Illinois car accident statistics (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Illinois by year

Car accident deaths rose from 1,027 in 2020 to 1,145 in 2021, then fell to 1,101 in 2022, 1,072 in 2023 and 1,010 in 2024. The highest count occurred in 2021 and the lowest in 2024. The 2024 count was 17 deaths lower than the 2020 count. All traffic deaths also reached their highest count in 2021, at 1,334, and their lowest in 2024, at 1,177.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Illinois accounted for 3.0% of the national total of 176,219 car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. Its annual share of the U.S. total was 3.1% in 2020 and 2021, followed by 3.0% in 2022, 2023 and 2024.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

2024 figures come from the FARS Annual Report File and can be revised when NHTSA publishes the final file.

Who died in Illinois car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 3,906 deaths, or 72.9%, the largest share of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. People in other vehicles accounted for 490 deaths, or 9.2%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 959 deaths, or 17.9%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These categories classify the people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. The Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) label follows FARS classifications and is not a literal test of location outside a vehicle. That grouping can include occupants of parked motor vehicles.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Collision types and setting

Car accident deaths by manner of collision were: Angle (side impact), 1,323; Head-on, 661; Rear-end, 391; Sideswipe, 250; Other, 15; and Unknown, 31. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 2,684 deaths. This means the first harmful event was not between motor vehicles in transport, such as a rollover or striking a fixed object. A vehicle stopped in traffic can be in transport.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime accounted for 2,430 deaths (45.4%); nighttime accounted for 2,888 (53.9%). Urban classifications recorded 3,714 deaths (69.4%), and rural classifications recorded 1,624 (30.3%). Unknown time accounted for 37 deaths; unknown land use accounted for 17.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Counties with the most car accident deaths

Cook County had the most car accident deaths, with 1,706, followed by Will County with 261, Lake County with 225, DuPage County with 214 and Kane County with 175. The listed counts continue with St. Clair County at 172, Madison County at 147, Winnebago County at 135 and Sangamon County at 108.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

McHenry County recorded 92 deaths, Peoria County 91, LaSalle County 86, Champaign County 78, Kankakee County 74 and McLean County 65. These are death counts by crash county for 2020 through 2024. Rates measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents: among the listed counties, LaSalle County had the highest rate at 15.9, while DuPage County had the lowest at 4.6. Cook County's rate was 6.6.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Up to 15 counties with the most deaths in the period, largest first. Rates for counties with few deaths change sharply with each death.

How Illinois compares with the national rate

The Illinois car accident death rate was 8.4, compared with the national rate of 10.5. Both figures measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Illinois had 5,355 deaths during the period; the United States had 176,219. The state rate was lower than the national rate.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Each rate uses deaths across the period and the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates. It does not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The separate 2024 population estimate of 12,703,033 is not the rate's denominator. If you are reading with a car accident lawyer search in mind, keep the distinction between death counts and population-based rates clear.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

About these figures

NHTSA uses FARS as its census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. For inclusion, a crash must involve a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public, with an occupant or nonoccupant dying within 30 days. The census excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. Counts for states and counties are assigned according to where the crash occurred, not where the deceased person resided.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File. Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, and multiply by 100,000. These average annual rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors; the separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not their denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• FARS Annual Report File and Final File
• Car accident statistics for Cook County, Illinois (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Will County, Illinois (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Lake County, Illinois (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for DuPage County, Illinois (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Kane County, Illinois (2020-2024)