Car accident statistics for Washoe County, Nevada (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Washoe County by year

Car accident deaths fell from 43 in 2020 to 31 in 2021, then rose to 43 in 2022. The count fell to 42 in 2023 before rising to 46 in 2024. The highest count was in 2024, and the lowest was in 2021. The 2024 count was 3 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 52 in 2020, 41 in 2021, 55 in 2022, 53 in 2023 and 50 in 2024. The corresponding shares attributed to car accidents were 82.7%, 75.6%, 78.2%, 79.2% and 92.0%. While the highest car accident death count occurred in 2024, the highest count for all traffic deaths 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 Washoe County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 113 deaths, or 55.1%, the largest person category for 2020 through 2024. People in other vehicles accounted for 35 deaths, or 17.1%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 57 deaths, or 27.8%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. The categories describe the people counted within those crashes, rather than separate totals for every crash involving each vehicle type. For a reader searching for a car accident lawyer, the grouping to keep in mind is crash location, not the deceased person's residence.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Angle (side impact) collisions accounted for 38 deaths, or 18.5%; head-on collisions for 19, or 9.3%; rear-end collisions for 12, or 5.9%; and sideswipe collisions for 6, or 2.9%. These rows describe collisions with another motor vehicle in transport.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 130 deaths, or 63.4%. Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. This category includes events such as striking a parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A motor vehicle in transport can be stopped in traffic, so the classification does not test whether another vehicle was physically moving.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, from 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 113 car accident deaths, or 55.1%, during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 92 deaths, or 44.9%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 181 deaths in urban locations, or 88.3%, and 23 in rural locations, or 11.2%. Unknown land use accounted for 1 death, or 0.5%. Car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 13, representing 6.3% of the passenger-vehicle-involved death count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Nevada and the United States

Washoe County's car accident death rate was 8.3 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. That rate was lower than Nevada's 10.3 and the United States rate of 10.5. The listed neighboring county, Placer County, California, had a rate of 8.0, lower than Washoe County's rate.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The corresponding death counts were 205 in Washoe County, 1,633 in Nevada, 176,219 nationally and 167 in Placer County. These are deaths grouped by crash location; the population denominator does not make them counts of residents who died.^{[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

These recorded characteristics cover all fatal crashes, of any vehicle type, with shares of all traffic deaths. Speeding-related crashes accounted for 53 deaths (21.1%); roadway departure, 108 (43.0%); at an intersection, 71 (28.3%); and pedestrian involved, 66 (26.3%). Motorcycle involved accounted for 57 deaths (22.7%); hit-and-run, 35 (13.9%); driver distraction reported, 3 (1.2%); and in a work zone, 6 (2.4%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The scope differs from the car accident count restricted to passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so these rows overlap and cannot be added as separate shares. They record 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. County counts use crash location, not residence. The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files; the 2024 Annual Report File remains subject to revision.^[8][6][7]

Rates divide 2020 through 2024 deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. This yields average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustments for miles driven or visitors. The separately displayed July 1, 2024 population estimate of 505,384 is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Car accident statistics for Placer County, California (2020-2024)
• Nevada car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Truck accident statistics for Washoe County, Nevada (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)