Resources
Minus/plus icon
ResourcesExplore the full ACKO experience and make the most of your plan

Home / Car Insurance / Articles / Car accidents in India

Car accidents in India

Team AckoApr 19, 2024

With more than 62 lakh kilometres of roadways crisscrossing various parts of the country, India has the second-largest road network in the world. This massive network contributes to the country’s socioeconomic growth and development. While Indian roads are essential, they have also been a bane for users, as India tops the list regarding the number of road accidents in the world. Read on to learn about road accidents in India and how car insurance can be vital in mitigating associated financial burdens.

Car

Contents

icon
seo_non_core_app_qr

Car accidents in India: Key statistics, the importance of insurance and overview of the claims process

Lack of proper signage, poorly designed roads, and poor traffic discipline have made Indian roads vulnerable to accidents, sometimes leading to loss of lives. As per the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Authority of India (MoRTH), a total of 3,66,138 road accidents were reported in 2020. Of these, 1,31,714 persons have lost their lives to road accidents. The most alarming data is that the most impacted age group in road accidents in India is 18 to 45 years, accounting for more than 70% of the total accidental deaths in India.

Read on to learn about data on car accidents in India from 2018 to 2020 and how car insurance can cover your financial losses due to damages.

Road accidents in India 2018

Here is detailed information in a tabular format about road accidents in India, including the number of accidents, injuries due to road accidents and the number of persons killed during 2018.

Category of roads Length as on 31 March 2017 Accidents % share in total
National highways 1,14,158 kms 1,40,843 30.2%
State highways 1,75,036 kms 1,17,570 25.2%
Other roads 56,08,477 kms 2,08,631 45%

Car accidents

Vehicle type 2017 No. of accidents 2018 No. of accidents Change in 2018 over 2017 (%)
Car/jeep/van/taxi 1,13,490 30,811 -0.2%

Road accidents by type of collision

Type of collision 2017 No. of accidents 2018 No. of accidents Change in 2018 over 2017 (%)
Hit and run 65,186 69,822 7.1%
With parked vehicle 7,104 13,565 90.9%
Hit from back 77,540 88,765 14.5%
Hit from side 42,675 58,774 37.7%
Run of road 13,209 19,319 46.3%
Fixed object 12,085 13,924 15.2%
Vehicle overturn 30,037 25,619 -14.7%
Head on collision 87,068 97,816 12.3%
Others 1,30,006 79,440 0.46%

Key observations of road accidents in 2018

  • “Other roads”, with a share of 45%, accounted for the maximum number of road accidents in 2018.

  • Parked vehicles reported an increase of 90.9% in accidents compared to the previous year.

  • Hit from back and side incidents contributed to the increase in accidents, with an incline of 52.2% compared to the previous year.

  • Head-on collision accidents increased by 12.3% compared to 2017.

Road accidents in India 2019

This section lists the road accidents in India recorded in 2019 in a tabular format, including the number of accidents, percentage change and the type of vehicle accidents recorded in the year.

Category of roads Length as on 31 March 2018 Accidents % share in total
National highways 1,26,350 kms 1,37,191 30.6%
State highways 1,86,908 kms 1,08,976 24.3%
Other roads 59,00,858 kms 2,02,835 45%

Car accidents

Vehicle type 2018 No. of accidents 2019 No. of accidents Change in 2019 over 2018 (%)
Car/jeep/van/taxi 30,811 92,196 33.41%

Road accidents by type of collision

Type of collision 2018 No. of accidents 2019 No. of accidents Change in 2019 over 2018 (%)
Hit and run 69,822 69,621 -0.3%
With parked vehicle 13,565 13,317 -1.8%
Hit from back 88,765 89,923 1.3%
Hit from side 58,774 57,987 -1.3%
Run of road 19,319 19,055 -1.4%
Fixed object 13,924 14,507 4.2%
Vehicle overturn 25,619 23,314 -9.0%
Head on collision 97,816 87,452 -10.2%
Others 79,440 73,826 -0.2%

Key observations of road accidents in 2019

  • Accidents related to fixed objects accounted for a 4.2% increase compared to the previous year.

  • Car accidents in 2019 rose remarkably by 33.41% compared to last year.

  • Head-on collisions reduced significantly by 10.2% compared to 2018.

  • "Other roads", with a share of 45%, accounted for the maximum number of road accidents in 2019.

  • A slight increase in the "hit from back" type of collision accounts for a rise of 1.3% compared to the previous year.

Road accidents in India 2020

This section lists the road accidents in India recorded in 2020 in a tabular format, including the total number of accidents, percentage change and the type of vehicle accidents recorded in the year.

Category of roads Length as on 31 March 2019 Accidents % share in total
National highways 1,26,350 kms 1,16,496 31.8%
State highways 1,86,908 kms 90,755 24.8%
Other roads 59,00,858 kms 1,58,887 43.4%

Car accidents

Vehicle type 2019 No. of accidents 2020 No. of accidents Change in 2020 over 2019 (%)
Car/jeep/van/taxi 92,196 60,986 -33.9%

Road accidents by type of collision

Type of collision 2019 No. of accidents 2020 No. of accidents Change in 2020 over 2019 (%)
Hit and run 69,621 52,448 -24.7%
With parked vehicle 13,317 11,096 -16.7%
Hit from back 89,923 73,039 -18.8%
Hit from side 57,987 48,010 -17.2%
Run of road 19,055 18,210 -4.4
Fixed object 14,507 12,882 -11.2
Vehicle overturn 23,314 19,211 -17.6
Head on collision 87,452 73,743 -15.7
Others 73,826 57,499 -22.1

Key observations of road accidents in 2020

  • “Other roads”, with a share of 43.4%, saw a decline in accidents compared to the previous year. However, there is a slight uptick in national and state highway accidents.

  • There is a significant decline in the number of accidents related to hit-and-run cases witnessing a drop of 24.7% compared to 2019.

  • Car accidents in 2020 declined by 33.9% compared to the previous year.

Car insurance as financial protection against car accidents in India

The road network in India is growing at a rapid pace. Similarly, the vehicle population in the country is also on the rise. With an increasing number of vehicles on the road, accident-related damages, small or big, are a probability. Therefore, insure your car and stay protected against unforeseen financial losses. 

Here are some of the crucial advantages of Comprehensive Car Insurance.

  • It covers damages to your car

  • It provides legal and financial protection against third-party liabilities

  • It provides coverage against vehicle theft

  • It provides coverage against damages due to floods, earthquakes, riots, vandalism, etc.

  • It provides the option to include add-on covers for additional benefit

How to buy a car insurance policy from ACKO

Buying car insurance from ACKO is a simple and quick process. Simply visit our website or download our mobile app to purchase car insurance online. Here are the steps.

  • Step 1: Visit our website or mobile app.

  • Step 2: Enter your car details and select a suitable policy as per your needs.

  • Step 3: Pay the premium online and get your car insured instantly.

Documents required to submit a car insurance claim at ACKO

Traditional insurers might ask you to submit multiple documents along with a claim form. However, that is not needed when you buy insurance from ACKO. We are a digital-first insurance company; hence, most of our processes are entirely paperless. During claims, you just need to upload soft copies of the documents. Here are the details.

  • Registration certificate of the vehicle

  • Driving Licence of the driver

  • Policy document

  • Photos of the damaged vehicle

  • First Information Report (FIR) if required

Frequently asked questions:

Here are the answers to some of the common questions about car accidents in India and how car insurance is important during road accidents.

Icon

Can I raise a claim without an FIR?

Whether you can raise a claim without an FIR depends upon the type of claim. For instance, FIR is a mandatory document for raising claims in case of road accidents leading to bodily injury (or death) of a third party. It is also a mandatory requirement if your car is stolen. However, it may not be required for minor damages.

Can I claim insurance if I damage my car?

You can raise a claim for damages to your car if you have purchased the Own Damage cover or Comprehensive Insurance.

When should I register the claim after an accident?

It is vital that you inform your insurer immediately after the accident. Begin the process of registering your claim as soon as possible to avoid the possibility of rejection of your claim.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on industry experience and several secondary sources on the internet, and is subject to changes. Please go through the applicable policy wordings for updated ACKO-centric content, and before making any insurance-related decisions.

Explore More:

icon

Want to post any comments?

icon

Instantly check chassis number & VIN by registration number

Enter your vehicle number

Indian Challan Icon
quote icon

Get Car Insurance

quote icon