Car accident statistics for Will County, Illinois (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Will County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 53 in 2020 to 60 in 2021, then fell to 58 in 2022 and 39 in 2023. The count rose to 51 in 2024. The highest count was 60 in 2021, and the lowest was 39 in 2023. Compared with 2020, the 2024 count was 2 deaths lower.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same sequence of increases and decreases: 61 in 2020, 70 in 2021, 65 in 2022, 42 in 2023 and 58 in 2024. The car accident share was 86.9%, 85.7%, 89.2%, 92.9% and 87.9%, respectively. Although 2023 had the lowest car accident death count, it had the highest share of all traffic deaths.^{[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 Will County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 195 deaths, or 74.7% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 30 deaths, or 11.5%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 36 deaths, or 13.8%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These categories describe everyone killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes, rather than only those traveling in passenger vehicles. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) follows the FARS classification; it is not a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

By manner of collision, Angle (side impact) accounted for 72 deaths (27.6%), Head-on for 34 (13.0%), Rear-end for 32 (12.3%) and Sideswipe for 13 (5.0%). Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 110 deaths (42.1%), the largest row.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

The classification describes the first harmful event. That last row includes events such as striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover, rather than a collision between motor vehicles in transport. 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

Nighttime, defined as 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 141 car accident deaths, or 54.0%, from 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 120 deaths, or 46.0%. Nighttime had the larger death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification recorded 231 deaths (88.5%), while the rural classification recorded 27 (10.3%). Land use was unknown for 3 deaths (1.1%). Separately, crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 40 car accident deaths, or 15.3%. Those deaths are counted within the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Illinois and the United States

Will County's car accident death rate was 7.4 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Illinois recorded 8.4, and the United States recorded 10.5. The county rate was lower than both the state and national rates.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Among the listed neighboring counties, Cook County, Illinois, recorded 6.6; Lake County, Indiana, recorded 9.8; and DuPage County, Illinois, recorded 4.6. Will County's rate was higher than Cook County's and DuPage County's, and lower than Lake County's. Each rate divides deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates and multiplies by 100,000. These are average annual rates, and they do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^{[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 Will County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident deaths. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 118 deaths (39.9%); Roadway departure, 130 (43.9%); At an intersection, 89 (30.1%); Pedestrian involved, 42 (14.2%); Motorcycle involved, 52 (17.6%); Hit-and-run, 20 (6.8%); Driver distraction reported, 15 (5.1%); and In a work zone, 11 (3.7%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and their percentages cannot be added into a total. 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. 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 use crash location, not the deceased person's residence. Readers searching for a car accident lawyer should keep that location grouping in mind.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates divide deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, and multiply by 100,000. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator. The resulting average annual deaths per 100,000 residents do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Cook County, Illinois (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for DuPage County, Illinois (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Lake County, Indiana (2020-2024)
• Illinois car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Truck accident statistics for Will County, Illinois (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)