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San Diego Car Accident Statistics [2025 Updated]

From Mission Valley to Mission Beach, San Diego sees lots of traffic congestion, which can cause many motor vehicle accidents. Understanding recent San Diego car accident statistics can provide important information for locals. With a high statistical likelihood of being involved in an accident, it’s important to know what to do if one occurs.

Need to Know Car Accident Statistics for San Diego, California

Every day, locals travel our roads and highways, and when they cause accidents through negligent driving, it can result in many injuries and fatalities. In 2020 alone, car collisions were one of the leading causes of accidental deaths for people between the ages of 5 and 44 throughout the United States. Across California, there were 3,737 accident-related fatalities and 269,031 injuries in 2019.

Specific to San Diego, the following data is important:

  • San Diego County boasts about 1 million residents, which means our city streets can see overcrowding that leads to serious accidents.
  • The rate of crash-related deaths increased to 12.9 per 100,000 residents in 2021.
  • The North Inland region had the highest recorded age-adjusted rate of death due to motor vehicle accidents when compared to other geographical areas.
  • In 2021, the North Inland region of San Diego County had the highest age-adjusted death rate from motor vehicle injuries.
  • You are at a greater risk of being involved in a collision when driving is impaired by drugs and/or alcohol. A high percentage of accidents are caused by drivers under the influence.

Unexpected wrecks remain a major safety concern across San Diego County. Accidents can involve passenger vehicles, trucks, bicycles, motorcycles, pedestrians, and more. Vehicle accidents happen for a variety of reasons, which are worth exploring further.

 

Trusted Southern California Car Accident Lawyer

Some Common Causes of Car Accidents Throughout San Diego

You may become involved in a vehicle accident for many different reasons. These can include:

  • Negligent drivers, including those who are speeding, driving while distracted, driving while tired, or failing to follow the rules of the road.
  • Unexpected traffic, which can increase the likelihood of accidents happening as drivers ineffectively try to adjust to busy San Diego streets.
  • Road conditions, including confusing intersections or poor weather conditions, can increase your likelihood of being involved in a crash.

Regardless of the cause of your accident, if someone else is responsible, it’s important to speak with a trusted lawyer about your collision. Contact a local lawyer from Perry Law who is familiar with our area, its unique driving challenges, and local accident hotspots.

Important Steps to Take After an Accident

Now that we’ve established that many locals are involved in serious accidents each year, it’s important to know what to do if you’re driving in San Diego and are unexpectedly involved in an accident. You should:

  • Move to safety and call for help.
  • Remain at the scene of the accident.
  • Document as much as you can about your accident by taking photos and videos of your vehicle and injuries.
  • Exchange contact information with everyone involved in the wreck.
  • Contact an attorney in San Diego to discuss your specific accident and their available legal support.

When you hire a car accident lawyer, they can provide information tailored to your accident case. They can investigate what happened and maximize your compensation. Reach out to a San Diego car accident attorney at our firm to hear more about how we can help.

FAQs

Are Certain Drivers Involved in More Accidents in San Diego?

Statistically, certain drivers are involved in more accidents in San Diego. San Diego County reports that younger adults (between ages 20 and 29) and older adults (over age 80) cause the most crashes. Younger drivers lack experience on the roads, while older drivers likely have slower reaction times while driving. Regardless of the age of the driver who caused your accident, an attorney can work with you to build a negligence claim for your accident recovery.

Does San Diego Have Any Known Accident Hotspots?

In San Diego, the following are known accident hotspots:

  • I-5, especially the stretch from Hawthorn Street to National Avenue
  • I-15, particularly from Miramar Way to Scripps Poway Parkway
  • University Avenue, notably the intersections near San Diego State University
  • Downtown San Diego

It’s important to drive cautiously in these areas. If you’re unable to avoid an accident, it can be costly and hard to recover for your losses. An experienced San Diego motor vehicle accident lawyer can provide comprehensive legal support.

Do Busy City Streets Have a Higher Fatality Rate?

The unfortunate reality is that more car accidents happen on busy city streets than in rural areas, which means more fatalities happen on San Diego city streets. According to the Department of Transportation, 60% of all crash fatalities happen in urban areas. If you need help after a motor vehicle accident, don’t hesitate to connect with a knowledgeable lawyer.

How Can a Lawyer Help After a Car Accident in San Diego?

A lawyer can provide invaluable assistance after a car accident in San Diego. They can investigate your crash, establish negligence for the other driver, calculate your full damage value, negotiate on your behalf, protect your rights, and seek the maximum compensation possible. Reach out to one of our trusted San Diego lawyers to hear more about our firm’s available legal services.

Contact Experienced Vehicle Accident Lawyers Today – Call Perry Personal Injury Lawyers

If you were involved in a car accident in San Diego, contact a car accident lawyer at Perry Personal Injury Lawyers. We have the experience and resources to help with your case. From La Jolla to Little Italy, our team understands how to get what you need after an accident to move forward. We get justice for our personal injury clients, and we can help maximize your accident payout.

Our attorneys only focus on personal injury cases, which means we’ve developed the skills necessary to win your case. We’ve helped hundreds of California clients with their collision compensation, and we have a reputation for resolving complex cases. Let us put our experience to work for you. When you hire our lawyers, we provide individualized attention and legal advice specific to your car collision case.

Reach out to hear more and explore the next important steps toward your maximum financial recovery. Contact us to set up an initial consultation with a knowledgeable lawyer.

San Diego Car Accident Resources:

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