West Virginia car accident statistics (2020-2024)

Car accident deaths in West Virginia by year

Car accident deaths rose from 214 in 2020 to 232 in 2021, then fell to 209 in 2022. The count rose to 214 in 2023 before falling to 206 in 2024. Within this period, 2021 had the highest count and 2024 had the lowest. The 2024 count was 8 deaths lower than the 2020 count.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

The share of all traffic deaths attributed to car accidents was 80.1% in 2020, 82.3% in 2021, 78.6% in 2022, 82.3% in 2023 and 80.5% in 2024. West Virginia's share of the national car accident death total was 0.6% in each listed year. For 2020 through 2024, its share was also 0.6%, against a national count of 176,219 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 West Virginia car accidents

People in cars, SUVs, pickups or vans accounted for 869 deaths, or 80.8% of car accident deaths during 2020 through 2024. This was the largest person category. People in other vehicles accounted for 95 deaths, or 8.8%, the smallest category. Nonoccupants (FARS person-type grouping) accounted for 111 deaths, or 10.3%.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

These labels classify the people killed in the selected passenger-vehicle-involved crashes. They do not limit the death count to people occupying passenger vehicles. When reading these figures while searching for a car accident lawyer, keep the person categories distinct from the crash counts.^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Collision types and setting

Head-on collisions accounted for 219 deaths (20.4%); Angle (side impact), 189 (17.6%); Rear-end, 48 (4.5%); and Sideswipe, 37 (3.4%). Not a collision with a motor vehicle in transport accounted for 582 deaths (54.1%). This means the first harmful event was not a collision 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 car accident deaths numbered 631 (58.7%), compared with 444 (41.3%) at nighttime. Daytime covers 6 a.m. to 5:59 p.m.; nighttime covers 6 p.m. to 5:59 a.m. Urban deaths numbered 418 (38.9%); rural deaths, 651 (60.6%); and unknown land use, 6 (0.6%).^{[1][2][3][4][5][7]}

Counties with the most car accident deaths

Kanawha County had the most car accident deaths, with 122, followed by Berkeley County with 68, Raleigh County with 49, Wood County with 47 and Monongalia County with 45. Cabell County recorded 42 deaths; Mercer County, 39; Jefferson County, 37; Wayne County, 37; and Hampshire County, 32. Harrison County recorded 30 deaths; Logan County, 29; Greenbrier County, 28; Fayette County, 24; and Nicholas County, 22.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

Death counts and population-based rates give different comparisons. Among the listed counties, Hampshire County had the highest average annual deaths per 100,000 residents at 27.3, while Monongalia County had the lowest at 8.4. Kanawha County's rate was 13.8. These rate rankings apply only to the listed counties, and each death can change rates sharply where death counts are small.^{[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 West Virginia compares with the national rate

The West Virginia car accident death rate was 12.1, compared with the national rate of 10.5. Both figures measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents for 2020 through 2024. West Virginia's rate was higher than the national rate. The corresponding death counts were 1,075 for West Virginia and 176,219 for the United States.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

These rates use deaths divided by the sum of annual population estimates for the period, multiplied by 100,000. They do not adjust for miles driven or visitors. The state's July 1, 2024 population estimate of 1,767,402 is shown separately; it is not the denominator used to calculate the period's car accident death rate.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6]}

About these figures

Fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes are documented in FARS as a census. For inclusion, a motor vehicle must be traveling on a trafficway customarily open to the public, and an occupant or nonoccupant must die within 30 days. The census excludes nonfatal crashes and injuries. Counts by state and county are based on where the crash occurred, not where the deceased person resided.^[8][6][7]

The 2020 through 2023 figures use FARS Final Files. The 2024 Annual Report File figures may change when NHTSA publishes the Final File. Rates divide deaths by summed annual Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025, then multiply by 100,000. They measure average annual deaths per 100,000 residents without adjustment for miles driven or visitors. The separately shown July 1, 2024 population is not the rate denominator.^[8][6][7]

See also

• FARS Annual Report File and Final File