Car accident statistics for Douglas County, Nebraska (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Douglas County by year

Car accident deaths fell from 42 in 2020 to 37 in 2021, then to 36 in 2022 and 34 in 2023. The count rose to 53 in 2024, the highest annual count in the period. The lowest count was 34 in 2023. Comparing the endpoints, the 2024 count was 11 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 46 in 2020, 39 in 2021, 40 in 2022, 40 in 2023 and 63 in 2024. The share attributed to car accidents was 91.3% in 2020, 94.9% in 2021, 90.0% in 2022, 85.0% in 2023 and 84.1% in 2024. That share was highest in 2021 and lowest in 2024.^{[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 Douglas County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 144 deaths, or 71.3% of car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 22 deaths, or 10.9%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 36 deaths, or 17.8%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These labels classify people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) follows the FARS classification and can include occupants of parked motor vehicles. The categories describe deaths in crashes located in Douglas County, without identifying the people killed as county residents.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) accounted for 58 car accident deaths, or 28.7%; Head-on for 25, or 12.4%; Rear-end for 16, or 7.9%; and Sideswipe for 4, or 2.0%. Among collisions with another motor vehicle in transport, Angle (side impact) had the largest death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 99 deaths, or 49.0%. This row describes the first harmful event, which can involve striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic; the classification does not require physical movement.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) accounted for 76 car accident deaths, or 37.6%, during 2020 through 2024. Nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) accounted for 121 deaths, or 59.9%. Time of day was Unknown for 5 deaths, or 2.5%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 169 deaths in Urban locations, or 83.7%, and 33 in Rural locations, or 16.3%. Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 15, representing 7.4% of the county's car accident deaths.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Nebraska and the United States

Douglas County's car accident death rate was 6.8 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Nebraska's rate was 10.2, and the United States rate was 10.5. The county rate was lower than both the state and national rates. The corresponding death counts were 202 for Douglas County, 1,010 for Nebraska and 176,219 for the United States.^{[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. The separately reported 2024 population estimate of 600,903 is not the denominator used to calculate the county rate.^{[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 Douglas County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident crashes. Deaths and shares of all traffic deaths were: Speeding-related, 64 and 28.1%; Roadway departure, 95 and 41.7%; At an intersection, 87 and 38.2%; Pedestrian involved, 36 and 15.8%; Motorcycle involved, 41 and 18.0%; Hit-and-run, 11 and 4.8%; Driver distraction reported, 6 and 2.6%; and In a work zone, 3 and 1.3%.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can carry several recorded characteristics, so these rows overlap and do not add to 100%. They 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 a census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes on trafficways customarily open to the public, with a death within 30 days. It excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. Counts follow crash location, not residence. Readers searching for a car accident lawyer should keep that geographic grouping in mind when reading these counts.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the Annual Report File and may change when finalized. Rates use summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, to express average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. The separate July 1, 2024 estimate is not the denominator. Rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Nebraska car accident statistics (2020-2024)