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

Car accident deaths in Nueces County by year

Car accident deaths increased from 35 in 2020 to 37 in 2021, then reached 38 in 2022. The count remained at 38 in 2023 before rising to 44 in 2024. The highest yearly count was 44 in 2024, and the lowest was 35 in 2020. The 2024 count was 9 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths numbered 39 in 2020, 47 in 2021, 43 in 2022, 45 in 2023 and 48 in 2024. Car accident deaths represented 89.7%, 78.7%, 88.4%, 84.4% and 91.7% of those respective yearly totals. That share was lowest in 2021 and highest in 2024.^{[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 Nueces County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 106 deaths, or 55.2% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 24 deaths, or 12.5%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 62 deaths, or 32.3%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These labels classify the 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 whether someone was outside a vehicle. The grouping can include occupants of parked motor vehicles.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Head-on collisions accounted for 33 car accident deaths, or 17.2%; Angle (side impact) accounted for 24, or 12.5%. Rear-end recorded 10 deaths, or 5.2%, and Sideswipe recorded 7, or 3.6%. Head-on had the largest death count among collisions with another motor vehicle in transport.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 118 deaths, or 61.5%. This row describes a first harmful event other than a collision between motor vehicles in transport, such as striking a parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. A vehicle stopped in traffic can be in transport; the classification does not test whether another vehicle was physically moving.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Time of day and setting

Daytime (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) accounted for 52 car accident deaths, or 27.1%, during 2020 through 2024. Nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) accounted for 140 deaths, or 72.9%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The land-use classification recorded 158 deaths as Urban, or 82.3%, and 33 as Rural, or 17.2%. Unknown accounted for 1 death, or 0.5%. These categories describe crash locations. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 7 car accident deaths, representing 3.6% of the county's car accident deaths for the period.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Texas and the United States

Nueces County's car accident death rate was 10.9 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Texas recorded a rate of 12.1, while the United States recorded 10.5. The county rate was lower than the state rate and higher than the national rate. The corresponding death counts were 192 for Nueces County, 18,234 for Texas and 176,219 for the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates divide the period's deaths by the sum of annual Census Bureau population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The separate 2024 population estimate of 352,925 is not the denominator used to calculate the county rate.^{[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 Nueces County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths: Speeding-related, 78 deaths (35.1%); Roadway departure, 90 (40.5%); At an intersection, 49 (22.1%); Pedestrian involved, 58 (26.1%); Motorcycle involved, 43 (19.4%); Hit-and-run, 18 (8.1%); Driver distraction reported, 16 (7.2%); and In a work zone, 17 (7.7%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The rows overlap because a crash can carry several recorded characteristics, so their shares do not add to 100%. They are not findings of fault or cause. Their scope includes fatal crashes beyond the passenger-vehicle-involved crashes used for the car accident death counts.^{[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 on a trafficway customarily open to the public and a death within 30 days. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded. Counts follow the county where the crash happened, not where the people killed lived. Readers searching for a car accident lawyer should keep that location-based grouping in mind when reading these counts.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 records are FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File can change when replaced by the Final File. Rates use summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, rather than the separate July 1, 2024 estimate, to express average annual deaths per 100,000 residents.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Texas car accident statistics (2020-2024)