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Attorneys Top Insurance.com’s List of Most Accident-Prone Drivers

Insurance.com’s analysis of accident claims by profession puts lawyers, financial professionals and government workers at the top, with athletes and homemakers among the safest.

By Editorial Desk Updated
A man in a suit sits inside a silver car with a crumpled front, pressed against a dark grey SUV on a city street
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A 2010 study by Insurance.com ranked attorneys and judges as the most accident-prone drivers, with 44 percent reporting a previous crash when seeking a car insurance quote. The findings, based on accident claims as a percentage of insurance quote requests, highlight how certain professions see a higher incidence of reported accidents than others. Financial professionals and government workers followed closely behind in the rankings. By contrast, athletes and homemakers were found to be among the least likely to have a prior accident on record, with reported rates of 17 percent and 24 percent respectively.

Insurance.com Study Ranks Professions by Accident Rate

Top 10 Most Dangerous Drivers by Profession

Insurance.com’s top 10 list of most accident-prone drivers by profession included a mix of white-collar and service industry roles. After attorneys and judges, the next most likely to report an accident were financial professionals and government workers (GS6 grade referenced in the study). Bartenders, waiters, business professionals and dog groomers also made the list, suggesting that both high-pressure office jobs and fast-paced service roles are linked to higher accident claim rates.

  1. Attorney/Judge
  2. Financial professional
  3. Government worker (GS6)
  4. Bartender or waiter
  5. Business professional
  6. Dog groomer
  7. Marketing/Advertising professional
  8. Barber/Stylist
  9. Coach
  10. Nurse

Attorneys and judges reported the highest accident rate at 44 percent. Financial professionals and government workers also had elevated accident histories. Athletes (17 percent) and homemakers (24 percent) had the lowest rates among surveyed professions. This ranking demonstrates that both office-based and customer-facing roles can be associated with higher accident risks.

Why Certain Jobs Have Higher Accident Rates

Insurance.com attributed the higher accident rates among certain professions to job demands that encourage multi-tasking, frequent phone use and tight schedules. These factors can lead to more distractions behind the wheel. Service jobs like bartending and waiting tables may also involve late hours and irregular shifts, increasing exposure to riskier driving conditions. High-pressure or fast-paced work environments may contribute to lapses in concentration or rushed driving habits.

Conversely, homemakers and athletes were less likely to be involved in accidents, possibly because they tend to drive outside peak rush hours and may take extra care when children are passengers. Homemakers, for example, are often accompanied by children, which can encourage more cautious driving. Athletes and homemakers may also have more flexibility in their schedules, allowing them to avoid congested roads and stressful commutes.

How Profession Affects Insurance Premiums

Drivers in professions with higher accident rates may face increased premiums if they are involved in a crash. The actual impact on insurance costs depends on factors such as accident severity, fault, claim value, violation type and whether the incident appears on a motor vehicle or insurance claims report. Insurers typically assess risk using a combination of personal driving history and broader statistical trends by occupation. While profession is only one factor, a history of accidents can lead to higher insurance rates, especially in jobs where claims are statistically more common.

Comparison of Accident Rates by Profession

Reported Accident Rates by Profession (Insurance.com, 2010)
ProfessionReported accident rate
Attorney/Judge44%
Financial professionalNot specified
Government worker (GS6)Not specified
Bartender/WaiterNot specified
Business professionalNot specified
Dog groomerNot specified
Marketing/Advertising professionalNot specified
Barber/StylistNot specified
CoachNot specified
NurseNot specified
Athlete17%
Homemaker24%

Attorneys and judges were nearly three times as likely as athletes to report a prior accident when seeking insurance quotes. This significant difference underscores how occupation can correlate with driving risk, at least as measured by reported accident history in insurance quote data.

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