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

Car accident deaths in San Joaquin County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 108 in 2020 to 125 in 2021, then fell to 120 in 2022. The count remained at 120 in 2023 before falling to 113 in 2024. The highest count was in 2021, and the lowest was in 2020. The 2024 count was 5 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The annual share of all traffic deaths occurring in car accidents was 91.5% in 2020, 87.4% in 2021, 89.6% in 2022, 88.9% in 2023 and 81.3% in 2024. All traffic deaths numbered 118, 143, 134, 135 and 139 in those respective years. These annual figures distinguish deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes from deaths in all fatal traffic 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 San Joaquin County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 421 deaths, or 71.8% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 50 deaths, or 8.5%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 115 deaths, or 19.6%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in crashes involving a passenger vehicle, rather than limiting the count to deaths in that vehicle. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, the grouping to keep in mind is crash location, not the home county of the person who died.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

By manner of collision, car accident deaths included Angle (side impact), 104 (17.7%); Head-on, 73 (12.5%); Rear-end, 50 (8.5%); Sideswipe, 29 (4.9%); and Other, 3 (0.5%). The largest row was Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport, with 327 deaths (55.8%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. That largest row includes events such as striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover, rather than a collision between motor vehicles in transport. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic; the classification does not require it to be physically moving.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime, defined as 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 212 car accident deaths (36.2%). Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 363 deaths (61.9%). Time of day was unknown for 11 deaths (1.9%). These figures cover 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 338 deaths (57.7%) as urban and 248 deaths (42.3%) as rural. Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 74, representing 12.6%. That truck figure counts deaths in the qualifying crashes, rather than identifying the vehicle occupied by each person who died.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with California and the United States

San Joaquin County's car accident death rate was 14.7 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 higher than both.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, rates were 10.5 in Sacramento County, 5.3 in Alameda County, 14.9 in Stanislaus County and 6.7 in Contra Costa County. Stanislaus County had the highest rate among the listed neighboring counties; Alameda County had the lowest.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The separate 2024 population estimate of 817,149 is not the denominator used for San Joaquin County's 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

The recorded characteristics cover all fatal crashes in San Joaquin County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident deaths. Shares of all traffic deaths were 32.4% for Speeding-related, 48.1% for Roadway departure, 24.2% for At an intersection and 19.4% for Pedestrian involved.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Motorcycle involved accounted for 9.9%, Hit-and-run for 10.9%, Driver distraction reported for 4.0% and In a work zone for 1.9%. A crash can carry several characteristics, so these rows overlap and do not add to 100%. The entries describe recorded crash characteristics; they 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 vehicle occupant or nonoccupant dying within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. County counts use the crash location recorded in FARS, not the deceased person's residence.^[8][6][7]

Records for 2020 through 2023 come from FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File. Rate denominators sum annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025 for 2020 through 2024. Dividing deaths by that sum and multiplying by 100,000 gives average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. The separate July 1, 2024 estimate is not that denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

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

On related publications

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