Car accident statistics for Jefferson County, Texas (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Jefferson County by year

Car accident deaths rose from 41 in 2020 to 49 in 2021, then fell to 36 in 2022 and 26 in 2023. The count rose to 38 in 2024. The highest year was 2021, and the lowest was 2023. The 2024 count was 3 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same sequence of increases and decreases: 48 in 2020, 60 in 2021, 46 in 2022, 31 in 2023 and 45 in 2024. The car accident share was 85.4%, 81.7%, 78.3%, 83.9% and 84.4%, respectively. That share was highest in 2020 and lowest in 2022, distinct from the years with the highest and lowest death counts.^{[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 Jefferson County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 118 deaths, or 62.1% of car accident deaths in Jefferson County during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 18 deaths, or 9.5%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 54 deaths, or 28.4%.^{[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 is not a literal test of a person's position inside or outside a vehicle.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event in a car accident. Angle (side impact) accounted for 33 deaths (17.4%), Head-on for 17 (8.9%), Rear-end for 21 (11.1%) and Sideswipe for 5 (2.6%). Other accounted for 3 deaths (1.6%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport was the largest row, with 111 deaths (58.4%). It means the first harmful event was not a collision between motor vehicles in transport. Examples include striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A vehicle stopped in traffic can be a motor vehicle in transport; physical movement is not the test.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Nighttime, defined as 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m., accounted for 130 car accident deaths (68.4%) during 2020 through 2024. Daytime, from 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m., accounted for 60 deaths (31.6%). The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 147 deaths (77.4%) as Urban and 43 deaths (22.6%) as Rural. Separately, car accident deaths in crashes that also involved a large truck numbered 20, or 10.5%. That truck figure counts deaths in the qualifying crashes, rather than the number of crashes involving a large truck.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Texas and the United States

Jefferson County's car accident death rate was 15.0 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. The Texas rate was 12.1, and the United States rate was 10.5. Jefferson County's rate was higher than each. Listed neighboring Liberty County recorded a rate of 20.8, higher than Jefferson County's 15.0.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates, multiplied by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The associated death counts were 190 in Jefferson County, 18,234 in Texas, 176,219 nationally and 108 in Liberty County. Counts refer to crash locations; the population denominator does not make them counts of resident deaths.^{[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 Jefferson County, of any vehicle type, rather than only car accident deaths. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 76 deaths (33.0%); Roadway departure, 90 (39.1%); At an intersection, 40 (17.4%); Pedestrian involved, 60 (26.1%); Motorcycle involved, 34 (14.8%); Hit-and-run, 26 (11.3%); Driver distraction reported, 18 (7.8%); and In a work zone, 28 (12.2%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

A crash can have several recorded characteristics, so these rows overlap and do not add to 100%. The entries describe recorded characteristics, not findings of fault or cause. Roadway departure had the largest death count among the listed characteristics; Driver distraction reported had the smallest.^{[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 involving a motor vehicle traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. It excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. County counts identify crash location, not residence. When reading with a car accident lawyer in mind, retain that location distinction.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files; 2024 uses the revisable Annual Report File. Rates divide deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates for 2020 through 2024, 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

• Texas car accident statistics (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Truck accident statistics for Jefferson County, Texas (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyer.wiki)