Numerous data points can be analyzed when looking at traffic accidents in Louisiana. These data points are essential for identifying safety trends and the specific risks certain drivers face when they get behind the wheel. While several factors contribute to a person’s risk of being involved in a crash, the driver’s age is undeniably one of them.

Young drivers are inexperienced and are prone to making mistakes in emergencies. Older drivers may know what to do when danger arises on the road but lack the reflexes to respond in time. Other age groups have characteristics that can cause them to be at risk of injury or death in a car wreck.

Age Group Most at Risk of a Fatal Accident

Louisiana does not break down the total number of traffic accidents by age group. However, available statistics do identify the age group that is most at risk of being killed in a traffic crash: 35- to 44-year-olds. In 2024, 147 of the 750 people killed in traffic accidents belonged to this age group. This number was higher than any other identified group.

Groups With the Most and Least Fatalities

The five age groups with the greatest number of traffic deaths in 2024 were as follows:

  • 35- to 44-year-olds, with 147 deaths
  • 25- to 34-year-olds, with 128 deaths
  • 55- to 64-year-olds, with 120 deaths
  • 45- to 54-year-olds, with 108 deaths
  • 65- to 74-year-olds, with 71 deaths

Individuals 17 years old and younger and those over 85 were least likely to be killed in a Louisiana traffic crash.

Which Group Experienced the Most Injuries?

The same age groups that experienced elevated numbers of fatalities also had the greatest numbers of traffic-related injuries:

  • 11,058 people between the ages of 25 and 34 were hurt in accidents
  • 35- to 44-year-olds experienced 9,616 traffic-related injuries
  • The 45- to 54-year-old group had 7,016 recorded injuries
  • 6,292 people between the ages of 55 and 64 were hurt in crashes
  • 21- to 24-year-olds accounted for 5,293 accident injuries

Those 95 years old and older accounted for only 24 traffic injuries in 2024 — the least of any age group.

Why Middle-Aged Adults Are Most Likely To Be Hurt or Killed in Traffic Accidents

Several reasons can explain why adults between the ages of 35 and 54 are most likely to be involved in an accident that results in injury or death:

  • There may simply be more people in this age group than others who are on the road
  • 35- to 54-year-olds typically have careers and families, meaning they have more reasons to be on the road frequently
  • This age group may have more reason to travel on interstates and highways, where the risk of severe injuries or death increases
  • Busy lives may tempt adults in this age bracket to speed, drive while distracted by a device, or engage in other risky behavior behind the wheel
  • This age group may be more likely to have kids in the car, which can create distractions that lead to accidents

There may be more factors that contribute to this elevated risk of injury and death for 35- to 54-year-olds. Drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and others on the road who fall into this age group should be especially careful in light of the dangers they face.

Traffic Crashes Can Impact Anyone

No age group in Louisiana is immune from the risk of injury or death from traffic accidents. These crashes can leave victims and their families facing significant medical expenses and other costs related to their care, treatment, and recovery. 

Pursuing compensation through a car accident lawsuit with an attorney’s assistance can help ensure victims of any age receive the resources they need to have the best recovery possible.

Contact the Gretna Car Accident Lawyers of The Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC for Help Today

If you were injured in an accident in Metairie or Gretna, Louisiana, and need legal help, contact our car accident attorneys at The Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC, to schedule a free case review today.

We serve Jefferson Parish County and Louisiana’s surrounding Areas

The Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC – Metairie, LA Office
2901 N Causeway Blvd, STE 202
Metairie, LA, 70002

(504) 500-5000

The Law Office of John W. Redmann, LLC – Gretna, LA Office

1101 Westbank Expy
Gretna, LA, 70053

(504) 384-8053