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Florida car accidents cause incredible destruction and tragedy each year. The number of deaths decreased from 2021 to 2022, but thousands of people lost their lives on our state’s roads. Understanding Florida car accident statistics is critical to trying to stay safe.
The attorneys with the law firm of Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia can help if you’ve suffered an injury or lost a loved one in a vehicle accident caused by someone else. We’ll work passionately to help you obtain the compensation you deserve for your suffering. Please call (800) 320-HELP or use our online form to schedule a free consultation.
Overall Car Accident Statistics in Florida
There were about 400,000 Florida car accidents on average between 2018 and 2022. During those five years, an average of 3,391 people died, and 245,541 suffered severe injuries. Florida typically ranks among the states with the highest number of car accident fatalities, but that’s more a function of our population. Texas and California, the other two most populous states, also typically rank high.
When comparing death rates per 100,000 population, Florida isn’t quite as high on the list. Our death rate in 2021 was 16, which ranked No. 23. Mississippi’s death rate was 26.2.
Causes of Car Accidents in Florida
Florida car accidents occur for many reasons. Here are three of the most common:
Distracted Driving
Looking out the window while driving can be easy in a state as beautiful as ours. Since we have so many tourists who aren’t familiar with our roads, it’s not unusual for them to check their GPS. Also, like any other state, we have far too many drivers who will talk or text on their smartphones.
When you consider these and other factors, it’s not hard to see why Florida car accident statistics paint a horrible picture regarding distracted driving. Authorities blamed more than 56,000 wrecks on distractions in 2021. These accidents claimed 331 lives – the most in the previous eight years.
Impaired Driving
There were 5,255 Florida car accidents due to drunk driving in 2022. These accidents led to 422 deaths and 3,080 injuries. When tourists come to our state, many choose to drink and drive while on vacation. Florida also hosts thousands of events year-round, with attendees often getting behind the wheel when impaired.
Motorcycle Accidents
Since our weather is typically beautiful no matter the season, motorcyclists are on Florida’s highways every month. This is one of the reasons why our state has far too many rider fatalities. There were 651 motorcycle accident deaths in 2021.
Demographics of Florida Car Accidents
One common Florida stereotype is that we have more older people than anywhere else in the nation. That’s accurate since we have 8.6 million residents older than 50 – second in the country to California. But another stereotype is that older drivers aren’t as safe as younger ones. That’s not the case in Florida.
Drivers 21-39 caused the most Florida car accidents in 2020. Drivers in this age group were involved in 224,096 wrecks, and these accidents resulted in 783 deaths.
According to one study, the most dangerous month to drive in Florida is July (182 deaths between 2016 and 2020). The worst day is Saturday (286 deaths), and the worst time is between 8-9 p.m. (886 fatalities).
As with any other state, there are specific counties that have worse Florida car accident statistics than others. Seminole County had 2,369 wrecks (199 crashes per 10,000 residents) between January and May 2023, the highest of any county during that time. Hamilton Country (104 per 10,000 residents) was second on the list, while Duval County (89 wrecks/10,000 residents) was third.
Severity and Types of Injuries Resulting from a Florida Car Accident
Severe Florida car accidents often result in horrible, life-altering injuries. Some of the most common include the following:
- Whiplash: This occurs due to the sudden back-and-forth movement of the neck, commonly in rear-end collisions.
- Fractures: Bones can break due to the impact, varying from minor fractures to more severe breaks.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: Damage to muscles, ligaments, and tendons can cause pain and limited mobility.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: These can result in partial or complete paralysis, impacting motor and sensory functions.
- Traumatic Brain Injury: Head injuries can vary from concussions to severe traumatic brain damage, affecting cognitive and motor functions.
- Internal Injuries: Damage to organs or internal bleeding can occur due to the impact.
These injuries can have both immediate and long-term effects, leading to chronic pain and disabilities. Severe injuries require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and, in severe cases, lifelong care. Seeking immediate medical attention after an accident is crucial, as some injuries may not be immediately apparent.
Economic Impact of Florida Car Accidents
Not only can a long-term car accident injury lead to tens of thousands of dollars of expenses for the victim, but it can hurt the Florida economy as well. According to the Centers for Disease Control, traffic deaths in Florida cost the state more than $4 billion in 2018.
The hundreds of thousands of wrecks in our state also impact insurance premiums. Industry analysts estimate Florida drivers pay an average of $163 monthly for liability insurance. Drivers in our state pay $239 for comprehensive coverage. Insurance costs about 44% more in our state than what the average U.S. driver pays.
Legal Aspects of a Florida Car Accident
Depending on the type of car accident you were involved in, there are often legal implications for who is responsible for damages. That being said, Florida is a no-fault state regarding car accident insurance. Regardless of who’s to blame for a wreck, each driver’s insurance company will pay for property damage and medical bills.
But those policies only go so far. What if your policy covers $50,000 in medical expenses, but you’re so severely hurt your bills are twice that amount? You must hire a personal injury attorney immediately if you’re not responsible for the accident. They can pursue compensation from the insurer covering the at-fault driver.
Florida is also a comparative negligence state. This means you can obtain compensation based on your percentage of fault. If an investigation shows you were 20% at fault, the court will subtract that amount from your compensation. If your damages were $100,000, you’d receive $80,000.
You also need to take Florida’s statute of limitations into account. In our state, you have two years from the date of the wreck to take legal action. If the statute of limitations expires in your case, you won’t have any legal recourse to get the money you deserve.
Contact Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia to Speak with an Experienced Car Accident Attorney ASAP After Your Florida Car Accident
Please don’t let this happen to you. Speak with a Werner, Hoffman, Greig & Garcia attorney as soon as possible. We’ll investigate the accident and get the proof you need to win. Prompt action is a must so we can investigate before critical evidence disappears.
Please contact us online or call (800) 320-HELP for a free case review.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Florida a safe place for drivers?
Our state ranks close to the middle of the pack in terms of car accident deaths per 100,000 population. Florida ranked No. 23 in 2021, with a death rate of 16/per 100,000 people.
Where do most crashes happen in Florida?
Miami-Dade County reported 51,543 accidents involving injuries in 2020. Broward County was second, with 34,050. Lafayette County had the fewest injury-related accidents, with 41.
What rank is Florida for car accidents?
Florida ranked No. 3 in the U.S. in the number of fatal car accidents, with 3,629 deaths in 2021. There were 31,720 fatalities nationwide in the first nine months of 2021 – the highest in 15 years.
