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

Car accident deaths in DeKalb County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 80 in 2020 to 135 in 2021, then fell to 111 in 2022. The count rose to 130 in 2023 before falling to 93 in 2024. The highest year was 2021, and the lowest was 2020. The 2024 count was 13 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 91 in 2020, 145 in 2021, 126 in 2022, 151 in 2023 and 106 in 2024. The car accident share was 87.9% in 2020, 93.1% in 2021, 88.1% in 2022, 86.1% in 2023 and 87.7% in 2024. That share was highest in 2021 and lowest in 2023, while all traffic deaths reached their highest count 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 DeKalb County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 316 deaths, or 57.6% of car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 55 deaths, or 10.0%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 178 deaths, or 32.4%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in the selected passenger vehicle crashes, rather than deaths across every vehicle type of fatal crash. For a reader searching for a car accident lawyer, keep these person categories distinct when reading the death counts.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) accounted for 89 deaths, or 16.2%; Head-on for 73, or 13.3%; Rear-end for 78, or 14.2%; and Sideswipe for 19, or 3.5%. These are death counts grouped by manner of collision, which describes the first harmful event.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 290 car accident deaths, or 52.8%. 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; physical movement is not the test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 157 car accident deaths, or 28.6%. Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 390 deaths, or 71.0%. Time of day was unknown for 2 deaths, or 0.4%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification recorded 536 deaths, or 97.6%, while the rural classification recorded 12 deaths, or 2.2%. Land use was unknown for 1 death, or 0.2%. These classifications cover 2020 through 2024. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 42 car accident deaths, representing 7.7% of the county's car accident deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Georgia and the United States

DeKalb County's car accident death rate was 14.3 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Georgia's rate was 13.3, and the national rate was 10.5. DeKalb County's rate was higher than both. The rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census population estimates and do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Fulton County recorded a rate of 11.1, Gwinnett County 5.7, Clayton County 15.1 and Henry County 11.0. DeKalb County's rate was higher than those of Fulton, Gwinnett and Henry counties and lower than Clayton County's. Clayton County had the highest rate among the listed neighboring counties, while Gwinnett County had the lowest.^{[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 DeKalb County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident deaths. Shares of all traffic deaths were 17.9% for Speeding-related, 33.9% for Roadway departure, 22.9% for At an intersection and 36.5% for Pedestrian involved.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Motorcycle involved accounted for 10.7% of all traffic deaths; Hit-and-run, 13.1%; Driver distraction reported, 4.4%; and In a work zone, 0.6%. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. These entries describe recorded characteristics and 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. County counts follow crash location, not residence.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File. Car accident rates divide deaths from 2020 through 2024 by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. The separately displayed July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the rate denominator. Rates measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustments for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

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