Florida Car Accident Statistics (2024 FLHSMV Data)

Florida’s roads carry millions of residents, seasonal visitors, commercial trucks, and tourists every day. Most trips end safely, but a large number do not. This page brings together the latest official Florida car accident statistics from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), along with the state laws that shape what happens after a crash. If you or someone you love was hurt, these numbers show you are far from alone. They also show why it helps to understand your rights early.

Unless noted otherwise, every figure below comes from the FLHSMV 2024 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report, the most recent full-year report the state has published. FLHSMV notes that its figures can change as late crash reports arrive.

Florida Auto Accidents at a Glance (2024)

In 2024 Florida recorded fewer crashes and fewer deaths than in 2023. Even so, the totals are still enormous: 381,423 crashes works out to roughly 1,040 crashes on Florida roads every day.

Source: FLHSMV, 2024 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report. Crashes per day is our calculation (381,423 crashes over the 366 days of 2024).

What these numbers mean

Adding the incapacitating and other injury categories together gives 246,426 people injured in Florida crashes in 2024. About 149,400 crashes caused at least one non-incapacitating or possible injury, and 11,506 crashes caused at least one incapacitating injury. FLHSMV defines an “incapacitating” injury as a disabling injury, such as broken bones, that usually requires transport to a medical facility and hospitalization.

The drop in deaths is real progress. Still, more than 3,000 people did not come home in 2024, and tens of thousands of families are dealing with medical bills, lost work, and long recoveries.

Hit-and-Run Crashes in Florida

Hit-and-run crashes are a serious problem in Florida. In 2024, roughly one in four reported crashes involved a driver who left the scene.

• 97,999 hit-and-run crashes (down 6.75% from 2023)
• 242 hit-and-run fatalities
• 871 incapacitating injuries in hit-and-run crashes
• 19,591 other injuries in hit-and-run crashes

Source: FLHSMV, 2024 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report.

FLHSMV has also reported that, based on preliminary 2023 data, 159 of that year’s 271 hit-and-run fatalities were pedestrians and 47 were bicyclists. Together they made up about 76% of hit-and-run deaths. The agency also found that 81% of 2023 hit-and-run deaths happened at dawn, at dusk, or in low light (FLHSMV, “Stay at the Scene,” February 2024).

If you are hit by a driver who flees, you may still have options. Your own personal injury protection (PIP) coverage and, if you carry it, uninsured motorist coverage may apply.

Impaired Driving: Alcohol and Drugs

Impaired driving is still one of the deadliest crash factors in Florida. FLHSMV counts a crash as “alcohol confirmed” or “drug confirmed” only when testing confirms it, so the real totals may be higher than the confirmed figures.

Source: FLHSMV, 2024 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report.

Drug-confirmed fatalities rose 12.31% from 2023 to 2024, even while alcohol-confirmed deaths fell 11.02%. Drug-confirmed crashes are fewer in number, but they are far more likely to be deadly: 322 of the 518 drug-confirmed crashes in 2024 were fatal.

Distracted Driving

In 2024, FLHSMV recorded 148,518 people involved in crashes where a driver was distracted. Of those people:

• 277 were killed
• 2,312 suffered incapacitating injuries
• 13,670 suffered non-incapacitating injuries
• 29,006 had possible injuries

Source: FLHSMV, 2024 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report (counts are persons involved, not crashes).

“Inattentive” driving was by far the largest distraction category. Distraction from electronic communication devices such as cell phones was also counted separately. Because drivers do not always admit to using a phone, phone-related distraction may be underreported.

Speeding and Aggressive Driving

FLHSMV identified 16,102 speeding or aggressive driving events in 2024. Across all of those events, the people involved included:

• 449 fatalities
• 1,129 incapacitating injuries
• 4,191 non-incapacitating injuries

Source: FLHSMV, 2024 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report.

Higher speeds shorten reaction time and increase the force of impact. That is a big part of why speed-related crashes cause so many serious injuries.

Vulnerable Road Users: Motorcycles, Pedestrians, and Bicyclists

Motorcyclists, pedestrians, and bicyclists have little protection in a collision. Florida’s year-round riding weather and busy coastal corridors put many of them on the road.

Source: FLHSMV, 2024 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report.

Key takeaways

• Motorcycles: Motorcycle crashes are only about 2.5% of all Florida crashes, yet 598 motorcycle riders and passengers died in 2024. That is close to one in five traffic deaths statewide.
• Pedestrians: Pedestrian deaths fell 14.29% from 2023, but pedestrian crashes rose 1.89% to 10,501.
• Bicyclists: Bicyclist crashes rose 10.77% in 2024, and incapacitating injuries to bicyclists rose 14.94%.

Teen, Young Adult, and Older Drivers

Teen and young adult drivers

Source: FLHSMV, 2024 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report.

Inexperience, distraction, and speed are common factors in crashes involving young drivers. Deaths of 20-to-24-year-old drivers rose 6.83% in 2024, even as overall deaths fell.

Older drivers

Florida has one of the oldest populations in the country, and Sarasota and Manatee counties are home to many retirees. In 2024:

• Drivers age 65 and older made up 77,271 of the drivers involved in crashes. 355 of them were killed and 1,400 suffered incapacitating injuries.
• Drivers age 50 to 64 made up 125,349 of the drivers involved in crashes. 356 of them were killed and 1,908 suffered incapacitating injuries.

Source: FLHSMV, 2024 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report.

Older drivers and passengers can be more vulnerable to serious injury in a crash of the same force, and recovery often takes longer.

Local Crash Data: Sarasota, Manatee, and Miami-Dade Counties

Alpha Law Group serves clients from offices in Sarasota and Miami. Here is how 2024 looked in the communities we serve.

Source: FLHSMV, 2024 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report, Traffic Crash and Injury History by County.

Sarasota County

Crashes in Sarasota County rose to 6,952 in 2024. Injuries climbed 5.71% to 4,255, even though deaths fell slightly to 55. Corridors like U.S. 41 (Tamiami Trail), I-75, and the roads around downtown Sarasota and Venice carry heavy local and seasonal traffic. If you were hurt on one of them, a Sarasota car accident lawyer can help you understand the insurance and legal steps that come next. You can also visit our Sarasota office at 2101 S Tamiami Trail.

Manatee County

Manatee County recorded 6,469 crashes, 61 deaths, and 4,547 injuries in 2024. Fatalities fell 14.08% from 2023.

Miami-Dade County

Miami-Dade had 60,000 crashes in 2024, the largest crash total of the three counties here. That works out to about 164 crashes a day. The county also recorded 272 deaths and 29,359 injuries. Alpha Law Group’s Miami office serves South Florida clients.

Florida Car Accident Laws You Should Know

The statistics show how often crashes happen. Florida law decides what you can recover afterward. Several rules changed recently, so it is worth reviewing them carefully. Our Florida car accident lawyers page explains how these rules apply to injury claims.

Florida’s No-Fault (PIP) System

Florida is a no-fault state. Under Florida Statutes § 627.736, required personal injury protection (PIP) coverage pays up to $10,000 in medical and disability benefits and $5,000 in death benefits, regardless of who caused the crash. Key points:

• PIP generally pays 80% of reasonable, medically necessary medical expenses.
• You must receive initial medical care within 14 days of the crash to qualify for PIP medical benefits.
• The full $10,000 is available only if a qualified provider (a physician, dentist, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse) determines you had an emergency medical condition. Otherwise, reimbursement is limited to $2,500.

Because of the 14-day rule, getting checked by a doctor soon after a crash matters for your health and for your benefits.

PIP does not cover everything. Under Florida’s tort threshold (Fla. Stat. § 627.737), an injured person can generally pursue a claim against an at-fault driver for pain and suffering only when the injury meets certain thresholds, such as a significant and permanent injury.

Modified Comparative Negligence (HB 837, 2023)

On March 24, 2023, House Bill 837 (Chapter 2023-15, Laws of Florida) became law. For negligence cases filed after that date, it moved Florida from “pure” comparative negligence to a modified comparative negligence system (Fla. Stat. § 768.81(6)):

• If you are found more than 50% at fault for your own injuries, you cannot recover damages from other parties.
• If you are 50% or less at fault, your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault.
• This rule does not apply to personal injury or wrongful death claims arising from medical negligence.

Insurers often try to shift blame onto the injured person. Under the current law, that kind of fault argument can affect whether you recover anything at all.

The Two-Year Statute of Limitations

HB 837 also cut the deadline to file a general negligence lawsuit, including most car accident injury claims, from four years to two years. The rule now appears at Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a). The two-year deadline applies to claims that accrued after March 24, 2023. Claims that arose earlier may follow the old rule. Other deadlines may apply to some claims, such as wrongful death or claims against government entities. Because missing a deadline can bar a claim entirely, it is wise to speak with a lawyer well before it arrives.

What to Do After a Florida Car Accident

1. Call 911 and get medical help. Report the crash to law enforcement.
2. See a doctor within 14 days. This protects your PIP benefits, and some injuries do not show symptoms right away.
3. Document the scene. Take photos of the vehicles, the road, and any visible injuries. Get witness contact information.
4. Exchange information with the other driver(s). If a driver flees, note any plate number, vehicle description, and direction of travel.
5. Be careful with insurance adjusters. Statements you give can be used to argue that you were at fault.
6. Talk to a lawyer about your options and deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many car accidents happen in Florida each year?

FLHSMV recorded 381,423 codable crashes in Florida in 2024, or roughly 1,040 per day. Those crashes resulted in 3,098 deaths and more than 246,000 injuries.

How many car accidents happened in Sarasota County in 2024?

FLHSMV reports 6,952 crashes in Sarasota County in 2024, with 55 deaths and 4,255 injuries.

How long do I have to file a car accident lawsuit in Florida?

For most negligence claims that arose after March 24, 2023, Florida’s statute of limitations is two years (Fla. Stat. § 95.11(5)(a)). Different deadlines can apply in some situations, so check your specific timeline promptly.

Can I recover damages if I was partly at fault?

Yes, as long as you are found 50% or less at fault. Your recovery is reduced by your share of fault. If you are found more than 50% at fault, Florida’s modified comparative negligence rule bars recovery.

Do I need to see a doctor after a minor crash?

It is a good idea. Florida’s PIP law requires initial treatment within 14 days of the crash for PIP medical benefits to apply, and some injuries appear hours or days later.

Talk With Alpha Law Group

Every number on this page stands for a real person and a family whose life changed in an instant. If you were injured in a crash in Sarasota, Manatee, Miami-Dade, or elsewhere in Florida, Alpha Law Group can review what happened and explain your options. There is no obligation.

Call Alpha Law Group at (941) 304-1500 to talk about your situation, or visit our Sarasota office. We also have an office in Miami.

This page provides general information and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Sources

1. Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), 2024 Traffic Crash Facts Annual Report
2. FLHSMV, Crash and Citation Reports & Statistics
3. FLHSMV, “Stay at the Scene; a Hit and Run isn’t an Accident; It’s a Crime!” (Feb. 1, 2024)
4. Florida Statutes § 627.736, Required personal injury protection benefits
5. Florida Statutes § 627.737, Tort exemption; limitation on right to damages
6. Florida Statutes § 768.81, Comparative fault
7. Florida Statutes § 95.11, Limitations other than for the recovery of real property
8. The Florida Senate, CS/CS/HB 837 (2023), Civil Remedies, and enrolled bill text