Each year, crash data tells us what’s happening on Louisiana’s roads and where risks may be increasing or improving. Looking at these trends can help drivers, pedestrians, and communities better understand how to stay safe.
In this review, we take a closer look at Louisiana’s 2025 crash statistics, including where the most serious accidents occurred, when they were most likely to happen, and what factors may be contributing to them. Together, these insights highlight important patterns across the state and what they could mean for road safety moving forward.
What Happened in 2025?
According to the National Safety Council (NSC), motor vehicle deaths decreased nationally 12% from 2024 to 2025. That encouraging statistic includes the fact that total mileage was up 0.9% in 2025 compared to 2024 and up 2.4% compared to 2023.
In other words, people traveled more in 2025 than in 2024 and 2023, but there were still fewer fatal accidents overall last year. That’s a promising statistic, but what does it mean for Louisiana? How did our state fare in 2025 compared to other recent years, and what other revealing statistics can and should be known about road safety in the Pelican State?
We explored some recent crash statistics for Louisiana, and here’s what we found.
Louisiana Saw an Increase in Estimated Traffic Fatalities in 2025
Unfortunately, our state saw more traffic fatalities in 2025. According to data from the NSC, Louisiana saw the following change in a one-year period:
- 2024 Louisiana traffic fatalities: 719
- 2025 Louisiana traffic fatalities: 758 (5% increase)
NSC data shows that nine states, plus the District of Columbia, saw decreases in motor vehicle-related deaths of at least 15%. Louisiana, on the other hand, was one of eight states to see an increase from 2024 to 2025.
However, it’s also important to note that despite the number of traffic fatalities increasing from 2024, 2025 was still a safer year overall for Louisiana drivers than other previous years, as this data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration shows:
- 2023 Louisiana traffic fatalities: 811
- 2022 Louisiana traffic fatalities: 906
- 2021 Louisiana traffic fatalities: 971
- 2020 Louisiana traffic fatalities: 828
Where Did the Most Fatal Car Accidents Occur in Louisiana?
Some parishes have more serious car accidents than others, and many of those crashes result in fatalities. According to data from LSU’s Center for Analytics & Research in Transportation Safety (CARTS), the following parishes saw the most traffic fatalities in 2025:
- East Baton Rouge Parish: 68 fatalities
- 34 drivers
- 10 passengers
- 21 pedestrians
- 1 bicyclist
- Caddo Parish: 51 fatalities
- 29 drivers
- 4 passengers
- 16 pedestrians
- 2 bicyclists
- New Orleans Parish: 51 fatalities
- 21 drivers
- 6 passengers
- 21 pedestrians
- 3 bicyclists
- Calcasieu Parish: 45 fatalities
- 29 drivers
- 5 passengers
- 8 pedestrians
- 2 bicyclists
- 1 person in a building
- Livingston Parish: 32 fatalities
- 20 drivers
- 3 passengers
- 5 pedestrians
- 4 bicyclists
- Ouachita Parish: 32 fatalities
- 20 drivers
- 3 passengers
- 5 pedestrians
- 4 bicyclists
- Jefferson Parish: 31 fatalities
- 18 drivers
- 3 passengers
- 7 pedestrians
- 1 bicyclist
- 1 person in parked vehicle
- 1 pedestrian on personal conveyance
- Lafayette Parish: 30 fatalities
- 18 drivers
- 3 passengers
- 5 pedestrians
- 4 bicyclists
- Rapides Parish: 26 fatalities
- 18 drivers
- 3 passengers
- 5 pedestrians
- Tammany Parish: 26 fatalities
- 12 drivers
- 6 passengers
- 7 pedestrians
- 1 bicyclist
As this data shows, anyone who shares the road—or is even near the road—is potentially at risk of a fatal accident. And while these parishes also happen to be among the most populated in Louisiana, CARTS’ data shows that fatal accidents occur everywhere throughout the state, making prioritizing safety one of the most important things you can do, whether you’re driving, riding, walking, biking, or doing anything near traffic.
Where Did the Most Injury-Causing Accidents Occur in Louisiana?
The top 10 parishes with the most injuries caused by car accidents in 2025 align closely with the 10 that saw the most fatalities that year, with a few differences:
- East Baton Rouge Parish: 7,885 injuries
- 5,616 drivers
- 2,002 passengers
- 165 pedestrians
- 67 bicyclists
- 6 unknowns
- 5 people in parked vehicles
- 5 people on personal conveyance
- 6 other cyclists
- 9 occupants of non-motor-vehicle transportation
- Orleans Parish: 6,633 injuries
- 4,243 drivers
- 1,773 passengers
- 356 pedestrians
- 191 bicyclists
- 5 unknowns
- 36 people in parked vehicles
- 3 people in buildings
- 8 people on personal conveyance
- 16 other cyclists
- 2 occupants of non-motor-vehicle transportation
- Lafayette Parish: 4,048 injuries
- 2,717 drivers
- 1,172 passengers
- 65 pedestrians
- 77 bicyclists
- 1 unknown
- 2 people in parked vehicles
- 2 people in buildings
- 6 people on personal conveyance
- 3 other cyclists
- 3 occupants of non-motor-vehicle transportation
- Jefferson Parish: 3,995 injuries
- 2,975 drivers
- 976 passengers
- 113 pedestrians
- 89 bicyclists
- 8 people in parked vehicles
- 8 people on personal conveyance
- 3 other cyclists
- 3 occupants of non-motor-vehicle transportation
- Caddo Parish: 3,070 injuries
- 2,174 drivers
- 768 passengers
- 89 pedestrians
- 23 bicyclists
- 1 unknown
- 9 people in parked vehicles
- 2 people in buildings
- 2 other cyclists
- 2 occupants of non-motor-vehicle transportation
The number of people injured in all types of crashes in Louisiana in 2025 significantly outnumbers those who were killed in auto accidents. Unfortunately, car accident injuries can be devastating and life-changing, and many victims suffer from complications such as paralysis, long-term pain, traumatic brain injuries, loss of limbs, and more.
The Surprising Impact of Weather on Louisiana Crashes
Bad weather is associated with car accidents for a reason. When visibility is low or roads are slick, drivers are much more likely to collide with other vehicles or objects due to an inability to stop in time or being unable to see stopped traffic in front of them.
However, the data from CARTS is clear: the vast majority of crashes in 2025 occurred during clear weather:
- Clear weather: 29,803 crashes
- Cloudy weather: 3,430 crashes
- Rainy weather: 2,319 crashes
- Fog, smog, and smoke: 325 crashes
- Unknown: 155 crashes
While it’s important to be especially careful during inclement weather, you shouldn’t let your guard down on bright, sunny days or clear nights, either. Accidents can and do happen in all weather conditions.
What Are the Most Dangerous Months on Louisiana’s Roadways?
Different months have different rates of fatal and injury-causing crashes in our state. For fatal crashes, the top five in 2025 were:
- October: 71 fatal crashes
- March: 71 fatal crashes
- July: 67 fatal crashes
- November: 65 fatal crashes
- June: 65 fatal crashes
For injury-causing crashes, the top five in 2025 were:
- October: 3,367 crashes
- March: 3,188 crashes
- May: 3,144 crashes
- December: 3,080 crashes
- September: 3,067 crashes
Wondering why October is such a dangerous month compared to others? According to an article by MotorBiscuit, three of the most dangerous days of the year to drive fall during that month: October 3, October 31, and October 11.
The reasons for October’s large number of fatal and injury-causing accidents include an increase in the number of pedestrians due to Halloween, people driving home intoxicated from Halloween parties, shortening days, slick leaves on the ground, and even an increase in the number of wildlife entering roadways.
Contact Our Louisiana Car Accident Lawyers
Serious car accidents can have lasting effects not just in the moment, but for months or even years afterward. Understanding where and how crashes happen is one step toward staying safer, but when the unexpected occurs, having the right support can make all the difference.
At Dudley DeBosier Injury Lawyers, we have the experience and dedication to protect you from uncooperative insurance companies, whether it’s the other driver’s, your own, or both. We know what it takes to win, whether it’s at the negotiation table or in the courtroom. Contact us today for a free consultation to learn how we can help.
