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

Car accident deaths in Jefferson County by year

The annual car accident death count rose from 34 in 2020 to 40 in 2021 and 41 in 2022. It then fell to 38 in 2023 before rising to 44 in 2024. The highest count was in 2024, and the lowest was in 2020. The 2024 count was 10 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 43 in 2020, 52 in 2021, 49 in 2022, 47 in 2023 and 54 in 2024. Car accident deaths represented 79.1%, 76.9%, 83.7%, 80.9% and 81.5% of those respective annual counts. That share was highest in 2022 and lowest in 2021, while the highest car accident death count occurred 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 Jefferson County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 109 deaths, or 55.3% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 36 deaths, or 18.3%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 52 deaths, or 26.4%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in crashes involving a passenger vehicle, with assignment to Jefferson County based on crash location. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, keep these groupings in mind: the figures include everyone killed in the selected crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) collisions accounted for 44 car accident deaths, or 22.3%. Head-on recorded 25 deaths, or 12.7%; Rear-end recorded 12, or 6.1%; and Sideswipe recorded 6, or 3.0%. Other accounted for 1 death, or 0.5%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 109 deaths, or 55.3%. This row describes a first harmful event other than a collision between motor vehicles in transport, such as a rollover or striking a parked vehicle, fixed object, pedestrian or cyclist. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic, so the classification does not test whether another vehicle was physically moving.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, defined as 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 112 car accident deaths, or 56.9%, during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 85 deaths, or 43.1%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 176 deaths, or 89.3%, in urban settings and 21 deaths, or 10.7%, in rural settings. Separately, crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 12 car accident deaths, or 6.1%. That figure counts deaths in passenger-vehicle-involved crashes that also involved a large truck.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Colorado and the United States

Jefferson County's car accident death rate was 6.8 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 the state and national rates.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Adams County recorded a rate of 11.2, Denver County 8.0, Arapahoe County 8.0 and Boulder County 7.0. Jefferson County's rate was lower than each of those rates. Adams County had the highest rate among the listed neighboring counties, and Boulder County had the lowest. These rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^{[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

These recorded characteristics cover all fatal crashes in Jefferson County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 37.6%; Roadway departure, 40.0%; At an intersection, 33.1%; Pedestrian involved, 18.8%; Motorcycle involved, 31.8%; Hit-and-run, 5.7%; Driver distraction reported, 8.2%; and In a work zone, 3.3%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Roadway departure had the largest listed share, while In a work zone had the smallest. These percentages describe deaths associated with recorded crash characteristics, not percentages of crashes. A crash can have several characteristics, so the rows overlap. The entries 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 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 death within 30 days. County assignment uses crash location, not the deceased person's residence. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files; 2024 uses the Annual Report File and may be revised. Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. This produces 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 Adams County, Colorado (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Arapahoe County, Colorado (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Denver County, Colorado (2020-2024)
• Colorado car accident statistics (2020-2024)