| Data years | 2020-2024[1][2][3][4][5] |
|---|---|
| Deaths in car accidents, 2020-2024 | 1,325[1][2][3][4][5] |
| Deaths in car accidents, 2024 | 225[5] |
| Average annual deaths per 100,000 residents | 9.7[1][2][3][4][5][6] |
| Population, July 1, 2024 (estimate) | 2,812,144[6] |
| 2024 data file | FARS Annual Report File[5] |
Miami-Dade County, Florida recorded 1,325 car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024, a figure that accounted for 84.0% of the 1,577 traffic deaths logged in the county over that span. In 2024 alone, car accident deaths in the county totaled 225. These figures are drawn from crashes on public roads where a death occurred within 30 days.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
On this page, a car accident is a fatal crash involving at least one passenger car, SUV, pickup or van, and the death count includes everyone killed in those crashes, whether they were in the passenger vehicle, in another vehicle, or a nonoccupant. The figures come from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System and from Census Bureau population estimates used for rate calculations.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
Contents
Car accident deaths in Miami-Dade County by year
Car accident deaths in Miami-Dade County ranged from 225 to 291 across the five years from 2020 to 2024. The county recorded 269 deaths in 2020, which rose to 291 in 2021, then fell to 259 in 2022, rose again to 281 in 2023, and fell to 225 in 2024. The highest year was 2021, with 291 car accident deaths, and the lowest year was 2024, with 225. Between 2020 and 2024, car accident deaths were 44 lower, moving from 269 to 225 over that period.[1][2][3][4][5]
| Year | Deaths in car accidents | All traffic deaths | Share in car accidents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 269 | 314 | 85.7% |
| 2021 | 291 | 352 | 82.7% |
| 2022 | 259 | 307 | 84.4% |
| 2023 | 281 | 325 | 86.5% |
| 2024 | 225 | 279 | 80.6% |
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 Miami-Dade County car accidents
Of the 1,325 car accident deaths recorded in Miami-Dade County between 2020 and 2024, People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 649 deaths, a 49.0% share. People in other vehicles made up 253 deaths, or 19.1%. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) totaled 423 deaths, a 31.9% share of the county total.[1][2][3][4][5][7]
How the fatal car crashes happened
Among manner of collision categories recorded for Miami-Dade County's car accident deaths from 2020 to 2024, Angle (side impact) crashes accounted for 384 deaths, or 29.0%, followed by Head-on crashes with 114 deaths (8.6%), Rear-end crashes with 110 deaths (8.3%), and Sideswipe crashes with 33 deaths (2.5%). The largest single category, Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport, accounted for 679 deaths, or 51.2%. That category covers crashes whose first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport, such as striking a pedestrian, a cyclist, a parked vehicle or a fixed object, or a rollover. Other and Unknown manners accounted for 1 and 4 deaths, respectively.[1][2][3][4][5][7]
Time of day and setting
Of the 1,325 car accident deaths recorded in Miami-Dade County from 2020 to 2024, Nighttime hours (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) accounted for 897 deaths, or 67.7%, while Daytime hours (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) accounted for 428 deaths, or 32.3%. By land use, Urban areas accounted for 1,247 deaths (94.1%), Rural areas accounted for 70 deaths (5.3%), and 8 deaths (0.6%) carried an Unknown land use designation. Car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck totaled 48, a 3.6% share of the county's car accident deaths.[1][2][3][4][5]
Car accident death rate compared with Florida and the United States
Miami-Dade County's average annual rate of car accident deaths was 9.7 per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. That rate is lower than the Florida rate of 13.3 and lower than the national rate of 10.5. Among the listed neighboring counties, Broward County, Florida posted a rate of 11.1 and Collier County, Florida posted a rate of 10.1, both higher than Miami-Dade County's rate. This rate reflects average annual deaths per 100,000 residents; it does not adjust for miles driven or for visitors to the county.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
| Area | Deaths, 2020-2024 | Average annual deaths per 100,000 residents |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade County, Florida | 1,325 | 9.7 |
| Florida | 14,871 | 13.3 |
| United States | 176,219 | 10.5 |
| Broward County, Florida (neighbor) | 1,097 | 11.1 |
| Collier County, Florida (neighbor) | 202 | 10.1 |
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
Across all fatal crashes recorded in Miami-Dade County between 2020 and 2024, regardless of vehicle type, At an intersection was the largest recorded characteristic, appearing in 701 deaths, or 44.5% of all traffic deaths. Pedestrian involved crashes accounted for 452 deaths (28.7%), Motorcycle involved crashes accounted for 348 deaths (22.1%), Roadway departure accounted for 400 deaths (25.4%), and Hit-and-run crashes accounted for 174 deaths (11.0%). Speeding-related crashes accounted for 150 deaths (9.5%), Driver distraction reported appeared in 62 deaths (3.9%), and In a work zone was the smallest listed characteristic at 22 deaths (1.4%). Because a single crash can carry several characteristics, these shares overlap and do not add to 100%.[1][2][3][4][5]
| Recorded crash characteristic (all fatal crashes) | Deaths, 2020-2024 | Share of all traffic deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding-related | 150 | 9.5% |
| Roadway departure | 400 | 25.4% |
| At an intersection | 701 | 44.5% |
| Pedestrian involved | 452 | 28.7% |
| Motorcycle involved | 348 | 22.1% |
| Hit-and-run | 174 | 11.0% |
| Driver distraction reported | 62 | 3.9% |
| In a work zone | 22 | 1.4% |
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
These figures come from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, a census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes on public trafficways where a death occurs within 30 days. Counts are grouped by the county where the crash occurred rather than by where those killed lived. Data for 2020 through 2023 come from FARS Final Files, while 2024 data come from the Annual Report File and may be revised when NHTSA issues the Final File. Rates divide 2020 to 2024 deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates (Vintage 2025) and multiply by 100,000, without adjusting for miles driven or visitors. A reader consulting a car accident lawyer about any case should note that FARS covers fatal crashes only; nonfatal crashes and injuries are not reflected in these figures.[8][6][7]
See also
References
- abcdefghijklmnop "Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2020 national data files (Final File)". National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Official source. Checked . Source record
- abcdefghijklmnop "Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2021 national data files (Final File)". National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Official source. Checked . Source record
- abcdefghijklmnop "Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2022 national data files (Final File)". National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Official source. Checked . Source record
- abcdefghijklmnop "Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2023 national data files (Final File)". National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Official source. Checked . Source record
- abcdefghijklmnopqr "Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) 2024 national data files (Annual Report File)". National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Official source. Checked . Source record
- abcdefg "Annual resident population estimates for counties, April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2025 (CO-EST2025-ALLDATA)". U.S. Census Bureau. Official source. Checked . Source record
- abcde "Fatality Analysis Reporting System Analytical User's Manual, 1975-2024 (DOT HS 813 794)". National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Official source. Checked . Source record
- ^ "Overview of motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2024 (DOT HS 813 791, April 2026)". National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Official source. Checked . Source record