The Thanksgiving holiday offers many Americans a long holiday weekend to spend time with friends and family. Unfortunately, travel for the Thanksgiving holiday is also associated with an uptick in car crashes resulting in serious injury and death.
Prior to each major holiday weekend, the National Safety Council (NSC) releases a fatality and injury estimate.
For the purposes of this data, the Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend period begins at 6 p.m. on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and runs through 11:59 p.m. the following Sunday evening (marking the end of the weekend). For 2021, this period begins at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 28th.
Below outlines historical estimates from the NSC along with actual deaths.
Thanksgiving Day Holiday Traffic Fatalities
| Year | Actual Deaths | NSC estimated deaths |
| 1995 | 519 | 527 |
| 1996 | 570 | 528 |
| 1997 | 554 | 541 |
| 1998 | 586 | 541 |
| 1999 | 567 | 500 |
| 2000 | 497 | 497 |
| 2001 | 580 | 532 |
| 2002 | 527 | 575 |
| 2003 | 544 | 544 |
| 2004 | 556 | 556 |
| 2005 | 605 | 610 |
| 2006 | 623 | 555 |
| 2007 | 542 | 564 |
| 2008 | 484 | 479 |
| 2009 | 401 | 447 |
| 2010 | 417 | 441 |
| 2011 | 375 | 434 |
| 2012 | 405 | 451 |
| 2013 | 360 | 436 |
| 2014 | 403 | 418 |
| 2015 | 392 | 433 |
| 2016 | 439 | 437 |
| 2017 | 470 | 421 |
| 2018 | 433 | 433 |
| 2019 | 406 | 417 |
| 2020 | – | 485 |
| 2021 | – | – |
Because of the unprecedented impact COVID-19 is having on social activities, the uncertainty of 2020 & 2021’s estimates is increased. If you’re hitting the road for the Thanksgiving holiday, travel safely!
Sources & Other Useful Resources
- https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/holidays/thanksgiving-day/
- https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/holidays/thanksgiving-day/data-details/
- https://cdan.nhtsa.gov/tsftables/tsfar.htm
Since 1992, our personal injury attorneys at the Pines Salomon Injury Lawyers, APC. have been fighting for the people. Now, when those injured in automobile accidents need financial help, or for the families that need to know that the loss of a loved one could have been prevented, there is a personal injury law firm in San Diego that is on their side.
If you or a family member has been injured, call the lawyers at Pines Salomon Injury Lawyers, APC. There’s never been a better time than right now to speak to a personal injury attorney—FREE of charge. Call us at 858-551-2090 or request a free consultation online today!
SENIOR PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY & FIRM FOUNDER
Michael Pines is a former insurance company attorney who graduated from the University of California Hastings College of the Law in 1987. While he was an insurance attorney, he learned from behind the scenes how insurance companies work and how they decide how much to pay injured people. Now that he works against insurance companies, Michael’s inside knowledge has resulted in significant benefits to his clients injured in car accidents. Learn more about Michael Pines