Orlando Accident Statistics The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) estimates more than 400,000 traffic accidents occur annually, with around 30,000 in the Orlando area. Car, truck, motorcycle, and other traffic accidents can lead to serious, sometimes fatal, injuries that impact people for the rest of their lives. If you suffered injuries in an Orlando accident, contact an Orlando car accident lawyer to find out if you can seek compensation for damages. Until you can consult an attorney, this Orlando accident statistic guide offers an overview of major trends and characteristics of Orlando accidents based on data provided by the FLHSMV.
Types of Orlando Accidents
Orlando accident statistics include various events, some of which lead to severe and fatal injuries. Here is an overview of the accidents in the Orlando area.
More than 400 bicycle accidents occur annually in the Orlando area, including several fatal bike crashes.
About 500 motorcycle crashes occur yearly in the Orlando area, including more than 25 fatal motorcycle accidents.
More than 500 pedestrians suffer injuries in Orlando accidents each year, with at least 50 resulting in death.
Several factors contribute to Orlando accidents. Unfortunately, impaired drivers cause thousands of accidents and injuries in the Orlando area each year. Historically, alcohol presents more of a problem in Orlando and throughout Florida than drug use. Nonetheless, both types of impairment have consequences for users who get behind the wheel and those who share the road. These statistics reveal the prevalence of drugged and drunk driving accidents in Orlando:
Almost 350 alcohol-related accidents occur in the Orlando area each year, resulting in hundreds of injuries and between 30 and 50 fatalities per year.
Drug-related crashes are a small portion of Orlando traffic accidents, but they have increased. More than 35 drug-related accidents occur each year, including about 20 deaths.
Although drug-related crashes are low, the rate of death is much higher. Let's look at data from select years before COVID-19 to see the trend:
In 2014, 13 fatalities occurred in 14 drug-related Orlando accidents (93 percent).
In 2015, 10 fatalities occurred in 21 drug-related Orlando accidents (48 percent).
In 2016, 18 fatalities occurred in 33 drug-related Orlando accidents (55 percent).
In 2017, 24 fatalities occurred in 41 drug-related Orlando accidents (59 percent).
In 2018, 19 fatalities occurred in 36 drug-related Orlando accidents (53 percent).
In 2019, 23 fatalities occurred in 37 drug-related Orlando accidents (62 percent).
In comparison, here is a breakdown of the rate of fatalities for alcohol-related Orlando accidents during the same years:
In 2014, 30 fatalities occurred in 330 alcohol-related Orlando accidents (9 percent).
In 2015, 40 fatalities occurred in 371 alcohol-related Orlando accidents (11 percent).
In 2016, 48 fatalities occurred in 326 alcohol-related Orlando accidents (15 percent).
In 2017, 32 fatalities occurred in 362 alcohol-related Orlando accidents (9 percent).
In 2018, 24 fatalities occurred in 304 alcohol-related Orlando accidents (8 percent).
In 2019, 43 fatalities occurred in 318 alcohol-related Orlando accidents (14 percent).
Commercial Motor Vehicles in Orlando Accidents
The category of commercial motor vehicles (CMV) includes various types of motor vehicles, but most are trucks. Drivers need a commercial driver's license (CDL) to operate a CMV like a semi, dump truck, garbage truck, or delivery van. Orlando's thriving tourist industry welcomes visitors for pleasure and business, requiring an abundance of trucks making pickups and deliveries. Trucks are heavier than the average motor vehicle, creating an impact during a crash that leads to more property damage, injuries, and a higher chance of death.
Each year, approximately 3,000 CMV crashes occur in the Orlando area.
Each year, more than a dozen people die in CMV accidents in Orlando.
CMV accidents in Orlando lead you about 14,000 injuries annually.
Who Is an Orlando Accident Most Likely Injure?
The FLHSMV does not offer city data about driver demographics, but their state data reveals the following information about Florida drivers. It's fair to assume that trends in large cities like Orlando follow statewide trends, which include:
The likelihood of an accident decreases after a driver turns 34 years old.
Drivers between ages 25 and 34 get in the most accidents and are more likely to die or sustain incapacitating injuries.
Drivers between 25 and 29 are more likely to crash while intoxicated.
What Causes Orlando Motor Vehicle Accidents?
Florida Highway Patrol, Orlando Police, or another local police department must record any driver actions that lead to an accident on the official crash report, so the state has data about the causes of accidents. According to the FLHSMV, the following driver actions— listed from most to least common—lead to accidents in Orlando and throughout Florida.
What Are Road and Weather Conditions in Orlando Accidents?
Although driver behaviors are typically the primary cause of an accident in Orlando, other factors can contribute to a crash. Here are some key facts and statistics about conditions in Florida accidents:
Matthew Dolman, Auto Accident Lawyer About 75 percent of accidents occur on clear days without clouds or any type of inclement weather.
Similarly, close to 70 percent of accidents occur during daylight hours, especially during afternoon rush hour.
Cloudy days typically see more accidents than rainy days.
More than 80 percent of Florida accidents occur on dry roads.
Get the Legal Help You Need
Minor accidents are a hassle, but serious accidents that lead to severe injuries are life-altering events that result in significant damage. The statistics above show the gravity of accidents in the Orlando area. Even if you put safety first behind the wheel, you still risk being involved in an accident the more time you drive around Orlando. If you have suffered injuries in an Orlando accident, contact an attorney as soon as possible to learn about your next steps.
Matthew Dolman
Personal Injury Lawyer
This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has represented over 11,000 injury victims and has served as lead counsel in over 1000 lawsuits. Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.
