Florida Car Accident Statistics

The Orlando car accident lawyers at Colling Gilbert Wright have seen the devastation a car wreck can have on an individual and his or her family firsthand. We have helped many accident victims pursue the justice and compensation they need to move forward with their lives.

There are hundreds of thousands of car accidents across Florida each year. These accidents result in hundreds of thousands of injuries and thousands of untimely deaths. Here is an overview of the latest car accident statistics available from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and other sources: 

Total Car Accidents, Injuries, and Fatalities in Florida 

The FLHSMV’s Crash Dashboard provides up-to-date data on car accidents statewide. According to the FLHSMV, total car accidents in Florida spiked last year after two years of decline, but we are fortunately on pace to see a reduction in total car accidents in 2022 compared to 2021:

• Total Car Accidents in Florida – 2018: 403,626
• Total Car Accidents in Florida – 2019: 401,867
• Total Car Accidents in Florida – 2020: 341,399
• Total Car Accidents in Florida – 2021: 401,170
• Total Car Accidents in Florida – Through July 7, 2022: 194,632

Overall, this likely reflects a downward trend, as the significant drop in car accidents in 2020 can almost certainly be attributed in large part to the COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, there are still well over 1,000 car accidents in Florida every day. This makes Florida among the most dangerous states for drivers in the country. 

Approximately 40% of all car accidents in Florida result in injuries. Of the 194,632 car accidents in Florida so far this year, 80,025 have resulted in reported injuries, with a total of 123,450 reported injuries from all crashes. The percentages of injury-involved accidents and total accident-related injuries have remained relatively constant over the past five years according to the FLHSMV.

Notably, however, fatal car accidents have been on the rise. For example, while there were a total of 2,917 fatal car accidents (resulting in 3,135 fatalities) statewide in 2018, there were 3,459 fatal accidents (resulting in 3,763 fatalities) in Florida last year. For 2022, we are on pace to see a slight reduction from 2021; but, if current trends continue, we will still see well over 3,000 fatal car accidents in Florida by the end of December.

Our Orlando car accident lawyers know that losing a loved one in a crash is one of the most painful experiences a person – and a family – can endure. If you lost someone dear in a wreck, we can help you seek damages for the losses you have suffered as a result.

2022 Mid-Year Florida Car Accident Data from the FLHSMV

In addition to total car accident, injury, and fatality statistics, the FLHSMV publishes several other statistics as well. Here are some additional mid-year car accident statistics (reported as of July 7, 2022) from the FLHSMV: 

1. Hit-and-Run Car Accidents

So far this year there have been a total of 52,791 hit-and-run car accidents in Florida. These accidents have resulted in 11,494 reported injuries and 119 fatalities. Florida consistently ranks among the states with the highest number of hit-and-run accidents each year. 

2. Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents

In the first half of 2022, there were more than 8,000 car accidents involving pedestrians and bicycle riders statewide. Tragically, more than 450 of these accidents were fatal. Unfortunately, Florida consistently ranks among the worst states for pedestrian and bicycle accidents as well. 

3. March was the Most Dangerous Month on Florida’s Roads

Through the first half of the year, March was the most dangerous month on Florida’s roads. In March there were 36,413 car accidents statewide—well above the second-highest monthly total of 32,861 in April. 

Florida Ranks Among States with Most Traffic Fatalities Per 100 Million Miles Traveled

Given the stark differences in population among states, one of the most accurate ways of comparing the risk of car accident fatalities from state to state is by comparing the number of deaths per 100 million miles traveled. According to the IIHS, Florida has a rate of 1.60 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. This puts Florida behind just a handful of other states when it comes to the highest risk of drivers and passengers being killed in a crash. 

Florida Also Has an Exceptionally High Number of Drunk Driving Fatalities

Part of the reason why Florida’s car accident fatality rate is so high is that the Sunshine State has an exceptionally high number of drunk driving fatalities. According to Responsibility.org, in 2019 (the most recent year for which data are available), there were 814 alcohol-related traffic fatalities in Florida. This compares to a total figure of 10,142 alcohol-related traffic fatalities nationwide. While Florida is just one of 50 states, four out of every 50 drunk driving accidents in the U.S. occur in Florida. 

Speak with an Orlando Car Accident Lawyer For Free

If you have been seriously injured or a loved one has tragically been killed in a wreck, we encourage you to contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.

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Contact Colling Gilbert Wright today online or at  (800) 766-1000 to discuss your case with an experienced car accident attorney. Our office serves Orlando and other areas in Florida.