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

Car accident deaths in Tuscaloosa County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 34 in 2020 to 46 in 2021, then fell to 42 in 2022 and 28 in 2023. The count rose to 33 in 2024. The highest year was 2021, while 2023 had the lowest count. Comparing the endpoints, the 2024 count was 1 death lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same sequence of increases and decreases: 37 in 2020, 48 in 2021, 44 in 2022, 31 in 2023 and 35 in 2024. The corresponding shares attributed to car accidents were 91.9%, 95.8%, 95.5%, 90.3% and 94.3%. Both the all-traffic death count and the car accident share were highest in 2021 and lowest in 2023.^{[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 Tuscaloosa County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 146 deaths, or 79.8% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 11 deaths, or 6.0%, making it the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 26 deaths, or 14.2%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category refers to people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. The categories describe the people counted, rather than separate sets of vehicle involvement. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, the grouping to keep in view is crash location, rather than residency.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Head-on collisions accounted for 45 deaths, or 24.6%; Angle (side impact) recorded 32, or 17.5%; Rear-end recorded 21, or 11.5%; and Sideswipe recorded 4, or 2.2%. Head-on had the largest death count among collisions with another motor vehicle in transport.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 81 deaths, or 44.3%, the largest manner-of-collision category. This describes the first harmful event: examples include striking a parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. It does not mean another vehicle had to be physically moving to qualify as in transport; a vehicle stopped in traffic can qualify.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 102 car accident deaths, or 55.7%, during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 80 deaths, or 43.7%. Time of day was unknown for 1 death, or 0.5%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 97 deaths in rural locations, or 53.0%, and 86 in urban locations, or 47.0%. Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 19, representing 10.4% of the passenger-vehicle-involved death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Alabama and the United States

Tuscaloosa County's car accident death rate was 15.4 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Alabama's rate was 17.1, and the United States rate was 10.5. The county rate was lower than the state rate and higher than the national rate. Jefferson County, Alabama, the listed neighboring county, had a rate of 14.3, lower than Tuscaloosa County's 15.4.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The associated death counts were 183 for Tuscaloosa County, 4,338 for Alabama, 176,219 for the United States and 477 for Jefferson County. Those counts are deaths during the full period, rather than annual rates.^{[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

Recorded characteristics cover all fatal crashes in Tuscaloosa County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths. Roadway departure recorded 93 deaths (47.7%); Speeding-related, 41 (21.0%); At an intersection, 39 (20.0%); and Pedestrian involved, 28 (14.4%). Motorcycle involved recorded 16 deaths (8.2%); Hit-and-run, 7 (3.6%); Driver distraction reported, 6 (3.1%); and In a work zone, 3 (1.5%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

These figures have a different scope from the car accident counts. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and their percentages cannot be added as exclusive shares. The characteristics are not findings of fault or cause.^{[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 a 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. County counts use crash location, not the residence of those killed.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File remains subject to revision when replaced by the Final File. Rates divide period deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025 and multiply by 100,000. The separately displayed July 1, 2024 population estimate of 240,880 is not the rate denominator. The resulting measure is average annual deaths per 100,000 residents, without adjustment for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Jefferson County, Alabama (2020-2024)
• Alabama car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

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