Las Vegas is a premier vacation destination with a diverse range of attractions, including casinos, entertainment, dining, shopping, natural experiences, and family-friendly activities, all of which draw millions of visitors annually. At Harris & Harris personal injury attorneys in Las Vegas, we emphasize the risks associated with drinking and driving, which poses significant dangers such as severe injuries and fatalities.
Drinking and driving poses significant risks, including the potential for severe injuries and fatalities. Consequently, Nevada ranks among the top five states in the U.S. for excessive alcohol consumption.
Drunk driving, also known as driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI), refers to operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol or other drugs to a level that renders the driver incapable of operating the vehicle safely.
According to Nevada Revised Statutes [NRS] 484.379, driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal. The legal limit for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.08% for drivers aged 21 and older in Nevada.
The map below shows every alcohol-related motor vehicle crash in Clark County, Nevada from 2018-2023. Red bubbles indicate that a crash was fatal.
Overall, there is a noticeable trend of rising accidents and injuries, while fatalities have demonstrated fluctuation.
| Year | Fatalities | Injuries | Total Number of Accidents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 40 | 1375 | 1580 |
| 2019 | 56 | 1872 | 2207 |
| 2020 | 33 | 1586 | 2163 |
| 2021 | 78 | 1843 | 2404 |
| 2022 | 78 | 1927 | 2456 |
| 2023 | 33 | 1784 | 2137 |
| Grand Total | 318 | 10387 | 12947 |
From 2018 to 2019, fatalities jumped significantly by 40%. Then, in 2021, there was a dramatic rise with fatalities more than doubling compared to 2020.
Injuries saw a notable increase of 36% from 2018 to 2019. Another significant rise occurred in 2021, with injuries up by 16% from the previous year.
The number of crashes surged by nearly 40% from 2018 to 2019. In 2021, incidents rebounded strongly, rising by 11% from the previous year.
Although there was a slight decrease in both injuries and fatalities from 2021 to 2023, the number of fatalities remains volatile.
Hit-and-run incidents make up 12.7% of the total accidents, which suggests that while the majority of accidents involved drivers who did not flee the scene. However, a significant portion still involves hit-and-run behavior.
Hit-and-run accidents account for 11.6% of the fatalities. This lower percentage suggests that hit-and-run accidents may be less likely to cause fatalities compared to other accidents.
| Count of Hit & Run Accidents | Fatalities | Injured | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NO | 11305 | 281 | 9322 |
| YES | 1642 | 37 | 1065 |
| Total | 12947 | 318 | 10387 |
The injury rate follows a similar pattern, with 10.3% of the injuries resulting from hit-and-run accidents. This lower percentage compared to the accident rate suggests that while hit-and-run accidents are serious, they might not always result in severe injuries.
The data suggests that while hit-and-run accidents are a concern, they represent a smaller portion of the overall incidents and are less likely to result in fatalities or severe injuries compared to accidents where drivers remain on the scene
Las Vegas accounts for the majority of incidents, with 56.8% of all crashes, 60% of deaths, and 66.1% of injuries.
| City | All Crashes | All Deaths | All Injuries | Alcohol-related Crashes | Alcohol Deaths | Alcohol Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAS VEGAS | 108480 | 701 | 92546 | 8580 | 197 | 7337 |
| Unincorp. | 29801 | 297 | 17403 | 1711 | 99 | 1266 |
| RENO | 21321 | 20 | 10779 | 1002 | 2 | 707 |
| NORTH LAS VEGAS | 17670 | 105 | 13017 | 963 | 11 | 733 |
| HENDERSON | 11910 | 37 | 5572 | 563 | 6 | 271 |
| BOULDER CITY | 618 | 3 | 219 | 59 | 0 | 22 |
| MESQUITE | 544 | 2 | 162 | 29 | 1 | 13 |
| MOAPA | 110 | 1 | 53 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
| LAUGHLIN | 89 | 1 | 79 | 12 | 0 | 11 |
| JEAN | 79 | 2 | 73 | 8 | 1 | 13 |
| BUNKERVILLE | 49 | 0 | 37 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 190820 | 1169 | 140025 | 12947 | 318 | 10387 |
Alcohol-related incidents make up 6.8% of all crashes in Nevada, but account for 27.2% of traffic deaths and 7.4% of injuries. Although drunk driving accidents are less common, these types of accidents are far deadlier.
On average, 73.4% of crashes result in injuries and 0.61% of crashes result in fatalities. Las Vegas has the highest raw numbers but lower per-capita rates may exist in smaller cities.
This study is based on data provided by the Nevada Department of Transportation for the years 2018-2023.
Las Vegas is the most dangerous city in Nevada for drunk driving, with the highest rates of alcohol-related crashes, deaths, and injuries. Fatalities and injuries from drunk driving have been rising in recent years, with significant increases at times. Hit-and-run accidents, while notable, are less likely to cause severe outcomes compared to other accidents. If you or a loved one has been involved in a drunk driving accident, call our Las Vegas car accident attorneys today for a free consultation.