States With the Highest & Lowest Number of Uninsured Drivers

Let’s say you get hurt in an auto accident, but the responsible driver has no insurance. But how likely is that scenario? According to Insurance Research Council data, uninsured drivers currently cause about 1 in 8 auto accidents nationwide. However, those rates can vary wildly depending on where you live. See where you’re most (and least) likely to get hurt in a crash with an uninsured driver below.

10 Places You’re Most likely to Run Into Uninsured Drivers

These states have a higher-than-average percentage of uninsured drivers on the road. But how dangerous are each state’s drivers, and what are your odds for getting hurt in an accident there? Below are the top 10 danger zones, according to National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). So if you live, work or vacation in one of these areas, consider adding extra coverage to your policy. (Yes, even if you’re just renting a car there for the weekend!)

1. Washington, D.C. (25.2% Uninsured)

While not technically a state, Washington D.C. holds the highest percentage of uninsured drivers compared to the rest of the United States, clocking in at 25.2%. D.C. ranks third on Allstate’s list of U.S. cities with the worst drivers. In fact, they file almost twice as many auto accident claims compared to the national average!

2. New Mexico (21% Uninsured)

As the third-deadliest state for careless driving fatalities in 2016, New Mexico also ranked 11th in the country for DUIs. This makes New Mexico’s lack of insured drivers particularly harrowing, as the high number of DUIs and careless driving injuries means more people struggle to get compensation after an accident.

3. Mississippi (22.2% Uninsured)

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest number of car crash fatalities out of all 50 states (25.3 deaths per 100,000 people, or 1.7 people killed for every 100 million miles driven).

5. Tennessee (20.9% Uninsured)

Police issued more than 501,000 traffic accident reports in 2017, including 30,000 minor, major, and fatal injuries.

6. Michigan (19.5% Uninsured)

In 2017, nearly 1 in 5 crashes in Michigan resulted in injuries. In other words, statistically, 1 out of every 127 Michiganders got hurt. In 2023, there were 287,953 total crashes on Michigan roads, which, while a decrease from the previous year, also sported a higher rate of injury than previous years.

7. Kentucky (18.7% Uninsured)

According to the Kentucky State Police Traffic Collision Report, In 2022, 56.18% of all traffic fatalities were caused by drivers under the influence of drugs and alcohol, with 265 due to the influence of drugs and 153 due to the influence of alcohol. Kentucky experienced 762 deaths per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, a rate higher than the United States average.

8. Delaware (18.1% Uninsured)

Delaware has been making strides in reducing its car accident fatalities, having earned a 16% decrease in deaths between 2022 and 2023. This reduction is major because Delaware has historically ranked among the list of states with the highest rates of car accident deaths–in 2021, they were the 7th-highest in the United States.

9. Colorado (17.5% Uninsured)

2022 brought over 700 car accident fatalities in Colorado, with driving under the influence and speeding being the primary causes of accident fatalities.

10. Ohio (17.1% Uninsured)

Ohio experienced an average of 1,252 fatalities per year between 2019 and 2023, from an average of 1,154 crashes. The number has held fairly steady year over year, but there was a decrease of 33 deaths between 2022 and 2023.

10 States With the Lowest Percentage of Uninsured Drivers

The following states have the lowest percentage of motorists driving without car insurance:

1. Wyoming— 5.9%
2. Maine — 6.2%
3. Idaho — 6.2%
4. Utah — 7.3%
5. New Hampshire — 7.8%
6. Nebraska — 7.8%
7. North Dakota — 7.9%
8. Kansas — 8.0%
9. South Dakota — 8.0%
10. Minnesota — 8.7%

Recently hurt in a car crash while traveling through one of these states? Then you’re much more likely to recoup damages at the other driver’s expense.

How Much Money Will Insurance Companies Pay For A Bodily Injury Claim?

The amount insurers can legally pay each person with auto accident injuries depends on where it happened. Find your state’s maximum payout amount for bodily injury claims under standard car insurance policies below:

• $10,000 — California (only applies to low-income drivers with Assigned Risk Plans), Florida, New Jersey (only applies to basic policy holders)
• $15,000 — Arizona, California, Louisiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
• $20,000 — Hawaii, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan
• $25,000 — Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington D.C., Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
• $30,000 — Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Texas
• $50,000 — Alaska, Maine

And if the other driver’s policy refuses to pay some medical bills (i.e., physical therapy)? If that happens to you, we recommend consulting a lawyer before accepting their offer.

Biggest Causes of Car Accident Fatalities

Car accident fatalities are a tragic reality on roads worldwide, often caused by preventable behaviors and conditions. One of the leading causes is speeding, which reduces a driver’s ability to react to sudden changes, such as other vehicles, pedestrians, or obstacles. At high speeds, the force of impact in a collision increases significantly, making injuries more severe and survival less likely.

Distracted driving is another major contributor, encompassing activities like texting, eating, or using in-car technology. Even a momentary lapse in focus can result in catastrophic consequences, as it only takes seconds for a driver to lose control or miss critical hazards on the road. Together, these factors create dangerous scenarios that frequently result in fatalities.

Another significant cause of fatal accidents is driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs. Impaired driving slows reaction times, reduces coordination, and impairs judgment, making it one of the deadliest behaviors on the road.

Tackling these issues through public awareness, stricter enforcement of traffic laws, and better road safety measures is essential to reducing car accident fatalities.

How to Recoup All Costs After an Uninsured Driver Injures You

If an uninsured driver injures you, notify your own insurer about the accident as soon as possible. There’s a good chance you’ll have to eat some of those costs, though. In most cases, the only way to recover 100% of your losses is through a personal injury attorney.

Insurance providers typically pay just 54% of auto accident costs, according to NHTSA data. If you can’t afford to pay half your expenses from an accident that wasn’t your fault, talk to a lawyer for free instead.