Tampa Accident Statistics
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), over 400,000 crashes occur on Florida roads each year, with between 25,000 and 30,000 occurring in the Tampa area. Fortunately, many of these accidents are minor fender benders that don't lead to serious or fatal injuries. However, some traffic crashes can cause life-changing, traumatic injuries that have physical, emotional, and financial consequences.
If you have recently suffered injuries in a Tampa auto accident, consult with an accident injury attorney to learn about your potential for recovering damages related to the accident and your injuries. Until you have the chance to meet with a lawyer, this Tampa accident statistics guide provides a general overview of the prevalence of Tampa accidents and related information based on data gathered by the FLHSMV.
Traffic accidents happen for various reasons, but most are preventable. Negligent driver behaviors are usually the largest contributing factor to most accidents in Tampa and throughout Florida. Impaired driving is among the most egregious and dangerous of all negligent driving behaviors. Not only is driving impaired illegal, but it also leads to dangerous and deadly accidents and injuries.
The following statistics highlight how common driving under the influence is in the Tampa area:
About 500 Tampa accidents each year involve alcohol, resulting in nearly 300 injuries and between 20 and 30 deaths.
Drug-related accidents are on the rise in Tampa and throughout Florida. On average, of the roughly 50 drug-related accidents, between 20 and 25 result in deaths, and dozens sustain injuries.
A common trend among drug-related accidents in Tampa and throughout Florida is the high death rate compared to accidents involving alcohol.
You can see the trend when you look at data from select years before the arrival of the pandemic:
In 2014, 19 fatalities occurred in 43 drug-related Tampa accidents (44 percent).
In 2015, 25 fatalities occurred in 60 drug-related Tampa accidents (42 percent).
In 2016, 31 fatalities occurred in 59 drug-related Tampa accidents (53 percent).
In 2017, 14 fatalities occurred in 49 drug-related Tampa accidents (29 percent).
In 2018, 16 fatalities occurred in 45 drug-related Tampa accidents (36 percent).
In 2019, 22 fatalities occurred in 59 drug-related Tampa accidents (37 percent).
In comparison, here is a breakdown of the rate of death for Tampa accidents involving alcohol in the same years:
In 2014, 33 fatalities occurred in 526 alcohol-related Orlando accidents (6 percent).
In 2015, 42 fatalities occurred in 546 alcohol-related Orlando accidents (8 percent).
In 2016, 15 fatalities occurred in 466 alcohol-related Orlando accidents (3 percent).
In 2017, 19 fatalities occurred in 510 alcohol-related Orlando accidents (4 percent).
In 2018, 20 fatalities occurred in 481 alcohol-related Orlando accidents (4 percent).
In 2019, 28 fatalities occurred in 419 alcohol-related Orlando accidents (7 percent).
Commercial Motor Vehicles in Tampa Traffic Accidents
FLHSMV defines commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) as those weighing more than 10,000 pounds or transporting hazardous materials. Most CMVs are medium or heavy trucks like 18-wheelers, garbage trucks, cement trucks, and flatbed trucks. The large size and the massive weight of most CMVs make them dangerous when an accident occurs. Truck accidents involve a large force leading to greater damages, more severe injuries, and a higher likelihood of fatalities.
The following statistics shed light on the danger of CMV accidents:
Between 2,500 and 3,000 CMV accidents occur each year in the Tampa area.
Tampa CMV accidents lead to more than 20 deaths each year.
Between 600 and 1,000 injuries occur in Tampa CMV accidents each year.
Who Is a Tampa Accident Most Likely to Injure?
FLHSMV does not provide driver demographic data at the city level. However, their state-level data shows trends of those in traffic accidents.
This information gives you an idea of the ages of drivers a Tampa accident most likely will injure:
Once drivers reach age 34, their chances of car accidents decrease yearly.
Drivers in most crashes are between 25 and 34. They are also more likely to be in a crash that leads to fatal or incapacitating injuries.
People often assume that most traffic accidents in Tampa and throughout the state occur during inclement weather on wet roads.
However, statistics tell a different story:
About 75 percent of Florida traffic accidents occur on sunny days without rain, wind, or sleet.
Almost 70 percent of Florida traffic accidents occur during the day, with afternoon rush hour the most active.
Rainy days have fewer accidents than cloudy days.
Over 80 percent of Florida traffic crashes occur on dry roads.
Contact a Tampa Accident Injury Lawyer
Matthew Dolman, Personal Injury Lawyer
The above statistics and facts about Tampa accidents show how prevalent they are. The safest drivers, bikers, cyclists, and pedestrians still risk injuries because of other negligent people who share the road. If you have sustained injuries in a Tampa accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss the accident, your injuries, and your legal options for seeking the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
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.
