Car accident statistics for Snohomish County, Washington (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in Snohomish County by year

Car accident deaths fell from 41 in 2020 to 30 in 2021, then rose to 51 in 2022. The count fell to 37 in 2023 before rising to 60 in 2024. The highest count was in 2024, and the lowest was in 2021. The 2024 count was 19 deaths higher than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

All traffic deaths followed the same sequence of decreases and increases: 48 in 2020, 38 in 2021, 60 in 2022, 43 in 2023 and 64 in 2024. Car accident deaths accounted for 85.4%, 78.9%, 85.0%, 86.0% and 93.8% of those respective yearly totals. The share was highest in 2024 and lowest in 2021.^{[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 Snohomish County car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 124 deaths, or 56.6% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 32 deaths, or 14.6%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 63 deaths, or 28.8%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Each category counts deaths in fatal crashes involving a passenger vehicle, rather than deaths in every crash involving that person category. For readers searching for a car accident lawyer, keep the county-of-crash grouping in mind when reading these counts.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

How the fatal car crashes happened

Manner of collision describes the first harmful event. Angle (side impact) accounted for 40 deaths, or 18.3%; Head-on for 34, or 15.5%; Rear-end for 13, or 5.9%; and Sideswipe for 6, or 2.7%. Other accounted for 1 death, or 0.5%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 125 deaths, or 57.1% of car accident deaths. That row includes first harmful events such as striking a pedestrian, cyclist, parked vehicle or fixed object, or a rollover. It does not describe 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

Nighttime (6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) accounted for 128 car accident deaths, or 58.4%, during 2020 through 2024. Daytime (6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.) accounted for 91 deaths, or 41.6%. The nighttime count was higher than the daytime count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The urban classification recorded 161 deaths, or 73.5%, while the rural classification recorded 58 deaths, or 26.5%. These classifications describe crash locations in Snohomish County. Crashes that also involved a large truck accounted for 14 car accident deaths, or 6.4%. That figure counts deaths in passenger-vehicle-involved crashes with a large truck also involved.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Car accident death rate compared with Washington and the United States

The Snohomish County car accident death rate was 5.2 average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. Washington's rate was 7.9, and the United States rate was 10.5. The county rate was lower than both. Listed neighboring King County recorded a rate of 5.6, also higher than Snohomish County's rate.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

The corresponding death counts were 219 for Snohomish County, 3,087 for Washington, 176,219 for the United States and 634 for King County. Rates divide deaths by the sum of annual Census population estimates and multiply by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The separately displayed 2024 population estimate of 861,070 is not the denominator used for 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

These characteristics cover all fatal crashes in Snohomish County, of any vehicle type. Shares use all traffic deaths, rather than car accident deaths. Speeding-related recorded 83 deaths (32.8%); Roadway departure, 130 (51.4%); At an intersection, 61 (24.1%); and Pedestrian involved, 66 (26.1%).^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Motorcycle involved recorded 54 deaths (21.3%); Hit-and-run, 28 (11.1%); Driver distraction reported, 40 (15.8%); and In a work zone, 1 (0.4%). 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.^{[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 NHTSA's 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. Counts use the county where the crash happened, not where the person lived. Nonfatal crashes and injuries are excluded.^[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 use deaths divided by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates from Vintage 2025, multiplied by 100,000, to give average annual deaths per 100,000 residents. The separate July 1, 2024 estimate is not that denominator. Rates do not adjust for miles driven or visitors.^[8][6][7]

See also

• Washington car accident statistics (2020-2024)
• Passenger vehicle
• Fatal crash (FARS definition)
• Car accident statistics for King County, Washington (2020-2024)

On related publications

• Washington truck accident statistics (2020-2024) (truckaccidentlawyers.wiki)