Car accident statistics for Leon County, Florida (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Leon County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 32 in 2020 to 41 in 2021, then fell to 34 in 2022. The count rose to 35 in 2023 and remained at 35 in 2024. The highest count was 41 in 2021, and the lowest was 32 in 2020. The 2024 count was 3 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed a sequence of 35 in 2020, 45 in 2021, 38 in 2022, 38 in 2023 and 38 in 2024. The share attributed to car accidents was 91.4% in 2020, 91.1% in 2021 and 89.5% in 2022. That share reached 92.1% in 2023 and remained at 92.1% 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 Leon County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 104 deaths, or 58.8% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 18 deaths, or 10.2%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 55 deaths, or 31.1%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These labels classify the people who died in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. They do not restrict the count to people occupying passenger vehicles. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) follows the FARS classification, which can include occupants of parked motor vehicles.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

By manner of collision, Angle (side impact) accounted for 43 deaths, or 24.3%; Head-on for 23, or 13.0%; Rear-end for 8, or 4.5%; and Sideswipe for 0, or 0.0%. Unknown accounted for 1 death, or 0.6%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 102 deaths, or 57.6%. This describes the first harmful event, including events such as a rollover or striking a fixed object or parked vehicle. Among collisions with another motor vehicle in transport, Angle (side impact) had the largest death count. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, defined as 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 102 car accident deaths, or 57.6%, from 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 75 deaths, or 42.4%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 148 deaths in urban locations, or 83.6%, and 28 in rural locations, or 15.8%. Unknown land use accounted for 1 death, or 0.6%. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 12 car accident deaths, or 6.8% of the passenger-vehicle-involved death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Florida and the United States

Leon County's car accident death rate was 11.9 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Florida's rate was 13.3, and the national rate was 10.5. The county rate was lower than the state rate and higher than the national rate. No neighboring county rates are listed in the supplied figures.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates divide deaths during the period by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The county's separately reported 2024 population estimate of 298,712 is not the denominator used for this calculation. The numerator counts deaths by crash location, rather than by the residence of the person who died.^{[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 Leon County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 30 deaths (15.5%); Roadway departure, 72 (37.1%); At an intersection, 65 (33.5%); Pedestrian involved, 52 (26.8%); Motorcycle involved, 25 (12.9%); Hit-and-run, 13 (6.7%); Driver distraction reported, 16 (8.2%); and In a work zone, 1 (0.5%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

These figures use a different scope from the car accident counts. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. The characteristics 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. Inclusion requires a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. County counts identify crash location, not residency. When reading with a car accident lawyer search in mind, keep that location grouping in view.^[8][6][7]

Data for 2020 through 2023 use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the Annual Report File, subject to revision. Rates use deaths divided by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, multiplied by 100,000. They measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjusting for miles driven or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Florida car accident statistics (2020-2024)