Review of Motor Vehicle Tort Cases Across the Federal And State Civil Courts

Litigation from motor vehicle accidents is a significant cost driver in both commercial and personal auto insurance, with the frequency of motor vehicle tort case filings increasing between 2014 and 2023 even as accident rates generally declined. This report quantifies the financial impact of this excess litigation, providing an estimate based on civil court data and highlighting the challenges of accurately comparing state-by-state trends. The findings provide a framework for future research and underscore the need for complete, publicly available civil court data to better identify and understand national trends in litigation.