Car accident statistics for Alameda County, California (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Alameda County by year

Car accident deaths fell from 93 in 2020 to 81 in 2021, rose to 92 in 2022, then fell to 90 in 2023 and 81 in 2024. The highest count was 93 in 2020. The lowest count was 81, recorded in both 2021 and 2024. The 2024 count was 12 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The annual share of all traffic deaths attributed to these crashes was 86.1% in 2020, 81.0% in 2021, 83.6% in 2022, 90.9% in 2023 and 81.0% in 2024. All traffic deaths followed a different sequence: 108, 100, 110, 99 and 100 for those respective years. The highest car accident share occurred 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 Alameda County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 251 deaths, or 57.4%, in the selected crashes from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 41 deaths, or 9.4%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 145 deaths, or 33.2%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These categories describe the people who died in passenger-vehicle-involved crashes, rather than limiting the count to passenger vehicle occupants. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, the grouping to keep in mind is deaths by crash location, not by the person's residence.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Manner of collision identifies the first harmful event in a crash. Angle (side impact) accounted for 60 deaths, or 13.7%; Head-on for 28, or 6.4%; Rear-end for 52, or 11.9%; and Sideswipe for 17, or 3.9%. Unknown accounted for 2 deaths, or 0.5%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 278 car accident deaths, or 63.6%. This means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. Examples include striking a parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic; physical movement is not the test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 272 car accident deaths, or 62.2%, during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 160 deaths, or 36.6%. Time of day was unknown for 5 deaths, or 1.1%. Nighttime had the larger recorded count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification was urban for 400 deaths, or 91.5%, and rural for 37 deaths, or 8.5%. In a separate measure of vehicle involvement, crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 25 car accident deaths, or 5.7%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with California and the United States

Alameda County's car accident death rate was 5.3 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. California's rate was 9.3, and the national rate was 10.5. The county rate was lower than both. These rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual population estimates and do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, the rates were 14.7 in San Joaquin County, 5.3 in Santa Clara County, 14.9 in Stanislaus County and 6.7 in Contra Costa County. Alameda County matched Santa Clara County's rate and had a lower rate than each of the other listed neighbors. Stanislaus County had the highest rate among the listed neighboring counties.^{[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 Alameda County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident deaths. Shares of all traffic deaths were 43.9% for Speeding-related, 37.7% for Roadway departure, 28.4% for At an intersection and 30.6% for Pedestrian involved.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Motorcycle involved accounted for 15.3%, Hit-and-run for 19.5%, Driver distraction reported for 3.5% and In a work zone for 2.5%. Speeding-related had the largest share of the listed characteristics. A crash can carry several characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These records 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 involving 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 residence. Data for 2020 through 2023 are Final Files; 2024 uses the Annual Report File and may change with its replacement by the Final File.^[8][6][7]

Car accident rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. The result is average annual deaths per 100,000 residents, without adjustment for miles driven or visitors. The separately displayed July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Contra Costa County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for San Joaquin County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for San Mateo County, California (2020-2024)
• California car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Truck accident statistics for Alameda County, California (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)