Pennsylvania car accident statistics (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Pennsylvania by year

The annual car accident death count rose from 917 in 2020 to 1,026 in 2021, then fell to 983 in 2022. It rose to 997 in 2023 before falling to 946 in 2024. The highest count was in 2021, and the lowest was in 2020. The 2024 count was 29 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Pennsylvania accounted for 2.8% of the national car accident death total for 2020 through 2024, which was 176,219. Its annual share was 2.7% in 2020, 2.8% in 2021, 2.7% in 2022, 2.8% in 2023 and 2.8% in 2024. These national shares compare deaths in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes.^{[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 Pennsylvania car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 3,422 deaths, or 70.3% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 617 deaths and 12.7%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 830 deaths, or 17.0%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

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

Collision types and setting

Car accident deaths by manner of collision were Angle (side impact), 1,122; Head-on, 654; Rear-end, 318; Sideswipe, 201; Other, 32; and Unknown, 2. Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 2,540 deaths. That row describes a first harmful event other than 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 2,570 deaths (52.8%), nighttime for 2,293 (47.1%) and unknown time for 6 (0.1%). Urban classifications accounted for 2,956 deaths (60.7%), rural for 1,899 (39.0%) and unknown land use for 14 (0.3%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Counties with the most car accident deaths

Philadelphia County had the most car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024, with 599, followed by Allegheny County with 302. Lancaster County recorded 247 deaths, Bucks County 227 and Montgomery County 212. The listed counties also include Berks County with 189, York County with 144, Luzerne County with 139, Chester County with 135 and Dauphin County with 131.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Lehigh County recorded 129 deaths, Delaware County 127, Westmoreland County 120, Erie County 114 and Fayette County 91. Counts group deaths by crash county. Rates measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents: among the listed counties, Fayette County had the highest rate at 14.4, and Delaware County had the lowest at 4.4. 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 Pennsylvania compares with the national rate

Pennsylvania's car accident death rate was 7.5 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. The national rate was 10.5, placing Pennsylvania below the national figure. The corresponding death counts were 4,869 for Pennsylvania and 176,219 for the United States; these are period totals, while the rates express an annual average relative to population.^{[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. Pennsylvania's July 1, 2024 population estimate of 13,045,848 appears separately and is not the denominator used for the rate. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, keep that distinction between death counts and population rates in view.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

About these figures

NHTSA's 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 an occupant or nonoccupant dying within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. State and county counts follow crash location, not residence.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File. Rates divide period deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000 for average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The separate July 1, 2024 population estimate is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• FARS Annual Report File and Final File
• Car accident statistics for Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Bucks County, Pennsylvania (2020-2024)
• Car accident statistics for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania (2020-2024)