Delaware car accident statistics (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Delaware by year

Car accident deaths rose from 106 in 2020 to 125 in 2021 and reached 146 in 2022. The count then fell to 123 in 2023 and 113 in 2024. The highest count was in 2022, and the lowest was in 2020. Despite the decreases after 2022, the 2024 count was 7 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Delaware's share of the national car accident death total was 0.3% in 2020, 0.3% in 2021, 0.4% in 2022, 0.3% in 2023 and 0.3% in 2024. Across 2020 through 2024, Delaware accounted for 0.3% of the national total of 176,219 deaths. The annual national share was highest in 2022.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised when NHTSA publishes the final file.

Who died in Delaware car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 398 deaths, or 64.9% of Delaware's car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 72 deaths, or 11.7%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 143 deaths, or 23.3%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These categories describe people who died in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. They do not restrict the death count to occupants of passenger vehicles. The Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) label follows the FARS classification and is not a literal test of location outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Collision types and setting

By manner of collision, Angle (side impact) accounted for 169 deaths (27.6%), Head-on for 78 (12.7%), Rear-end for 43 (7.0%) and Sideswipe for 13 (2.1%). Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 310 deaths (50.6%). This means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport, such as a rollover or striking a fixed object. Vehicles stopped in traffic can be in transport.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime accounted for 258 deaths (42.1%); nighttime accounted for 354 (57.7%). Time was unknown for 1 death (0.2%). Urban locations accounted for 384 deaths (62.6%) and rural locations for 226 (36.9%); land use was unknown for 3 (0.5%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Counties with the most car accident deaths

New Castle County had the most car accident deaths in the county table, with 297 during 2020 through 2024. Sussex County followed with 186 deaths, then Kent County with 130. These are counts assigned to the county where each crash happened, rather than the county where a person lived.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The rate order differs from the death-count order. Among the listed counties, Sussex County had the highest average annual deaths per 100,000 residents at 14.6, followed by Kent County at 13.9. New Castle County had the lowest rate among the listed counties at 10.3. Sussex and Kent were above Delaware's 12.0 rate; New Castle was below it. County rates with few deaths can change sharply with each death.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Up to 15 counties with the most deaths in the period, largest first. Rates for counties with few deaths change sharply with each death.

How Delaware compares with the national rate

Delaware's car accident death rate was 12.0, compared with the national rate of 10.5 for 2020 through 2024. Both figures measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. Delaware's rate was higher than the national rate, while the corresponding death counts were 613 for Delaware and 176,219 for the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The calculation uses deaths during the period and the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates. It does not adjust for miles driven or visitors. Delaware's separately displayed 2024 population estimate of 1,050,123 is not the denominator used for this rate. When reading these figures during a search for a car accident lawyer, keep the death counts distinct from the population-based rates.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

About these figures

FARS is NHTSA's census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. It includes crashes involving a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public when an occupant or nonoccupant dies within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. State and county counts follow crash location, not residence.^[8][6][7]

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

See also

• FARS Annual Report File and Final File
• Car accident statistics for New Castle County, Delaware (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Sussex County, Delaware (2020-2024)