Fatalities in Traffic Accidents in Türkiye Decreased by 5 Percent in 2025

Türkiye concluded 2025 with promising developments in traffic safety, indicating that the measures taken have begun to bear fruit. According to a report by the General Directorate of Highways based on TÜİK data, a 5 percent decrease in fatalities was recorded throughout the year compared to the previous year. Despite this positive picture, the fact that 6 thousand 35 people still lost their lives and 403 thousand 937 people were injured in traffic reveals the severity of the problem. The number of registered vehicles in the country exceeding 34 million makes knowing the legal processes following an accident and driver rights more important than ever. A wide range of rights, from vehicle depreciation to disability compensation, is among the issues that directly concern millions of citizens.

While it was stated that a total of 1 million 549 thousand 574 traffic accidents occurred during the year, 288 thousand 321 of them were recorded as fatal and injury accidents. According to the data, the fatality rate per 100 thousand vehicles decreased from 20.3 to 18.0, concretely proving the impact of the measures. The determination that 90.6 percent of the faults causing fatal and injury accidents are driver-related clarifies that the issue is based on the human factor. The most common mistake made by drivers was failing to adjust the vehicle's speed appropriately for road, weather, and traffic conditions, with 114 thousand 636 cases. These statistics show that traffic accidents are not only a matter of transportation safety but also a social issue that brings a comprehensive legal process.

Attorney Şule Çatlı, evaluating the legal dimension of the issue, drew attention to the critical importance of penalty and compensation processes following accidents. She emphasized that a meticulous fault investigation is essential after each accident, as the majority of faults are driver-related. Accident investigation reports, expert reports, fault rates, and medical reports constitute the fundamental basis for both criminal proceedings and compensation lawsuits. Çatlı warned citizens that if the determined fault rate is not objected to within the specified period, rights losses that are very difficult to compensate may be experienced in later stages. For this reason, correctly managing legal processes and carrying them out with professional accompaniment is considered essential to remedy grievances.

The 2025 data of the Insurance Arbitration Commission reveals that vehicle owners have started to claim their rights consciously. Demands for vehicle depreciation topped the files submitted to the Commission with 396 thousand 945 files, and this situation is seen to increase public awareness. Depreciation, which is a category of damage completely independent of the vehicle's repair cost, can be resolved through arbitration, which is faster and more economical compared to court. Drivers who are faultless or less at fault have the right to claim the decrease in market value by applying to the other party's compulsory traffic insurance. In addition to this, rights such as treatment expenses, vehicle deprivation costs, disability, and loss of support compensation are also resolved under the same roof.

The global scale of the issue is better understood when worldwide data is examined. According to figures announced by the World Health Organization, 1.19 million people lose their lives in traffic accidents every year worldwide, while 20 to 50 million people are injured. Traffic accidents rank first among the causes of death for young people aged 5 to 29 and impose a great burden on countries' economies. According to TÜİK's 2026 data, while the number of registered vehicles in Türkiye exceeds 34 million, the dynamism in the second-hand vehicle market increases the importance of damage records. Drivers knowing their responsibilities, insurance rights, and legal recourse options plays a major role in minimizing both individual and social grievances in the event of a possible accident.