Michigan drunk driving accident statistics show that drivers with more than the legal limit of alcohol in their systems are 7 times more likely to be in a fatal crash and 6 to 17 times more likely to be killed. 26% of all fatal crashes in Michigan are alcohol-related and occur between the hours of 12:00am and 2:59am.

The real tragedy behind deaths from drivers who are under the influence of alcohol is that they are always totally preventable. Sadly, even though public awareness of driving under the influence of alcohol is higher than ever and even as the penalties for drunk drivers have increased over the years, the auto accident attorneys at my law firm continue to see far too many people who have been injured or who have lost loved ones in death cases caused by drunk driving.

By sharing these Michigan drunk driving accident statistics, our hope is to help spread awareness so we can prevent more of these senseless and completely preventable car accident deaths and injuries. It is tragic enough when people’s lives are forever changed in serious car crashes. But when the crashes are caused by drunk drivers, the senselessness of the tragedy is so much more heartbreaking for the families left behind because of just how preventable these crashes are.

Nobody wants to be the one to hurt or kill someone by driving drunk. Please make a pledge to yourself, to your family, to your friends and to your community to never engage in drunk driving. If you have been drinking, have someone who has not been drinking drive you home. Call an Uber or a Lyft. Or call a friend or a cab.

Fatal crash risk for drivers driving under the influence of alcohol

Drivers with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.05 to 0.079 are 7 times more likely to be in a fatal crash and 6 to 17 times more likely to be killed than sober drivers. (MADD, .”05 BAC Research Facts”) Also, drivers with a breath alcohol content of 0.08, 0.15 and 0.20 are 4, 12 and 23 times more likely respectively to crash than drivers with BrAC of 0.00. (NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, Research Note, Drug and Alcohol Crash Risk)

What are the drunk driving accident statistics for fatal crashes in Michigan?

Twenty-six (26.6%) of all fatal crashes in Michigan in 2023 involved alcohol. (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Statewide 2022-2023 Summary Trends: 1 Year Trends)

How many accidents are caused by drunk driving?

There were 272 alcohol-involved fatal crashes in Michigan in 2023. There were 3,678 personal injury crashes involving alcohol in the state that year. (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Statewide 2022-2023 Summary Trends: 1 Year Trends)

How many accidents a year are caused by drunk driving?

According to the Michigan drunk driving accident statistics, there was a total of 8,817 “alcohol-involved” crashes in the state in 2023, including fatal, personal injury and property-damage only crashes. (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Statewide 2022-2023 Summary Trends: 1 Year Trends)

That is a five percent (5.5%) decrease from 9,331 in 2022.

What are the drunk driving accident statistics for fatalities in Michigan?

In 2023 in Michigan, there were 297 “alcohol-involved fatalities.” (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Fact Sheets, 2023, “Alcohol”)

In 2022 in Michigan, there were 322 “alcohol-involved fatalities.” (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Fact Sheets, 2022, “Alcohol”) In 2021 in Michigan, there were 357 “alcohol-involved fatalities.” (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Fact Sheets, 2021, “Alcohol”)

Which state has the most drunk driving accidents?

Texas is the state with the most fatalities (1,869) resulting from “alcohol-impaired” crashes where there was a BAC of .08 or greater (but less than .15), according to NHTSA, Traffic Safety Facts, 2022 Data, “Alcohol-Impaired Driving,” August 2024. California was 2nd with 1,479. Florida was 3rd with 940. Georgia was 4^th with 507. And South Carolina was 5^th with 474.

What time do drunk driving accidents occur?

According to the Michigan drunk driving accident statistics, the hours between 12:00am and 2:59am is the time period when the highest number of fatal crashes for people who are driving under the influence of alcohol occurred in 2023. (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Statewide, 2023, Alcohol/Drugs, “Alcohol Involvement in Fatal Crashes“)

What age group has the most drunk driving accidents?

According to the Michigan drunk driving accident statistics in 2023, nearly 30 percent (29.9%) of the drivers involved in “drinking only” crashes were between 25 and 24 years of age. This “driver age group” had the “highest number” of drinking-related auto accidents resulting in deaths and personal injury. (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Statewide, 2023, Alcohol/Drugs, “Driver Drinking and/or Using Drugs and Injury Severity in Crash by Age“)

What day of the week has the most drunk driving accidents?

According to the Michigan drunk driving accident statistics, Sunday is the day of the week with the most “had-been-drinking” fatal crashes in Michigan in 2023. (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Statewide, 2023, Alcohol/Drugs, “Alcohol Involvement in Fatal Crashes“)

What are the drunk driving accident statistics for single vehicle crashes?

According to the Michigan drunk driving accident statistics, in 2023, 55.5% of the alcohol-related fatal crashes involved single vehicles. (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Fact Sheets, 2023, “Alcohol“)

What is the data on pedestrian deaths from drivers under the influence of alcohol?

According to the Michigan drunk driving accident statistics, of the pedestrians who lost their lives in crashes in the state in 2023, 21.9% of those deaths were the result of the operator of a vehicle being under the influence of alcohol. (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Fact Sheets, 2023, “Alcohol“)

What is the data on motorcyclist deaths from drivers under the influence of alcohol?

According to the Michigan drunk driving accident statistics, 29.1% of the motorcyclists who died in vehicle crashes in 2023 lost their lives due to had-been-under the influence of alcohol crashes. (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Fact Sheets, 2023, “Alcohol“)

What is the data on bicyclist deaths from drivers under the influence?

According to the Michigan drunk driving accident statistics, 33.3% of the bicyclists killed in bike-car crashes in 2023 lost their lives due to “had-been-drinking” automobile crashes. (Michigan Traffic Crash Facts, Fact Sheets, 2023, “Bicycles“)

Have you been injured in by a driver who was under the influence of alcohol? Call Michigan Auto Law now!

The Michigan drunk driving accident statistics are a serious reminder to drive responsibly. If you or a friend was injured in a crash in Michigan that was caused by a driver who was under the influence of alcohol, call now (248) 353-7575 for a free consultation with one of our experienced car accident lawyers. There is no cost or obligation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website.

Michigan Auto Law is Michigan’s largest and most successful law firm that specializes exclusively in helping people who have been injured in auto accidents.

Our secret? Our attorneys deliberately handle fewer cases than other personal injury law firms.  This allows us to focus more time and attention on our cases.

Unlike other law firms, our attorneys are never too busy to promptly return phone calls and answer questions. 

We have more than 2,000 5-Star reviews that reflect this care and attention to detail.

More importantly, this client-focused approach leads to better and faster settlements for our clients. Michigan Auto Law has recovered more million-dollar settlements and trial verdicts for motor vehicle accidents than any other lawyer or law firm in Michigan. We’ve also recovered the highest ever reported truck accident and car accident settlement in the state.

Call now so we can start making a real difference for you.