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

Car accident deaths in Sarasota County by year

Car accident deaths numbered 54 in 2020 and remained at 54 in 2021, making those the highest years. The count fell to 48 in 2022, the lowest year, then rose to 49 in 2023 and 50 in 2024. The 2024 count was 4 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 61 in 2020, 61 in 2021, 58 in 2022, 58 in 2023 and 56 in 2024. The share attributed to car accidents was 88.5% in 2020 and 2021, 82.8% in 2022, 84.5% in 2023 and 89.3% in 2024. That share was highest in 2024 and lowest 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 Sarasota County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 122 deaths, or 47.8% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. People in other vehicles accounted for 49 deaths, or 19.2%. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 84 deaths, or 32.9%. The largest category was People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans; the smallest was People in other vehicles.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in crashes involving a passenger vehicle. Whether your search includes car accident lawyer or county statistics, read these categories as FARS person groupings within the selected crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. Angle (side impact) accounted for 62 deaths (24.3%), Head-on for 23 (9.0%), Rear-end for 21 (8.2%) and Sideswipe for 10 (3.9%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 139 car accident deaths (54.5%). This means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. Examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic; the classification does not test whether another vehicle was physically moving.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) accounted for 109 car accident deaths, or 42.7%, during 2020 through 2024. Nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) accounted for 146 deaths, or 57.3%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 220 deaths as Urban (86.3%), 33 as Rural (12.9%) and 2 as Unknown (0.8%). These classifications describe crash locations. Car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 15, representing 5.9% of the county's deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Florida and the United States

Sarasota County's car accident death rate was 11.1 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.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The listed neighboring counties had rates of 13.6 in Manatee County and 13.2 in Charlotte County. Sarasota County's rate was lower than both. Among the listed neighboring counties, Manatee County had the higher rate. These rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors, and the death counts refer to crash locations rather than residence.^{[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 Sarasota County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accidents. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 31 deaths (10.5%); Roadway departure, 94 (32.0%); At an intersection, 118 (40.1%); Pedestrian involved, 66 (22.4%); Motorcycle involved, 70 (23.8%); Hit-and-run, 17 (5.8%); Driver distraction reported, 25 (8.5%); and In a work zone, 5 (1.7%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and their shares do not add to 100%. These 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. 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 use crash location, not where those killed lived. Data for 2020 through 2023 are Final Files; the 2024 Annual Report File remains subject to revision.^[8][6][7]

Rates use 2020 through 2024 deaths divided by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, multiplied by 100,000. They express average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustments for miles driven or visitors. The separately displayed July 1, 2024 population estimate of 475,989 is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Manatee County, Florida (2020-2024)
• Florida car accident statistics (2020-2024)