Miami Car Accident Statistics

Were you or a loved one injured in a motor vehicle accident in Miami, Florida? Miami car accident statistics show you aren’t alone. An experienced Miami car accident lawyer at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers can help you recover fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Since 2007, we’ve recovered millions of dollars in compensation for injured clients across South Florida, including six, seven, and eight-figure awards.

If you’re struggling with injuries after a car accident, call (305) 937-0191 or contact our law offices in Miami, Florida, online to schedule a free consultation today.

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Miami Leads the State of Florida in Total Car Accidents

More car accidents occur in Miami-Dade County than anywhere else in the Sunshine State. In 2021, Miami-Dade County accounted for nearly 16% of the state’s total collisions, according to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV).

Here is a breakdown of the total crashes reported in Miami-Dade over the last several years:

2014: 60,165 (13.56% increase from 2013)
2015: 63,451 (5.46% increase from 2014)
2016: 64,070 (0.98% increase from 2015)
2017: 65,986 (2.99% increase from 2016)
2018: 64,627 (2.06% decrease from 2017)
2019: 65,143 (0.80% increase from 2018)
2020: 51,543 (20.88% decrease from 2019)
2021: 62,530 (21.32% increase from 2020)
2022: 63,303 (1.24% increase from 2021)
2023 (as of February 15, 2023): 4,218

Car accidents decreased in 2020 due to the pandemic but quickly rebounded in 2021, increasing by over 21%. 2023 is also proving to be a year of high-yield collisions.

Miami Car Accidents Resulting in Fatalities

Below we evaluate the number of collisions in Miami-Dade County that resulted in fatalities over the last several years, according to FLHSMV’s Crash Dashboard.

Miami Collisions Resulting in Fatalities Between 2018 and 2022

While fatal crashes make up a small percentage of Miami-Dade’s total car accidents, they are unfortunately avoidable and typically happen due to negligence. In other words, they shouldn’t occur at all.

The number of fatal collisions that occurred in Miami-Dade is as follows:

2018: 273 (0.4% of all crashes)
2019: 282 (0.4% of all crashes)
2020: 295 (0.6% of all crashes)
2021: 348 (0.6% of all crashes)
2022: 297 (0.5% of all crashes)
2023 (as of February 15, 2023): 30 (0.7% of all crashes reported so far)

Between 2018 and 2021, the number of fatal crashes in Miami-Dade increased by over 27%.

Total Fatalities Reported From Miami Crashes Between 2018 and 2022

The number of fatal crashes is lower than the number of fatalities reported because multiple occupants could be killed in one collision.

Here is a breakdown of the total number of people who lost their lives in car accidents in Miami-Dade between 2018 and 2022:

2018: 293
2019: 298
2020: 314
2021: 379
2022: 19,511 (30.9% of all crashes)
2023 (as of February 15, 2023): 1,294 (30.7% of all crashes reported so far)

Between 2018 and 2021, there was a 29.4% increase in the number of deaths caused by traffic accidents.

Miami Car Accidents Resulting in Physical Injuries

Many more people are injured in car accidents annually rather than killed. Unfortunately, due to their severity, many of these injuries result in months or years of complications.

Miami Collisions Resulting in Injuries Between 2018 and 2022

The total number of injury crashes that occurred in Miami-Dade is as follows:

2018: 21,177 (32.8% of all crashes)
2019: 21,375 (32.8% of all crashes)
2020: 16,459 (31.9% of all crashes)
2021: 19,383 (31% of all crashes)
2022 (as of September 1, 2022): 12,113 (30.7% of all crashes reported so far)

Though the number of injury collisions decreased by about 8.47% between 2018 and 2021, that could be the lingering effects of pandemic-level traffic.

Total Injuries Reported From Miami Crashes Between 2018 and 2022

Again, the number of people injured in car accidents is significantly higher than the number of injury crashes due to the potential for multiple parties to be involved in one wreck.

Here are the number of people who were injured in crashes in Miami-Dade between 2018 and 2022:

2018: 31,270
2019: 31,698
2020: 24,228
2021: 28,691
2022: 28,638
2023 (as of February 15, 2023): 1,890

Interestingly, while the number of fatal crashes and fatalities increased between 2018 and 2021, the number of injury crashes and injuries decreased. That lines up with the NHTSA’s recent nationwide estimates showing that 2021 experienced the highest number of traffic fatalities since 2005.

Miami Car Accidents Causing Property Damage

Not all collisions injure or kill drivers or occupants.

We breakdown the total number of crashes that only caused property damage in Miami-Dade below:

2014: 38,701 (64.3% of all crashes)
2015: 41,353 (65.2% of all crashes)
2016: 42,144 (65.8% of all crashes)
2017: 44,144 (66.9% of all crashes)
2018: 43,177 (66.8% of all crashes)
2019: 43,486 (66.8% of all crashes)
2020: 34,789 (67.5% of all crashes)
2021: 42,799 (68.4% of all crashes)
2022: 43,495 (68.7% of all crashes)
2023 (as of February 15, 2023): 2,894 (68.6% of all crashes reported so far)

As of February 15, 2023, nearly 69% of all crashes only involved property damage.

Car Accidents Involving Motorcycles, Bicycles, and Pedestrians in Miami, FL

Many people walk or ride their motorcycles or bicycles to take advantage of Miami’s beautiful scenery and pleasant weather. However, these individuals make up a large portion of the county’s injury and fatal crashes. Below we examine each.

Miami Crashes Involving Motorcyclists Between 2018 and 2022

Motorcycle accidents cause deaths and debilitating injuries each year in Miami-Dade County, as follows:

2018: 1,084 total crashes causing 45 fatalities and 877 injuries

2019: 1,023 total crashes causing 46 fatalities and 841 injuries
2020: 904 total crashes causing 52 fatalities and 720 injuries
2021: 1,010 total crashes causing 57 fatalities and 759 injuries
2022: 1,197 total crashes causing 44 fatalities and 912 injuries
2023 (as of February 15, 2023): 77 total crashes causing 8 fatalities and 62 injuries

The average fatality rate for motorcyclists is around 5% in Miami. Compare that to the fatality rate of passenger vehicle occupants – approximately 0.5% – and you can see how much more prone motorcyclists are to suffer fatalities in a crash.

Even more alarmingly, on average, motorcyclists who wreck are 78% likely to suffer an injury.

Miami Crashes Involving Bicyclists Between 2018 and 2022

Miami-Dade bicycle accidents also cause many deaths and injuries each year:

2018: 822 total crashes causing 20 fatalities and 744 injuries

2019: 828 total crashes causing 16 fatalities and 772 injuries
2020: 757 total crashes causing 15 fatalities and 696 injuries
2021: 795 total crashes causing 19 fatalities and 728 injuries
2022: 914 total crashes causing 17 fatalities and 841 injuries
2023 (as of February 15, 2023): 55 total crashes causing 1 fatality and 53 injuries

Bicyclist fatality rates are, on average, around 2%. However, the average likelihood of being injured in a bicycle crash is about 92%.

Miami Crashes Involving Pedestrians Between 2018 and 2022

Pedestrian accidents in Miami-Dade spiked nearly 24% from 2020 to 2021:

2018: 1,589 total accidents causing 107 fatalities and 1,390 injuries

2019: 1,644 total accidents causing 93 fatalities and 1,349 injuries
2020: 1,221 total accidents causing 84 fatalities and 960 injuries
2021: 1,509 total accidents causing 101 fatalities and 1,196 injuries
2022: 1,785 total accidents causing 86 fatalities and 1,381 injuries
2023 (as of February 15, 2023): 114 total accidents causing 6 fatalities and 96 injuries

Pedestrians are, on average, more likely to die in a collision than motorcyclists and bicyclists, with an average fatality rate of just over 6%. However, their injury rate is around 81% – lower than that of bicyclists but a bit higher than that of motorcyclists.

Miami Hit-and-Run Accident Statistics

Hit-and-run accidents are common in Miami-Dade:

2018: 19,841 (30.7% of all crashes)

2019: 20,903 (32.1% of all crashes)
2020: 17,187 (33.3% of all crashes)
2021: 21,410 (34% of all crashes)
2022: 21,665 (34.2% of all crashes)
2023 (as of February 15, 2023): 1,295 (30.7% of all crashes reported so far)

All drivers in Florida are required to stop and exchange information with other involved parties. Failing to do so is a criminal offense.

What Are the Most Common Causes of Car Accidents in Miami, FL?

Most auto accidents in Miami occur due to driver error or negligence, meaning they’re entirely preventable.

Some of the most common causes of car accidents in South Florida include:

Distracted driving
Drowsy driving
Drunk driving
Failure to yield the right-of-way
Speeding
Aggressive driving or road rage
Running a red light or stop sign
Unsafe passing or lane changes
Dangerous U-turns
Dangerous left turns
Poor visibility and inclement weather
Vehicle defects (such as defective tires)
Road defects and dangerous roads
Passenger negligence

Other causes of car wrecks could include unexpected obstacles, such as a pedestrian unexpectedly walking in front of you without a signal. No matter how your accident occurred, our Miami car accident attorneys can help.

Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections in Miami, FL

While an auto accident can occur anywhere in Miami, FL, some of the most dangerous roads include:

I-95
NW 54th Street
US Route 1
SR 821
NW 7th Street
Palmetto Expressway

Some of the most dangerous intersections include:

NE Second Avenue and 36th Street
NW 8th Street and 36th Street in Doral
SW 117th Avenue and 152nd Street
The Brickell Avenue Bridge
Kendall Drive and West Kendall SW 17th Avenue in Miami
NE First Avenue and NE Sixth Street
Alton Road and Dade Boulevard in South Beach
South Flamingo Road and Pines Blvd in Pembroke Pines

Knowing some of the most dangerous areas will help keep you alert when driving on these accident-prone roads and intersections.

Miami’s Car Accident Statistics Are Shocking – Call Our Miami Car Accident Lawyers For a Free Consultation

Miami’s car accident statistics paint a grim picture. If you were injured, you only have a limited amount of time to take legal action under the Florida statute of limitations.

Call an experienced car accident attorney at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers to learn more about your legal right to compensation if you were hurt. We offer a free consultation, so don’t hesitate to reach out today.

Other Common Miami Car Accident Claims We Handle

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