Car accident statistics for Erie County, New York (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Erie County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 43 in 2020 to 53 in 2021, then fell to 52 in 2022, 49 in 2023 and 47 in 2024. The highest count was 53 in 2021, and the lowest was 43 in 2020. The 2024 count was 4 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 48 in 2020, 63 in 2021, 59 in 2022, 59 in 2023 and 55 in 2024. The share attributed to car accidents was 89.6% in 2020, 84.1% in 2021, 88.1% in 2022, 83.1% in 2023 and 85.5% in 2024. The highest share occurred in 2020, while the lowest occurred in 2023.^{[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 Erie County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 156 deaths, or 63.9% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 27 deaths, or 11.1%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 61 deaths, or 25.0%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These categories describe everyone killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes, rather than only passenger vehicle occupants. 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

Angle (side impact) accounted for 59 deaths (24.2%), Head-on for 36 (14.8%), Rear-end for 12 (4.9%) and Sideswipe for 5 (2.0%). Unknown accounted for 1 death (0.4%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 131 car accident deaths (53.7%). Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. This 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 vehicle stopped in traffic can be in transport; physical movement is not the test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) accounted for 104 car accident deaths, or 42.6%, from 2020 through 2024. Nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) accounted for 140 deaths, or 57.4%. The nighttime death count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification recorded 203 deaths, representing 83.2%, while the rural classification recorded 41 deaths, representing 16.8%. These are classifications of crash location. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 19 car accident deaths, or 7.8%. Those crashes fall within the passenger-vehicle-involved crash definition used here.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with New York and the United States

Erie County's car accident death rate was 5.1 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. The New York rate was 4.7, and the United States rate was 10.5. The county rate was higher than the state rate and lower than the national rate. The corresponding death counts were 244 for Erie County, 4,644 for New York and 176,219 for the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Each rate uses deaths divided by the sum of annual Census population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. These rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. Erie County accounted for 5.3% of New York's car accident deaths during the period.^{[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 Erie County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 109 deaths (38.4%); Roadway departure, 118 (41.5%); At an intersection, 87 (30.6%); Pedestrian involved, 58 (20.4%); Motorcycle involved, 49 (17.3%); Hit-and-run, 29 (10.2%); Driver distraction reported, 20 (7.0%); and In a work zone, 0 (0.0%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

These figures are not limited to car accident deaths. A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so the rows overlap and do not add to 100%. The characteristics 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. 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 follow crash location, not residency. When reading with a car accident lawyer in mind, keep that location grouping in view.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 to 2023 figures use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates divide period deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. The separately shown July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator. Rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• New York car accident statistics (2020-2024)