Although the number of Florida motor vehicle fatalities in 2022 is lower than that recorded in 2021, they have risen every year within the last ten years. These astounding numbers have left the families of many accident victims reeling with grief.
Florida motor vehicle fatalities took thousands of loved ones from their families, some of whom filed wrongful death lawsuits if their death was caused by the negligence or reckless behavior of another driver.
In 2022, there have been 389,453 traffic accidents in the state, out of which 3,302 were fatal. The percentage of motor vehicle crashes involving a fatality is rising in Florida, which is very alarming.
Florida was the second most dangerous state in the country for pedestrians from 2016 to 2020. In fact, seven of the state's counties ranked within the top 20 most dangerous metropolitan areas for pedestrians. In 2022, pedestrian fatalities represented 22% of the total fatalities, with 755 pedestrian deaths in motor vehicle crashes.
Drunk driving statistics are some of the most harrowing, as they are entirely unnecessary. Unfortunately, even though the number of drunk driving fatalities has decreased a little in recent years, over 10,000 people die annually in drunk driving accidents. In 2022, there were 268 fatalities due to alcohol-impaired driving accidents.
Currently, Florida ranks third when it comes to fatal car accidents, being surpassed only by Texas and California, with 3,451 crashes resulting in deaths. In 2022, the age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population of deaths from motor vehicle crashes in Alachua County was 14.0 compared to Florida at 15.8. The following are the counties in the state with the largest number of deaths from motor vehicle accidents in 2022:
- Broward County (302)
- Miami-Dade County (354)
- Hillsborough County (239)
- Palm Beach County (238)
- Orange County (187)
- Lee County (148)
Between January 1, 2023, and August 17, 2023, there have been 239,810 motor vehicle accidents in Florida. As the state's population grows, crashes every year have increased to roughly 400,000 on average. However, it is important to note that less than 1% of traffic accidents occurring annually in the state are fatal. Since most motor vehicle accidents involve two drivers, the chances of being in a crash in any given year are about 5%. The combination of dense population centers, intense traffic volume, congested highways, and diverse driving habits contribute to a high risk on the roadways.
Urban centers like Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville have a higher concentration of motor vehicle accidents because of the high population density and heavy traffic volumes. Furthermore, major interstates such as the Florida Turnpike, I-10, I-75, I-95, and I-4 are notorious for being accident-prone areas. Tourist-heavy areas, such as Central and South Florida, also experience a significant number of traffic accidents due to the influx of visitors who are often unfamiliar with local driving laws and roadways. These are more statistics related to motor vehicle accident fatalities that occurred in Florida in 2023:
- 1,886 fatalities in car accidents
- 127 fatalities in bicycle accidents
- 347 deaths in motorcycle accidents
- 435 pedestrian deaths in motor vehicle accidents
If one of your family members was killed in a motor vehicle accident due to the fault of another driver, you may have a wrongful death lawsuit arising under Florida's Wrongful Death Act, which gives qualifying family members of the deceased a right of action for damages based on the losses suffered as a result of the individual's death. Claims for qualifying survivors may include reimbursement for funeral expenses, payment of medical bills and expenses of the person who died related to the accident or incident, payment for lost support and services the decedent was paying a survivor, and emotional pain and suffering for the loss of a loved one.
The Law Offices of Sean M. Cleary Provides Quality Assistance to the Family Members of People Wrongfully Killed in Motor Vehicle Accidents
With over 20 years of professional experience, our attorney will provide you with the legal assistance you need in the regrettable event that you lost a family member in a motor vehicle accident. Because we are well aware of how difficult and overwhelming the grieving process can be, we will go to great lengths to simplify the process for you.
Our law firm will strive to obtain the most favorable outcome for your case and recover all the damages you are entitled to. While money cannot replace a deceased loved one, it can at least alleviate the financial hardship you may be facing.