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

Car accident deaths in Richmond County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 26 in 2020 to 44 in 2021, then fell to 26 in 2022. The count rose to 46 in 2023 before falling to 38 in 2024. The highest count was in 2023; the lowest count, 26, occurred in both 2020 and 2022. The 2024 count was 12 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The annual shares of all traffic deaths were 86.7% in 2020, 97.8% in 2021, 76.5% in 2022, 90.2% in 2023 and 88.4% in 2024. All traffic deaths numbered 30, 45, 34, 51 and 43 in those respective years. The highest car accident share occurred in 2021, while the lowest occurred 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 Richmond County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 110 deaths, or 61.1% of car accident deaths in Richmond County from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 18 deaths, or 10.0%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 52 deaths, or 28.9%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in crashes involving a passenger vehicle. The Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) label follows the FARS classification rather than a literal test of a person's position relative to a vehicle. That grouping can include occupants of parked motor vehicles.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Manner of collision identifies the first harmful event in a crash. Angle (side impact) accounted for 31 deaths, or 17.2%; Head-on for 19, or 10.6%; Rear-end for 15, or 8.3%; and Sideswipe for 4, or 2.2%. These are death counts, not crash counts.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 111 deaths, or 61.7%. 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 does not determine the classification.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, defined as 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 117 car accident deaths, or 65.0%, in Richmond County from 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 63 deaths, or 35.0%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 173 deaths in urban locations, or 96.1%, and 7 in rural locations, or 3.9%. Separately, car accidents that also involved a large truck accounted for 16 deaths, or 8.9%. That truck figure counts deaths in passenger-vehicle-involved crashes that also involved a large truck.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Georgia and the United States

Richmond County's car accident death rate was 17.5 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Georgia's rate was 13.3, and the United States rate was 10.5. The county rate was higher than both. Listed neighboring Aiken County, South Carolina, recorded a rate of 15.1, also lower than Richmond County's 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. Richmond County's 206,544 population estimate for 2024 is shown separately; it is not the denominator used to calculate the rate. The rate measures deaths by crash location relative to population, rather than deaths among county residents.^{[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 Richmond County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 56 deaths (27.6%); Roadway departure, 83 (40.9%); At an intersection, 50 (24.6%); Pedestrian involved, 46 (22.7%); Motorcycle involved, 28 (13.8%); Hit-and-run, 12 (5.9%); Driver distraction reported, 9 (4.4%); and In a work zone, 4 (2.0%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

These figures are not restricted to the car accident selection used elsewhere in the statistics. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. The 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 on trafficways customarily open to the public, with a death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. Counts use crash location, not residence. Readers searching for a car accident lawyer should retain that distinction when interpreting these counts.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can be revised when replaced by the Final File. Rates use deaths divided by summed annual Census population estimates, Vintage 2025, multiplied by 100,000. The July 1, 2024 estimate is separate from that denominator. Rates express 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
• Georgia car accident statistics (2020-2024)