Louisiana Ranks Second in the Nation for Deadly Hit-and-Run Crashes

LOUISIANA - Getting into a crash when someone is injured can be mentally tough for all parties involved. It's almost unimaginable what those feelings would be if a crash involves a fatality.

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And then there are the results of a new study diving into hit-and-run crashes involving fatalities. It's certainly not good news for Louisiana, as our state ranks among the most dangerous for hit-and-run crashes.

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The research team at personal injury law firm Andrew Pickett Law analyzed hit-and-run traffic fatalities using data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), and they ranked the deadliest states for hit-and-run crashes from 2019 to 2024.

Louisiana's Hit-and-Run Problem by the Numbers

Louisiana ranked second nationwide per capita driver risk, averaging 1.84 hit-and-run fatalities per 100,000 licensed drivers. Only New Mexico was worse at 2.48 hit-and-run fatalities per 100,000 drivers. Over the six years that were analyzed, Louisiana recorded 377 total hit-and-run fatalities out of 4,999 total traffic crash deaths.

Top 10 States for Hit-and-Run Fatality Rate — Where Louisiana Ranks

Here's a look at the top 10 deadliest states by hit-and-run-fatality rate, with the average hit-and-run fatalities per 100,000 drivers:

1. New Mexico - 2.48
2. Louisiana - 1.84
3. Tennessee - 1.83
4. Texas - 1.74
5. Nevada - 1.70
6. California - 1.66
7. Florida - 1.55
8. Arizona - 1.55
9. Mississippi - 1.40
10. Oklahoma - 1.36

Additionally, hit-and-run crashes also represent a disproportionately high share of total traffic fatalities in Louisiana, where 7.55% of all total vehicle crash fatalities involved a fleeing driver, placing the state 12th worst in the nation.

What Experts Say About Louisiana's Hit-and-Run Crisis

“Leaving the scene of an accident is a critical public safety crisis that costs thousands of lives every year. Drivers need to understand that panic is no excuse," said Andrew Pickett, personal injury lawyer. "Staying at the scene, rendering immediate aid, and contacting emergency services is a universal responsibility that can mean the difference between life and death for an injured victim."