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

Car accident deaths in Larimer County by year

Annual car accident deaths rose from 27 in 2020 to 31 in 2021, fell to 29 in 2022, rose to 32 in 2023 and fell to 31 in 2024. The highest count was 32 in 2023; the lowest was 27 in 2020. The 2024 count was 4 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The share of all traffic deaths attributed to these crashes was 84.4% in 2020, 88.6% in 2021, 90.6% in 2022, 76.2% in 2023 and 88.6% in 2024. Although 2023 had the highest car accident death count, its share of all traffic deaths was the lowest. The highest share occurred in 2022.^{[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 Larimer County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 98 deaths, or 65.3% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 24 deaths, or 16.0%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 28 deaths, or 18.7%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in crashes involving a passenger vehicle, rather than limiting the count to deaths within passenger vehicles. The Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) label follows FARS classifications and can include occupants of parked motor vehicles.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) accounted for 35 car accident deaths, or 23.3%; Head-on accounted for 21, or 14.0%; Rear-end for 11, or 7.3%; and Sideswipe for 4, or 2.7%. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 79 deaths, or 52.7%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These classifications describe the first harmful event. The latter row includes events such as striking a parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover, rather than a collision between motor vehicles in transport. A motor vehicle stopped in traffic can still be in transport; the classification does not test whether it was 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 85 car accident deaths, or 56.7%. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 65 deaths, or 43.3%. The daytime count was higher than the nighttime count for 2020 through 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

By land-use classification, Urban accounted for 106 deaths, or 70.7%, and Rural accounted for 43, or 28.7%. Unknown accounted for 1 death, or 0.7%. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 13 car accident deaths, representing 8.7% of the passenger-vehicle-involved death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Colorado and the United States

Larimer County's car accident death rate was 8.2 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Colorado's rate was 10.1, and the national rate was 10.5. The county rate was lower than both. For the listed neighboring counties, Weld County recorded 14.2 and Boulder County recorded 7.0. Larimer County's rate was lower than Weld County's and higher than Boulder County's.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. Each rate uses crash-location death counts, so the population denominator does not mean that the people who died were county residents.^{[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 Larimer County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident deaths. As shares of all traffic deaths, speeding-related crashes accounted for 37.5%; roadway departure, 51.1%; intersection crashes, 34.7%; pedestrian-involved crashes, 10.8%; and motorcycle-involved crashes, 26.7%. Hit-and-run accounted for 1.7%, driver distraction reported for 10.8%, and crashes in a work zone for 4.0%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can carry 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 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. Counts follow crash location, not residence. When reading with a car accident lawyer in mind, keep that geographic grouping in view.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files; 2024 uses the Annual Report File, subject to revision. Rates divide deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025 and multiply by 100,000. The separately displayed July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator. Rates express average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustment for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Weld County, Colorado (2020-2024)
• Colorado car accident statistics (2020-2024)