Car accident statistics for Cobb County, Georgia (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Cobb County by year

Car accident deaths fell from 78 in 2020 to 62 in 2021, then rose to 63 in 2022. The count fell to 49 in 2023 before rising to 53 in 2024. Across these years, 2020 had the highest count and 2023 had the lowest. The 2024 count was 25 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same directions of change, with 84 in 2020, 65 in 2021, 69 in 2022, 54 in 2023 and 56 in 2024. The share attributed to car accidents was 92.9%, 95.4%, 91.3%, 90.7% and 94.6%, respectively. That share was highest in 2021 and lowest in 2023.^{[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 Cobb County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 167 deaths, or 54.8% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 42 deaths, or 13.8%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 96 deaths, or 31.5%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in fatal crashes involving a passenger vehicle. The labels distinguish the FARS person groups within those selected crashes; they do not limit the count to people occupying the passenger vehicles. The grouping follows crash location rather than residency.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) accounted for 87 car accident deaths, or 28.5%; Head-on for 28, or 9.2%; Rear-end for 21, or 6.9%; and Sideswipe for 6, or 2.0%. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 163 deaths, or 53.4%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. The latter row means that 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 stopped in traffic can still be in transport, so the distinction does not depend on physical movement.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime, defined as 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 107 car accident deaths, or 35.1%. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 197 deaths, or 64.6%. Time of day was unknown for 1 death, or 0.3%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification was urban for 300 deaths, or 98.4%, and rural for 4 deaths, or 1.3%. Land use was unknown for 1 death, or 0.3%. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 27 car accident deaths, or 8.9%. That truck figure counts deaths in the selected crashes, rather than a count of large trucks.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Georgia and the United States

Cobb County's car accident death rate was 7.9 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Georgia's rate was 13.3, and the national rate was 10.5. Cobb County's rate was lower than both. The listed neighboring counties had rates of 11.1 for Fulton County and 18.9 for Bartow County. Among the listed neighboring counties, Bartow County had the highest rate.^{[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 displayed 2024 population estimate of 788,879 is not the denominator used for its rate.^{[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 Cobb County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accidents. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 24.1%; Roadway departure, 34.1%; At an intersection, 29.9%; Pedestrian involved, 29.6%; Motorcycle involved, 15.5%; Hit-and-run, 7.3%; Driver distraction reported, 1.5%; and In a work zone, 1.2%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Roadway departure had the largest share among the listed characteristics, while In a work zone had the smallest. A crash can carry several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These classifications 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 NHTSA's 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. Counts follow the county where the crash occurred, not where the people lived. When reading with a car accident lawyer in mind, retain that location distinction.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates divide deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. They measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustments for miles driven or visitors. The separate 2024 population estimate is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Liability and comparative fault in Georgia
• Georgia crash-claim deadlines
• Car accident statistics for Fulton County, Georgia (2020-2024)
• Georgia car accident statistics (2020-2024)