Car accident statistics for Denver County, Colorado (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Denver County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 44 in 2020 to 63 in 2021, then to 67 in 2022 and 68 in 2023. The count fell to 47 in 2024. The highest annual count was 68 in 2023, and the lowest was 44 in 2020. Despite the decline from 2023, the 2024 count was 3 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same annual direction: 51 in 2020, 68 in 2021, 74 in 2022, 76 in 2023 and 63 in 2024. The share attributed to car accidents was 86.3%, 92.6%, 90.5%, 89.5% and 74.6%, respectively. That share was highest in 2021 and lowest in 2024.^{[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 Denver County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 154 deaths, or 53.3% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 40 deaths, or 13.8%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 95 deaths, or 32.9%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category includes deaths in the selected passenger vehicle crashes. The Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) label follows FARS classifications and can include occupants of parked motor vehicles. It should not be read as a literal description of a person's position outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) accounted for 75 car accident deaths, or 26.0%; Head-on for 17, or 5.9%; Rear-end for 19, or 6.6%; and Sideswipe for 10, or 3.5%. Other accounted for 3 deaths, or 1.0%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 165 deaths, or 57.1%. This describes the first harmful event, which could involve striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. It means that event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. 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

Nighttime, defined as 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 197 car accident deaths, or 68.2%. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 92 deaths, or 31.8%. These time categories describe deaths in crashes during 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land use classification was Urban for 288 deaths, or 99.7%, and Rural for 0 deaths, or 0.0%. Unknown accounted for 1 death, or 0.3%. Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 15, representing 5.2% of the passenger vehicle crash death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Colorado and the United States

Denver County's car accident death rate was 8.0 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Colorado's rate was 10.1, and the United States rate was 10.5. The county rate was lower than both. These rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census population estimates, multiplied by 100,000.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Adams County had the highest rate at 11.2, Arapahoe County had a rate of 8.0, and Jefferson County had the lowest at 6.8. Denver County's rate matched Arapahoe County's and was higher than Jefferson County's. The rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors, and the deaths are assigned by crash location.^{[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 Denver County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accidents. Shares of all traffic deaths were 33.1% for Speeding-related, 29.2% for Roadway departure, 47.6% for At an intersection and 29.5% for Pedestrian involved.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Motorcycle involved accounted for 19.0% of all traffic deaths; Hit-and-run, 15.1%; Driver distraction reported, 4.5%; and In a work zone, 3.6%. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so these rows overlap and do not add to 100%. The entries describe recorded characteristics, 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 a death within 30 days. It excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. Counts follow crash location, not residence. When reading these figures while searching for a car accident lawyer, keep that geographic grouping in mind.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. This gives average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. The separate July 1, 2024 estimate of 741,591 is not the denominator. Rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Adams County, Colorado (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Arapahoe County, Colorado (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Jefferson County, Colorado (2020-2024)
• Colorado car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Truck accident statistics for Denver County, Colorado (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)