California car accident statistics (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in California by year

Car accident deaths rose from 3,398 in 2020 to 3,907 in 2021 and 3,959 in 2022. They then fell to 3,623 in 2023 and 3,344 in 2024. The highest count was in 2022, and the lowest was in 2024. The 2024 count was 54 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

California's share of the national car accident death total was 10.2% in 2020, 10.5% in 2021, 10.8% in 2022, 10.3% in 2023 and 10.0% in 2024. For 2020 through 2024, the state's share was 10.3% of 176,219 national deaths. These national shares are distinct from the table's percentages describing car accident deaths as a share of California's traffic deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised when NHTSA publishes the final file.

Who died in California car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 11,059 deaths, or 60.7%, during 2020 through 2024. This category had the largest share of car accident deaths. People in other vehicles accounted for 1,753 deaths, or 9.6%, the smallest share. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 5,419 deaths, or 29.7%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. The labels identify person groupings rather than separate sets of crashes. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) follows the FARS classification and is not a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Collision types and setting

Car accident deaths by manner of collision were Angle (side impact), 3,103; Head-on, 2,027; Rear-end, 1,392; Sideswipe, 610; Other, 70; and Unknown, 44. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 10,985 deaths. That label means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport, such as a rollover or striking a fixed object. Vehicles stopped in traffic can be in transport.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime accounted for 6,828 deaths (37.5%); nighttime, 11,116 (61.0%); and unknown time, 287 (1.6%). Urban deaths numbered 13,208 (72.4%), rural deaths 4,996 (27.4%), and deaths with unknown land use 27 (0.1%). These figures count deaths, not crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Counties with the most car accident deaths

Los Angeles County recorded the most car accident deaths, with 3,405, followed by San Bernardino County with 1,746, Riverside County with 1,421, San Diego County with 1,265 and Orange County with 974. The listed counts also include Kern County, 886; Sacramento County, 839; Fresno County, 811; San Joaquin County, 586; and Santa Clara County, 504.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Alameda County recorded 437 deaths, Stanislaus County 413, Contra Costa County 391, Tulare County 376 and Ventura County 270. These are deaths grouped by crash county during 2020 through 2024. Rates describe a different measure: Kern County had the highest average annual deaths per 100,000 residents among the listed counties, at 19.4. Los Angeles County's rate was 6.9. The county table does not establish statewide rate rankings.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Up to 15 counties with the most deaths in the period, largest first. Rates for counties with few deaths change sharply with each death.

How California compares with the national rate

California's car accident death rate was 9.3, compared with the national rate of 10.5. Both figures measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. California's rate was lower than the national rate. The corresponding death counts were 18,231 for California and 176,219 for the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The calculation divides deaths during the period by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates, then multiplies by 100,000. It does not adjust for miles driven or visitors. California's separately displayed 2024 population estimate is 39,364,774; that figure is not the rate's denominator. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, the counting distinction remains the same: deaths are assigned by crash location, while rates use population estimates.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

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 an occupant or nonoccupant dying within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. State and county counts follow crash location, not the home address of the person who died.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files. Figures for 2024 use the Annual Report File and may change with 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 population estimate is not that denominator; rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• FARS Annual Report File and Final File
• Car accident statistics for Los Angeles County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for San Bernardino County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Riverside County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for San Diego County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Orange County, California (2020-2024)