Michigan car accident statistics (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Michigan by year

Annual car accident deaths rose from 969 in 2020 to 1,011 in 2021, then fell to 978 in 2022 and 968 in 2023. The count rose to 971 in 2024. The highest count was in 2021, and the lowest was in 2023. The 2024 count was 2 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Michigan's share of the national car accident death total was 2.9% in 2020, 2.7% in 2021, 2.7% in 2022, 2.8% in 2023 and 2.9% in 2024. For 2020 through 2024, Michigan accounted for 2.8% of the national total of 176,219 deaths. The 2024 figures are from the FARS Annual Report File and remain subject to revision.^{[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 Michigan car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 3,411 deaths, or 69.7% of Michigan car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 570 deaths, or 11.6%, and were the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 916 deaths, or 18.7%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in fatal crashes involving a passenger vehicle. The grouping does not limit the count to people occupying the passenger vehicle, and the Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) label is not a literal test of being outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Collision types and setting

Angle (side impact) recorded 1,290 deaths; Head-on, 615; Rear-end, 359; Sideswipe, 134; Other, 8; and Unknown, 3. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport recorded 2,488 deaths. This means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport, such as a rollover or striking a fixed object. Vehicles in transport can be stopped in traffic.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime accounted for 2,355 car accident deaths (48.1%) and nighttime for 2,536 (51.8%); time was unknown for 6 (0.1%). Urban deaths numbered 3,012 (61.5%) and rural deaths 1,858 (37.9%); land use was unknown for 27 (0.6%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Counties with the most car accident deaths

Wayne County recorded the most car accident deaths, with 951, followed by Oakland County with 300, Kent County with 285, Macomb County with 262 and Genesee County with 245. Kalamazoo County recorded 146 deaths, Washtenaw County 126, Ingham County 115, St. Clair County 103 and Jackson County 101. Calhoun County had 95 deaths, Ottawa County 93, Muskegon County 92, Monroe County 87 and Saginaw County 87.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Death counts and population rates give distinct comparisons. Among the listed counties, Calhoun County had the highest average annual death rate per 100,000 residents at 14.2, while Oakland County had the lowest at 4.7. Wayne County's rate was 10.7. These rate rankings apply only to the listed counties.^{[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 Michigan compares with the national rate

Michigan's car accident death rate was 9.7, compared with the national rate of 10.5. Both figures express average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Michigan's rate was lower than the national rate. The corresponding death counts were 4,897 in Michigan and 176,219 across the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The calculation divides deaths during the period by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates and multiplies by 100,000. It does not adjust for miles driven or visitors. Michigan's July 1, 2024 population estimate of 10,099,962 is shown separately; that figure alone is not the rate's denominator. The rates use population estimates for each year in the period.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

About these figures

FARS is a census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes involving a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. It excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. Counts follow crash state and county, not residence. The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files; the 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File.^[8][6][7]

Rates use summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, rather than the separate July 1, 2024 estimate. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. If reading with a car accident lawyer search in mind, keep the grouping in view: these are deaths in qualifying fatal crashes.^[8][6][7]

See also

• FARS Annual Report File and Final File
• Car accident statistics for Wayne County, Michigan (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Oakland County, Michigan (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Kent County, Michigan (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Macomb County, Michigan (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Genesee County, Michigan (2020-2024)