Clearwater Car Accident Statistics

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Car accidents are common in Clearwater, Florida. Tragically, many car accidents result in deaths and catastrophic injuries. This is reflected in the Clearwater car accident statistics.

The Clearwater car accident attorneys at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers have over 300 years of combined legal experience handling personal injury cases. We understand the devastation, pain and suffering caused by negligent drivers. Our lawyers have recovered millions of dollars in damages for accident victims.

If you or a family member sustained injuries in a motor vehicle accident, contact our law office in Clearwater at (727) 796-8282 for a free consultation with a personal injury attorney.

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How Common Are Car Accidents in Clearwater, FL?

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) has a crash dashboard that reports yearly car accidents throughout the Sunshine State.

Here are the total crashes that were reported in Pinellas County between 2018 and 2023:

2018: 17,875 (4.43% of the state’s crashes in 2018)
2019: 17,078 (4.25% of the state’s crashes in 2019)
2020: 14,313 (4.19% of the state’s crashes in 2020)
2021: 16,462 (4.1% of the state’s crashes in 2021)
2022: 15,646 (4% of the state’s crashes in 2022)
2023 (as of 1/14/23): 242 (3.32% of the state’s crashes in 2023 so far)

Pinellas County makes up about 4% of Florida’s total car accidents each year.

Car Accidents Resulting in Fatalities In Clearwater, FL

While fatal collisions comprise a small percentage of Clearwater’s total car accidents each year, they shouldn’t occur in the first place. Below we break down the number of fatal crashes and fatalities that the FLHSMV reported between 2018 and 2023.

Clearwater Collisions That Caused Fatalities Between 2018 and 2023

Pinellas County’s fatal crashes between 2018 and 2023 are as follows:

2018: 126 (0.7% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2019: 107 (0.63% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2020: 102 (0.71% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2021: 146 (0.89% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2022: 113 (0.72% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2023 (as of 1/14/23): 1 (0.41% of all Pinellas County collisions reported so far)

These statistics are alarming. Although the county’s total number of car accidents decreased by nearly 8% between 2018 and 2021, fatal collisions increased by almost 16%. Crashes seem to be becoming deadlier in Pinellas County.

Total Fatalities From Clearwater Collisions Between 2018 and 2023

The number of deaths that occur in Clearwater collisions is higher than the fatal crashes because multiple people may be killed in one crash.

The fatalities from car crashes in Pinellas County between 2018 and 2023 are as follows:

2018: 130
2019: 108
2020: 108
2021: 155
2022: 121
2023 (as of 1/14/23): 1

The number of people who lost their lives in Pinellas County auto accidents increased by approximately 19% between 2018 and 2022 – even though the county’s total collisions decreased.

Car Accidents Resulting in Injuries In Clearwater, Florida

Thousands of people are injured in Clearwater and throughout Pinellas County annually. You’re much more likely to suffer injuries in a collision than a fatality, but the injuries can range from minor scrapes to debilitating spinal cord damage.

Clearwater Collisions That Caused Injuries Between 2018 and 2023

The number of injury crashes that occurred in Pinellas County is reflected below:

2018: 7,473 (41.81% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2019: 7,156 (41.9% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2020: 5,786 (40.42% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2021: 6,546 (39.76% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2022: 6,368 (40.70% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2023 (as of 1/14/23): 105 (43.38% of all collisions reported in Pinellas County so far)

On average, a shocking 40% of people involved in collisions in Pinellas County will sustain an injury.

Total Injuries From Clearwater Collisions Between 2018 and 2023

The number of people who sustained injuries in Pinellas County car wrecks is as follows:

2018: 10,751
2019: 10,404
2020: 8,412
2021: 9,427
2022: 9,210
2023 (as of 1/14/23): 153

The number of people who were injured in collisions decreased by over 12% between 2018 and 2021.

Car Accidents Resulting in Property Damage Only In Clearwater, FL

Not all car accidents injure or kill people. Some only result in property damage, such as damage to vehicles and structures.

The collisions reported in Pinellas County between 2018 and 2022 that caused property damage only are as follows:

2018: 10,276 (57.49% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2019: 9,815 (57.47% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2020: 8,425 (58.86% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2021: 9,770 (59.35% of all Pinellas County collisions)

As of September 10, 2022, 59.13% of Pinellas County collisions have resulted in only property damage.

Accidents Involving Pedestrians In Clearwater, Florida

The Clearwater area is one of the most dangerous metropolitan areas for pedestrians, causing dozens of deaths annually.

Here are the statistics for pedestrian accidents in Pinellas County between 2018 and 2023:

2018: 504 accidents causing 41 fatalities and 441 injuries
2019: 572 accidents causing 42 fatalities and 483 injuries
2020: 438 accidents causing 30 fatalities and 361 injuries
2021: 498 accidents causing 60 fatalities and 387 injuries
2022: 474 accidents causing 36 fatalities and 397 injuries
2023 (as of 1/14/23): 8 accidents causing 0 fatalities and 8 injuries

The fatality rate for pedestrians rose to around 12% in 2021. In prior years, the average fatality rate was approximately 7.5%. However, so far, in 2022, the rate has dropped again to nearly 8%.

Accidents Involving Bicycles In Clearwater, FL

Pinellas County is also a dangerous place for bicycling. Bicyclist deaths reached a 15-year high in 2021:

2018: 622 accidents causing 7 fatalities and 583 injuries
2019: 513 accidents causing 10 fatalities and 477 injuries
2020: 518 accidents causing 8 fatalities and 494 injuries
2021: 546 accidents causing 16 fatalities and 504 injuries
2022: 578 accidents causing 13 fatalities and 554 injuries
2023 (as of 1/14/23): 10 accidents causing 0 fatalities and 10 injuries

As with pedestrians, the bicyclist fatality rate rose to nearly 3% in 2021. In prior years, the average was around 1.5%.

Accidents Involving Motorcycles In Clearwater, Florida

Motorcycle accidents cause hundreds of deaths and injuries in Pinellas County annually:

2018: 503 accidents causing 29 fatalities and 428 injuries
2019: 428 accidents causing 22 fatalities and 379 injuries
2020: 411 accidents causing 18 fatalities and 374 injuries
2021: 433 accidents causing 30 fatalities and 383 injuries
2022: 435 accidents causing 31 fatalities and 378 injuries
2023 (as of 1/14/23): 6 accidents causing 0 fatalities and 6 injuries

As with bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities, the motorcyclist fatality rate increased in 2021 to nearly 7%. In prior years, the average was around 5%. More shockingly, so far, in 2023, the fatality rate is a little over 8%.

Hit-and-Run Accident Statistics In Clearwater, FL

Hit-and-run accidents frequently happen in Pinellas County, FL:

2018: 4,985 (27.89% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2019: 4,849 (28.39% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2020: 4,259 (29.76% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2021: 4,895 (29.74% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2022: 4,456 (28.48% of all Pinellas County collisions)
2023 (as of 1/14/23): 75 (30.99% of all Pinellas County collisions reported so far)

Around 29% of annual collisions reported in the county are hit & run crashes.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Collisions in Clearwater, Florida?

The cause of car accidents in Clearwater varies, but most crashes result from driver negligence. Drivers fail to follow traffic laws and focus on the road. The result is tragic accidents that cause serious injuries and wrongful deaths.

Common causes of car accidents include:

Distracted driving
Speeding
Running red lights or stop signs
Tailgating (following too closely)
Driving under the influence
Aggressive or reckless driving
Drowsy driving
Failure to yield the right of way
Inclement weather conditions
Improper left-turns
Road defects

Florida’s no-fault insurance laws require drivers and accident victims to file claims with their PIP insurance provider. However, if you sustained severe injuries and the other driver caused the crash, you may have the right to sue the at-fault driver for damages.

Clearwater’s Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections

Car accidents can happen anywhere: quiet, rural roads or bustling city streets. However, some roads and intersections tend to experience a higher volume of collisions.

Here are some of the most dangerous roads/intersections in Clearwater, FL:

Belcher Road
Enterprise Road
US-19
US-19 and Gulf to Bay Boulevard
Gulf to Bay Boulevard and S Belcher Road
US-19 and Drew Street
US-19 and Sunset Point Road
SR 60 and Belcher Road
Fort Harrison Avenue and Chestnut Street
Eastland Boulevard and McMullen Booth Road

No matter where your collision occurred, our Clearwater car accident lawyers can help you identify all avenues for compensation.

Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Clearwater Car Wreck Attorney

Accidents in Clearwater and throughout Pinellas County may continue to increase as more people move to the area and businesses grow. Our Clearwater car accident attorneys at Perenich, Caulfield, Avril & Noyes Personal Injury Lawyers will continue to provide compassionate and skilled legal counsel for victims and their families.

Contact our law firm to schedule a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Clearwater, FL.

Our law firm handles all types of car accident cases involving: