Wisconsin Among Top 10 U.S. States Where Drivers Are Most Likely to Get Killed In a Police Chase
A new study reveals that Wisconsin has the sixth highest rate of fatal crashes involving police pursuits in the U.S.
The research by personal injury law firm Simmrin Law analyzed state data for fatal crashes involving police pursuits from 2018 to 2022 for each state via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Crash rates per 100,000 licensed drivers were calculated to identify the states with the highest number of fatal accident rates linked to police chases.
Wisconsin ranks sixth with 0.68 fatal police pursuit crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers — approximately 84% higher than the national average of 0.37. From 2018 to 2022, the Badger State, home to 1,177,136 licensed drivers, experienced an average of 8.00 fatal police pursuit crashes annually. The state recorded the highest number of fatal accidents, 10 crashes each in 2018 and 2019 and the least (4 accidents) in 2021.
Looking at the study, a spokesperson at Simmrin Law commented:
“The study highlights that Wisconsin reported the sixth highest fatal police pursuit crash rates in the U.S.
“High-speed police chases put both officers and civilians at significant risk. These pursuits often pose a threat to innocent bystanders and other motorists. Given the prevalence of these incidents, addressing police pursuit policies requires targeted interventions.
“To reduce these preventable fatalities, state leaders and policymakers can implement enhanced training for officers, clearer pursuit protocols that limit chases to only the most serious offenses, and the integration of technology-driven solutions such as GPS tracking and helicopter support.”
Table of Extended Results:
|
Top 10 U.S. States with Highest Fatal Crashes Involving a Police Chase |
||||
|
State |
Average Fatal Crashes Involving Police Pursuit (2018-2022) |
Number of Licensed Drivers |
Fatal Crashes Involving Police Pursuit per 100,000 Licensed Drivers |
Rank |
|
Virginia |
15.00 |
543,057 |
2.76 |
1 |
|
Alabama |
13.20 |
528,873 |
2.50 |
2 |
|
New York |
6.20 |
513,838 |
1.21 |
3 |
|
North Carolina |
13.60 |
1,374,529 |
0.99 |
4 |
|
Missouri |
14.80 |
1,968,907 |
0.75 |
5 |
|
Wisconsin |
8.00 |
1,177,136 |
0.68 |
6 |
|
Indiana |
13.40 |
2,143,665 |
0.63 |
7 |
|
Georgia |
34.40 |
6,607,016 |
0.52 |
8 |
|
Montana |
3.67 |
766,716 |
0.48 |
9 |
|
Massachusetts |
4.60 |
1,011,385 |
0.45 |
10 |
The study was conducted by Simmrin Law, an experienced personal injury law firm dedicated to protecting clients’ rights and maximizing claim value.
story credit: www.simmrinlawgroup.com.
Methodology
The research analyzed state data for fatal crashes involving police pursuits from 2018 to 2022 for each state via the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Crash rates per 100,000 licensed drivers were calculated to identify the states with the highest number of fatal accident rates linked to police chases.
Data Sources
-
Fatal Crash Data Analysis → https://cdan.dot.gov/query
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Licensed Drivers Data → https://www.bts.gov/content/licensed-drivers
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Study by → www.simmrinlawgroup.com
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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]
