California Car Accident Statistics: Trends and Insights for 2024
January 3, 2025- Categories: Vehicle Accidents
Overall traffic trends and insights for 2024 in California are serious and deserve closer examination. Fatal accident statistics in recent years are sobering, as are the number of motorists and passengers seriously injured in vehicle crashes each year. While preliminary 2024 stats are not yet available, we can glean insight into traffic trends by looking at fatalities and injuries in recent years.
Fatal Accident Statistics
According to the most recent data available, the number of traffic fatalities in California in 2022 was 4,285, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the California Office of Traffic Safety. Traffic deaths have risen consistently over the last 20 years in the state. The National Safety Council (NSC) estimates motor-vehicle deaths across the U.S. in 2023 was 44,450.
When taking a look at vehicle types in which motorists and passengers were killed in crashes in 2022 in California, the breakdown is as follows:
- Car occupants – 1,484 deaths (33%)
- Pickup and SUV occupants – 815 deaths (18%)
- Large Truck occupants – 31 deaths (1%)
- Motorcyclists – 634 deaths (14%)
- Pedestrians – 1,158 deaths (26%)
- Bicyclists – 175 deaths (4%)
California was highest of the 50 states in the nation when it came to traffic fatalities in 2022, followed in second place by Texas (2,208 deaths). These traffic death trends are likely to continue in 2024.
Injury Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol (CHiP), the state had 147,148 fatal and injury collisions in 2020, the most recent year for which CHiP statistics are available. Of these, 143,476 were injury accidents. There were 167,502 vehicle occupants injured.
At-A-Glance California Car Accident Statistics
Following are additional 2020 vehicle crash statistics from CHiP. The numbers are sobering:
- On average, a fatal or injury traffic crash was reported every 4 minutes.
- On average, 1 person was killed in a collision every 2 hours and 11 minutes.
- On average, 1 person was injured in a vehicle accident every 2 minutes and 34 seconds.
- For each person killed, there were 51 people injured in traffic crashes.
- Speed was indicated as the primary crash factor in 27.4% of the fatal and injury traffic collisions.
- California did not have a day without a traffic fatality in 2020.
There is always a lag in compilation and reporting of crash statistics and, therefore, current 2024 statistics are not yet available. However, data from recent years show trends that often continue through the present day.
Crash Prevention Measures
Several driver safety measures can prevent traffic collisions and reduce the risk of death or injury among vehicle occupants. Some of these include:
- Always wear seatbelts, this includes drivers AND passengers. Seatbelt usage is often the most important indicator of surviving a vehicle accident.
- Avoid speeding, and slow down when it’s raining, snowing, sleeting, and in other bad weather.
- Watch for pedestrians in urban areas and especially at intersections. After car occupants, pedestrians suffer the second highest death rate when looking at who dies in vehicle collisions.
- Slow down in road construction areas. Not only are speed limits typically lower, but fines are significantly higher in construction zones. Also, road workers – despite their reflective vests – can sometimes be difficult to see clearly on a highway when they’re moving between heavy equipment and debris.
- Never drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Impaired driving is dangerous driving.
- Distracted driving is also a significant cause of car accidents. Do not text and driver or use hand-held mobile devices when behind the wheel.
By following these simple accident prevention measures, drivers can reduce the likelihood of being injured or killed in a vehicle crash.
Neale & Fhima has a 99% success rate in personal injury claims. We negotiate aggressively with insurance companies and will not rest until we achieve the best outcome possible in your case.
Where Do Most Accidents Happen?
The geographic distribution of accidents can tell us a lot about where and sometimes why crashes happen. The demographic breakdown can offer additional insights. Compared to urban areas, crash deaths in rural areas in 2022 were less likely to occur on interstates and freeways and more likely to occur on collector roads and local roads. Urban areas were much more likely to experience fatal crashes at intersections than were rural areas (32% vs 16% respectively). More than 70% of rural fatal crashes happened on roads with a speed limit of 55 mph or higher. By comparison, only 29% of crash deaths in urban areas happened on these types of roads.
Technology and Vehicle Collisions
The impact of technology is becoming significantly more important in car accident cases, both because of the ways that misuse of technology can cause accidents and because of the ways that technology can help prove your case. One of the most significant downsides of technology is the rise in distracted driving cases that result in injuries, typically because a driver is texting or otherwise using a mobile device.
A Smart Car Accident Lawyer Can Make All the Difference
When choosing an attorney to represent you in a car accident case, there are a lot of things to consider when securing excellent representation. An attorney can make a difference in the amount of personal injury compensation you receive, and even whether you win or lose your case. We know there are a lot of California lawyers to choose from. We believe the legal team at Neale & Fhima stands head and shoulders above the rest. Attorney Aaron Fhima is among the best and the brightest. Our outstanding client testimonials speak to our law firm’s skill and experience. Consider the following reasons to choose Neale & Fhima:
- No Surprises. We tell you up front what you can likely expect from the legal process, what your case might be worth, and what the strengths and weaknesses of your claim are.
- Years of Experience. Our attorneys possess over 40 years of combined experience representing clients in Southern California.
- We Know the Law. California law is complicated at best and confusing at worst. We’ll help you avoid legal pitfalls and guide you in building a strong legal case.
- We Value Client Relationships. High-volume law offices often think of clients as nothing more than a number on a case file. We’re different. We like getting to know our clients and their families.
For a free consultation about your case, call an attorney who focuses on car accident cases at 888-407-2955.
Attorney Aaron Fhima
Aaron Fhima is a trial attorney who has secured numerous settlements and verdicts against large corporations and some of the largest auto manufacturers in the world. Representing consumers and injury victims throughout the state of California, Aaron’s practice areas include personal injury, and lemon law litigation. Aaron has a long record of success taking on large defense firms; and he doesn’t hesitate to take cases to trial when necessary to enforce his clients’ rights. [ Attorney Bio ]
