, dog bite, motorcycle accident, and other injurious events. Gage Mathers is trusted by thousands of lawyers and clients throughout the country because of their reputation for getting clients the maximum compensation they deserve.

Years of experience: Over 24 years
Bar number: 020421
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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