This Is The Hour You're Most Likely To Get In A Car Accident

Every time you are in the driver’s seat, you need to be careful and watch out for hazards ― but especially during the evening rush hour, according to new research by tech marketer Hennessey Digital on behalf of New Orleans-based personal injury law firm Scott Vicknair.

Hennessey Digital analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s fatality and injury reports to see which times of the day saw the most fatal crashes in each state between 2017 and the latest data from 2022. It found that between 5 p.m. and 5:59 p.m. is the most dangerous time to drive in 12 states, including Colorado, Arkansas and Oregon.

In general, across the country, deadly car accidents mostly occur in the evening. In 10 states ― including North Carolina, Ohio and New York ― driving between 6 p.m. and 6:59 p.m. was found to be the most dangerous time, and in seven states, like California, Florida and Arizona, driving between 8 p.m. and 8:59 p.m. was the most dangerous time.

These are the states where 5-6 p.m. is the most likely time someone will get in a car crash:

• Alaska
• Arkansas
• Colorado
• Delaware
• Iowa
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Nevada
• Oregon
• South Dakota
• Vermont
• West Virginia

David Vicknair, attorney at Scott Vicknair, said his firm’s analysis shows the risk of driving during rush hour times in the evening and “highlights the heightened risk associated with heavy traffic and possibly more fatigued or distracted drivers.”

These findings align with other research on rush hours, whether morning or evening, being the most dangerous time to drive. In North Carolina, one out of every four crash events occurs during the evening rush hour period. And in a 2021 systematic review of road crash studies, researchers noted that, although