---
title: AAA reports hit-and-run deaths reach record high
description: The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently reported that hit-and-run accidents and deaths have reached record highs. According to their study, there were 2,049 deaths in 2016, the highest number ever, representing a 60% increase since 2009.
image: https://blog.groupmatrix.com/hubfs/American-Automobile-Association-Logo.png
---

[![Overture 2.0](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/395201/hubfs/Overture%202.0/overture2logolight.png?width=4251&height=1044&name=overture2logolight.png "Overture 2.0")](https://www.webcanopystudio.com/overture)

- [Default HubSpot Blog](https://blog.groupmatrix.com)

# AAA reports hit-and-run deaths reach record high

Posted by [Sharon Bowles](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/author/sharon-bowles) on Jun 18, 2018 9:47:27 PM

 In [legal marketing](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/legal-marketing)

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently reported that hit-and-run accidents and deaths have reached record highs. According to their study, there were 2,049 deaths in 2016, the highest number ever, representing a 60% increase since 2009.

In studying the characteristics of hit-and-run accidents, AAA identified the most common among them.

- An average of 682,000 hit-and-run crashes occurred each year since 2006.
- Nearly 65 percent of people killed in hit-and-run crashes were pedestrians or bicyclists.
- Hit-and-run deaths in the U.S. have increased an average of 7.2 percent each year since 2009.
- Per capita, New Mexico, Louisiana and Florida have the highest rate of fatal hit-and-run crashes while New Hampshire, Maine and Minnesota have the lowest rates.

Dr. David Yang, Executive Director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety said, “Hit-and-run crashes in the United States are trending in the wrong direction. Our analysis shows that hit-and-run crashes are a growing traffic safety challenge and the AAA Foundation would like to work with \[everyone\] to help curtail this problem.”

If you are a pedestrian or bicyclist, you run the greatest risk of being involved in a hit-and-run crash. Over the past 10 years, nearly 20 percent of all pedestrian deaths were caused by hit-and-run crashes; meanwhile just one percent of all driver fatalities occurred in that same time period. To decrease the chances of being involved in a crash with a pedestrian or bicyclist, AAA recommends that drivers should:

- **Be aware**: Pedestrians may act unpredictably and can walk into the path of travel at any point.
- **Be cautious**: Look out for small children and be alert to areas where there are likely to be more pedestrians. These include school zones, playgrounds, bus stops and intersections.
- **Be patient:** When trying to pass a pedestrian or cyclist, give plenty of space and keep them in your line of sight.
- **Be vigilant**: Drivers should always yield to pedestrians, even if they walk into the road from an area other than a crosswalk.

It is illegal in every state for a driver to leave the scene of an accident. Penalties depend upon the severity of the crash (property damage, serious injury, fatality). Those found guilty of a hit-and-run charge can face fines, lose their license, or be sentenced to jail.

AAA cites the following, if you a driver involved in a crash.

1. **Assist the injured**– Check for injured people and call 911.
2. **Be visible**– Make sure that the scene is visible to approaching drivers. If possible, move vehicles out of the path of traffic, and use hazard flashers, flares, and reflective triangles. Find a safe place to remain until emergency services arrive, if needed.
3. **Communicate**– Call the police and file a report. If the police do not come to the scene, you can file a report by visiting a local police department or your automobile insurance agency.

*Source: AAA Newsroom*

**Group Matrix Blog – June 5, 2018 – by Sharon Bowles**

### Recent Posts

### Topic Cloud

- [legal marketing (45)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/legal-marketing)
- [Uncategorized (30)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/uncategorized)
- [Attorney Advertising (21)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/attorney-advertising)
- [personal injury (20)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/personal-injury)
- [lawyer marketing (19)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/lawyer-marketing)
- [legal advertising (10)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/legal-advertising)
- [website (7)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/website)
- [self driving cars (5)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/self-driving-cars)
- [google+ (4)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/google)
- [instagram (4)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/instagram)
- [blog (3)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/blog)
- [branding (2)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/branding)
- [Adwords (1)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/adwords)
- [Insider (1)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/insider)
- [Media Buying (1)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/media-buying)
- [PPC (1)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/ppc)
- [Post Buy Analysis (1)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/post-buy-analysis)
- [Web Video Production (1)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/web-video-production)
- [facebook (1)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/facebook)
- [motorcycle (1)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/motorcycle)
- [recall (1)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/recall)
- [security (1)](https://blog.groupmatrix.com/topic/security)

See All

### Popular Posts

### CTA Area

[![Purchase Farmer's Market](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2097969/8e1323c0-7202-497a-ba80-acc4c083639c.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2097969/8e1323c0-7202-497a-ba80-acc4c083639c)

© 2026 Group Matrix