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

Car accident deaths in Santa Clara County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 95 in 2020 to 108 in 2021, then fell to 98 in 2022. The count rose to 112 in 2023 before falling to 91 in 2024. The highest count was in 2023, and the lowest was in 2024. The 2024 count was 4 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 117 in 2020, 129 in 2021, 113 in 2022, 125 in 2023 and 100 in 2024. The share occurring in car accidents increased each year: 81.2%, 83.7%, 86.7%, 89.6% and 91.0%, respectively. Thus, 2024 had the lowest car accident death count but the highest share of all traffic deaths in the period.^{[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 Santa Clara County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 257 deaths, or 51.0%, from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 45 deaths, or 8.9%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 202 deaths, or 40.1%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These categories describe the people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. They do not limit the car accident death count to passenger vehicle occupants. The Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) label follows FARS classifications and is not a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) collisions accounted for 59 deaths (11.7%); head-on, 36 (7.1%); rear-end, 45 (8.9%); and sideswipe, 18 (3.6%). Other accounted for 1 death (0.2%), and Unknown for 6 (1.2%). These car accident figures classify the crash's first harmful event.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 339 deaths (67.3%). 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 (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) accounted for 182 car accident deaths, or 36.1%. Nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) accounted for 319 deaths, or 63.3%. Time of day was Unknown for 3 deaths, or 0.6%. Nighttime had the larger recorded count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification was Urban for 454 deaths (90.1%) and Rural for 49 deaths (9.7%). Unknown land use accounted for 1 death (0.2%). Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 26, representing 5.2% of the passenger-vehicle-involved death count from 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with California and the United States

Santa Clara 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. 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, Alameda County had the same rate, 5.3. Stanislaus County's rate was 14.9, Merced County's was 17.4, and San Mateo County's was 4.4. Merced County had the highest rate among the listed neighboring counties, while San Mateo County had the lowest. These comparisons concern average annual death rates, rather than fatal crash counts.^{[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 Santa Clara County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident deaths. Each percentage is a share of all traffic deaths. Speeding-related crashes accounted for 180 deaths (30.8%); Roadway departure, 223 (38.2%); At an intersection, 178 (30.5%); and Pedestrian involved, 198 (33.9%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Motorcycle involved accounted for 81 deaths (13.9%); Hit-and-run, 83 (14.2%); Driver distraction reported, 20 (3.4%); and In a work zone, 5 (0.9%). A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so rows overlap and their percentages cannot be added. These classifications 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 on trafficways customarily open to the public, with death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. Counts follow crash location, not residence. Whether searching for statistics or a car accident lawyer, read these counts by crash location.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, and multiply by 100,000 to give average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. The separately shown July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator. Rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Alameda County, California (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Merced 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 Santa Clara County, California (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)