States Most Likely to See Animals Causing Deadly Crashes: Montana, North Dakota, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Wyoming #1-5
Wisconsin named among states where animals are most likely to cause a deadly crash
- Montana has the highest percentage of fatal crashes involving a live animal, at 21.17%.
- North Dakota and Wisconsin rank second and third, respectively.
- Hawaii has the lowest percentage of deadly crashes involving an animal, at 0.00%.
A new study has revealed the states where animals are most likely to cause a deadly crash, with Montana taking the top spot.
Florida personal injury lawyers Anidjar & Levine analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to find the number of fatal crashes involving a non-fixed object in each state between 2018 and 2022. The states with the highest percentage of fatal crashes in which the non-fixed object was recorded as a live animal determined the ranking.
Montana ranks at the top, with 21.17% of deadly crashes involving a live animal. The state recorded 29 fatal crashes involving live animals from a total of 137 crashes involving a non-fixed object. Of those crashes, 72 involved a pedestrian, 10 involved a cyclist and another 10 involved a parked vehicle.
North Dakota ranks second, with 12.73% of fatal accidents involving an animal. From a total of 55 crashes involving a non-fixed object, seven were due to the involvement of a live animal. North Dakota recorded a further 32 crashes involving pedestrians, six involving a cyclist and three involving a parked vehicle.
Ranked third is Wisconsin, with 12.30% of fatal vehicle crashes involving a live animal. Wisconsin recorded a total of 431 crashes involving a non-fixed object, with 53 incidents where a live animal was involved. Additionally, 254 crashes involved pedestrians, 52 involved a cyclist and 35 involved a parked vehicle.
South Dakota ranks fourth, with 11.25% of deadly crashes involving a live animal. The state recorded nine fatal crashes involving live animals from a total of 80 crashes involving a non-fixed object. Of those crashes, 53 involved a pedestrian, four involved a cyclist and another four involved a parked vehicle.
In fifth comes Wyoming, with 10.53% of fatal accidents involving an animal. From a total of 57 crashes involving a non-fixed object, six were due to the involvement of a live animal. Wyoming recorded a further 36 crashes that involved pedestrians, one that involved a cyclist and nine that involved a parked vehicle.
Iowa comes in sixth, with 9.81% of fatal vehicle crashes involving a live animal. Iowa recorded a total of 214 crashes involving a non-fixed object, with 21 incidents where a live animal was involved. Additionally, 111 crashes involved pedestrians, 41 involved a cyclist and 16 involved a parked vehicle.
Seventh on the list is Alaska, with 9.76% of deadly crashes involving a live animal. The state recorded eight fatal crashes involving live animals from a total of 82 crashes involving a non-fixed object. Of those crashes, 61 involved a pedestrian, eight involved a cyclist and one involved a parked vehicle.
In eighth place is Minnesota, with 9.12% of fatal accidents involving an animal. From a total of 329 crashes involving a non-fixed object, 30 involved a live animal. Minnesota recorded a further 210 crashes that involved pedestrians, 44 that involved a cyclist and 19 that involved a parked vehicle.
Kansas ranks ninth, with 8.19% of fatal vehicle crashes involving a live animal. Kansas recorded a total of 232 crashes involving a non-fixed object, with 19 incidents where a live animal was involved. Additionally, 142 crashes involved pedestrians, 27 involved a cyclist and 20 involved a parked vehicle.
Kentucky takes the tenth spot, with 5.57% of deadly crashes involving a live animal. The state recorded 29 fatal crashes involving live animals from a total of 521 crashes involving a non-fixed object. Of those crashes, 380 involved a pedestrian, 43 involved a cyclist and 40 involved a parked vehicle.
Hawaii recorded the lowest rate of fatal accidents involving a live animal, at 0.00%. Out of a total of 179 crashes involving a non-fixed object, there were no incidents involving a live animal. Hawaii recorded 142 crashes that involved pedestrians, 20 that involved a cyclist and nine that involved a parked vehicle.
Fatal crashes involving a live animal – Top 10 state ranking
|
Rank
|
State
|
Fatal crashes involving a non-fixed object
|
Fatal crashes involving a live animal
|
Percentage of fatal crashes involving a live animal
|
|
1.
|
Montana
|
137
|
29
|
21.17%
|
|
2.
|
North Dakota
|
55
|
7
|
12.73%
|
|
3.
|
Wisconsin
|
431
|
53
|
12.30%
|
|
4.
|
South Dakota
|
80
|
9
|
11.25%
|
|
5.
|
Wyoming
|
57
|
6
|
10.53%
|
|
6.
|
Iowa
|
214
|
21
|
9.81%
|
|
7.
|
Alaska
|
82
|
8
|
9.76%
|
|
8.
|
Minnesota
|
329
|
30
|
9.12%
|
|
9.
|
Kansas
|
232
|
19
|
8.19%
|
|
10.
|
Kentucky
|
521
|
29
|
5.57%
|
A spokesperson from Anidjar & Levine commented on the findings:
“Animal-related accidents are an often-overlooked but significant safety concern on US roads. It’s crucial that motorists remain vigilant, especially in rural areas where wildlife activity increases. By staying alert and taking precautionary measures, we can reduce the number of tragic incidents that occur due to animal-related collisions.”
Story credit to: https://www.anidjarlevine.com/
Methodology: 2018 to 2022 data on the number of fatal crashes involving a non-fixed object was sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The number of incidents where the non-fixed object was recorded as a live animal was measured against the total number of crashes to calculate a percentage. The ranking was determined by the states with the highest percentage of fatal crashes involving a live animal.
Fatal crashes involving a live animal – State ranking
|
Rank
|
State
|
Fatal crashes involving a non-fixed object
|
Fatal crashes involving a live animal
|
Percentage of fatal crashes involving a live animal
|
|
1.
|
Montana
|
137
|
29
|
21.17%
|
|
2.
|
North Dakota
|
55
|
7
|
12.73%
|
|
3.
|
Wisconsin
|
431
|
53
|
12.30%
|
|
4.
|
South Dakota
|
80
|
9
|
11.25%
|
|
5.
|
Wyoming
|
57
|
6
|
10.53%
|
|
6.
|
Iowa
|
214
|
21
|
9.81%
|
|
7.
|
Alaska
|
82
|
8
|
9.76%
|
|
8.
|
Minnesota
|
329
|
30
|
9.12%
|
|
9.
|
Kansas
|
232
|
19
|
8.19%
|
|
10.
|
Kentucky
|
521
|
29
|
5.57%
|
|
11.
|
Maine
|
90
|
5
|
5.56%
|
|
12.
|
Nebraska
|
138
|
7
|
5.07%
|
|
13.
|
Oklahoma
|
579
|
27
|
4.66%
|
|
14.
|
Pennsylvania
|
1,107
|
50
|
4.52%
|
|
15.
|
Michigan
|
1,056
|
47
|
4.45%
|
|
16.
|
Missouri
|
697
|
30
|
4.30%
|
|
17.
|
West Virginia
|
172
|
7
|
4.07%
|
|
18.
|
Indiana
|
758
|
23
|
3.03%
|
|
19.
|
Oregon
|
548
|
16
|
2.92%
|
|
20.
|
Utah
|
280
|
8
|
2.86%
|
|
21.
|
Arkansas
|
432
|
12
|
2.78%
|
|
22.
|
Ohio
|
986
|
27
|
2.74%
|
|
23.
|
Vermont
|
37
|
1
|
2.70%
|
|
24.
|
Colorado
|
595
|
15
|
2.52%
|
|
25.
|
New Hampshire
|
80
|
2
|
2.50%
|
|
26.
|
Virginia
|
771
|
19
|
2.46%
|
|
27.
|
Illinois
|
1,197
|
27
|
2.26%
|
|
28.
|
South Carolina
|
1,042
|
23
|
2.21%
|
|
29.
|
Georgia
|
1,634
|
34
|
2.08%
|
|
30.
|
Texas
|
4,210
|
87
|
2.07%
|
|
31.
|
Mississippi
|
526
|
10
|
1.90%
|
|
32. (=)
|
Tennessee
|
959
|
18
|
1.88%
|
|
32. (=)
|
Alabama
|
693
|
13
|
1.88%
|
|
33.
|
New Mexico
|
499
|
9
|
1.80%
|
|
34.
|
Rhode Island
|
56
|
1
|
1.79%
|
|
35.
|
Idaho
|
119
|
2
|
1.68%
|
|
36.
|
Washington
|
690
|
11
|
1.59%
|
|
37.
|
New York
|
1,677
|
25
|
1.49%
|
|
38.
|
New Jersey
|
1,046
|
14
|
1.34%
|
|
39.
|
Delaware
|
170
|
2
|
1.18%
|
|
40.
|
Nevada
|
469
|
5
|
1.07%
|
|
41.
|
North Carolina
|
1,341
|
14
|
1.04%
|
|
42.
|
Arizona
|
1,454
|
14
|
0.96%
|
|
43.
|
Louisiana
|
986
|
8
|
0.81%
|
|
44.
|
Florida
|
4,767
|
34
|
0.71%
|
|
45.
|
Connecticut
|
310
|
2
|
0.65%
|
|
46.
|
Maryland
|
730
|
4
|
0.55%
|
|
47.
|
Massachusetts
|
437
|
2
|
0.46%
|
|
48.
|
California
|
6,361
|
18
|
0.28%
|
|
49.
|
Hawaii
|
179
|
0
|
0.00%
|
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
