Car accident statistics for Madison County, Alabama (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Madison County by year

Car accident deaths increased from 40 in 2020 to 49 in 2021, then decreased to 31 in 2022. The count returned to 49 in 2023 before falling to 42 in 2024. The highest count was shared by 2021 and 2023, while 2022 had the lowest count. The 2024 count was 2 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 43 in 2020, 52 in 2021, 37 in 2022, 51 in 2023 and 44 in 2024. The corresponding shares recorded in car accidents were 93.0%, 94.2%, 83.8%, 96.1% and 95.5%. That share was highest in 2023 and lowest in 2022. The annual figures describe deaths, rather than the number of fatal crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Deaths within 30 days in crashes on public roads. 2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised.

Who died in Madison County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 142 deaths, or 67.3% of car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 28 deaths, or 13.3%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 41 deaths, or 19.4%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes in Madison County. The grouping uses FARS person types and vehicle classifications; it does not identify the county where a person lived. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) is not a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event in a car accident. Angle (side impact) accounted for 51 deaths, or 24.2%; Head-on for 29, or 13.7%; Rear-end for 15, or 7.1%; and Sideswipe for 8, or 3.8%. Other accounted for 2 deaths, or 0.9%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 106 deaths, or 50.2%. This means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. Examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A vehicle stopped in traffic can be in transport; physical movement is not the test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 88 car accident deaths, or 41.7%. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 122 deaths, or 57.8%. Time of day was unknown for 1 death, or 0.5%. Nighttime had the larger recorded count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification accounted for 161 deaths, or 76.3%, while the rural classification accounted for 49 deaths, or 23.2%. Land use was unknown for 1 death, or 0.5%. Car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 19, representing 9.0% of the selected deaths during 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Alabama and the United States

Madison County's car accident death rate was 10.4 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Alabama's rate was 17.1, and the national rate was 10.5. The county rate was lower than both. Listed neighboring Limestone County had a rate of 19.6, also higher than Madison County's rate.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The corresponding death counts were 211 in Madison County, 4,338 in Alabama, 176,219 nationally and 109 in Limestone County. Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. Madison County's separately displayed 2024 population estimate of 423,071 is not the denominator used for this rate.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates, so they show deaths per 100,000 residents per year. They do not adjust for miles driven or for visitors.

Recorded characteristics of all fatal crashes

These characteristics cover all fatal crashes in Madison County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident deaths. Shares use all traffic deaths. Speeding-related recorded 69 deaths (30.4%); Roadway departure, 101 (44.5%); At an intersection, 69 (30.4%); Pedestrian involved, 40 (17.6%); Motorcycle involved, 40 (17.6%); Hit-and-run, 10 (4.4%); Driver distraction reported, 8 (3.5%); and In a work zone, 7 (3.1%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These entries are not findings of fault or cause. Roadway departure had the largest share of the listed characteristics.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These are recorded characteristics, not findings of fault.

About these figures

FARS is NHTSA's census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Inclusion requires a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, keep the geographic grouping in mind: counts follow the crash location, not the person's residence.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records use FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File. Rates use deaths divided by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, multiplied by 100,000. The separate July 1, 2024 estimate is not that denominator. Rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Alabama car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Truck accident statistics for Madison County, Alabama (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)