Idaho traffic deaths rose even as crashes held steady in 2025

A new analysis from Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers says Idaho’s crash count barely changed in 2025, but fatalities climbed 5.9% to 252. The report points to Saturdays, US-95 and low insurance minimums as the clearest risk signals.

Why it matters: - Idaho’s total crash count stayed flat, but more people died on the road. - The report highlights where the biggest risks are concentrated: weekends, major highways, impairment and underinsured drivers. - Idaho’s minimum bodily injury coverage is far below the cost of a serious crash.

What happened: - Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers published a report titled Idaho Car Accident Statistics: What the 2025 Crash Report Shows. - The analysis used Idaho Transportation Department data, current state law, federal crash data and current insurance figures. - Idaho recorded 252 traffic deaths in 2025, up 5.9% from 2024. - Total crashes were nearly unchanged at 28,127. - The firm is based in Coeur d'Alene and said the findings are especially relevant to North Idaho drivers.

The details: - Saturday had 43 fatal crashes, the most of any day of the week. - Saturday still had only 3,471 total crashes, well below every weekday, which each topped 4,000 crashes. - Alcohol or drug impairment appeared in 5% of all crashes and 21% of fatal crashes. - US-95 ranked first in a five-year fatal crash review with 84 fatal crashes. - I-84 ranked second with 81 fatal crashes. - I-15 had 38 fatal crashes, less than half the US-95 total. - In single-vehicle crashes, an animal in the roadway was the most common contributing factor, cited in 23% of cases. - Speed and lane departure followed animal-related crashes among the leading single-vehicle factors. - During Idaho’s “100 Deadliest Days,” deaths rose from 82 in 2024 to 88 in 2025 and a preliminary 90 in 2026. - Idaho requires $25,000 per person in bodily injury coverage. - Idaho’s own cost model values a suspected serious injury at $679,115 and a fatality at $14.2 million. - Following too closely accounted for 13% of all crashes but 1% of fatal crashes. - The report also examined pedestrians, bicyclists and motorcyclists. - Motorcycles make up about 3% of registered vehicles in Idaho. - A motorcyclist was killed or injured every 12 hours in 2025. - Idaho crash costs were estimated at just over $6.08 billion in 2025. - The state cites a 2010 federal study saying insurers pay about half of crash costs and individuals pay about a quarter directly. - The data is based on law enforcement reports, so unreported minor crashes likely push the true total higher. - Insurance figures are national averages because no public Idaho-specific claims database is available.

Between the lines: - The report suggests Idaho’s road safety problem is less about total crash volume and more about the severity of the crashes that do happen. - The gap between the state’s minimum coverage requirement and the modeled cost of serious injuries or death points to major financial exposure for uninsured and underinsured drivers. - The high fatal-crash count on US-95 matters because the corridor runs through communities served by the firm’s Coeur d'Alene office.

What’s next: - Ryan Sargent said the firm wants more drivers to check their underinsured motorist coverage. - The report implies Idaho’s summer driving season and high-risk corridors will remain key pressure points for prevention and insurance planning. - Sargent Law Firm Injury Lawyers says it offers free case evaluations 24/7 and works on contingency.