North Carolina car accident statistics (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in North Carolina by year

Car accident deaths rose from 1,388 in 2020 to 1,530 in 2021, then fell to 1,445 in 2022 and 1,390 in 2023. The count rose to 1,425 in 2024. The highest count was in 2021, while 2020 had the lowest. The 2024 count was 37 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

North Carolina's share of the national car accident death total was 4.2% in 2020, 4.1% in 2021, 3.9% in 2022, 4.0% in 2023 and 4.2% in 2024. For 2020 through 2024, the state's 7,178 deaths represented 4.1% of the national total of 176,219 deaths. These national shares use deaths in qualifying crashes, rather than all traffic deaths.^{[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 North Carolina car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 5,283 deaths, or 73.6% of North Carolina's car accident deaths from 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 684 deaths and 9.5%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 1,211 deaths and 16.9%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. The Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) label follows FARS classifications and is not a literal test of whether someone was outside a vehicle. Its classification can include occupants of parked motor vehicles.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Collision types and setting

By first harmful event, car accident deaths were: Angle (side impact), 1,299; Head-on, 1,256; Rear-end, 486; Sideswipe, 234; Other, 18; and Unknown, 6. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 3,879 deaths. That row means the first harmful event was not between motor vehicles in transport, such as a rollover or striking a fixed object. Vehicles stopped in traffic can be in transport.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Daytime accounted for 3,493 deaths (48.7%); nighttime accounted for 3,678 (51.2%). Urban classifications recorded 3,095 deaths (43.1%), and rural classifications recorded 4,079 (56.8%). Unknown time accounted for 7 deaths; unknown land use accounted for 4.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Counties with the most car accident deaths

Mecklenburg County recorded the most car accident deaths, with 490, followed by Wake County with 395 and Guilford County with 313. Robeson County recorded 260 deaths; Cumberland County, 238; Forsyth County, 196; Buncombe County, 172; and Johnston County, 162. The remaining listed counts were Harnett County, 142; Davidson County, 141; Durham County, 140; Pitt County, 133; Randolph County, 131; Catawba County, 122; and Cabarrus County, 120.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Death counts and rates describe different measures. Among the listed counties, Robeson County had the highest average annual deaths per 100,000 residents at 44.4, while Wake County had the lowest at 6.7. Mecklenburg County's rate was 8.5. These rate rankings apply to the listed counties, not every county statewide.^{[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 North Carolina compares with the national rate

North Carolina's car accident death rate was 13.4 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024, compared with the national rate of 10.5. The state rate was higher than the national rate. The corresponding death counts were 7,178 in North Carolina and 176,219 across the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates for the period, multiplied by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. North Carolina's July 1, 2024 population estimate of 11,052,061 is shown separately and is not the rate denominator. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, the grouping to keep in mind is crash location, rather than the deceased person's residence.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

About these figures

NHTSA's census of fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes is FARS. For inclusion, a crash must involve a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public, with an occupant or nonoccupant death occurring within 30 days. The census excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. Crash location determines state and county counts, rather than residence.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File may change when replaced by the Final File. Rates divide deaths for 2020 through 2024 by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. They measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustment for miles driven or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• FARS Annual Report File and Final File
• Car accident statistics for Mecklenburg County, North Carolina (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Wake County, North Carolina (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Guilford County, North Carolina (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Cumberland County, North Carolina (2020-2024)