Which Cities in Florida Have the Most Traffic Accidents?

Florida is one of the most heavily traveled states in our nation, with millions of tourists and residents sharing the state’s highways and city streets throughout each year. Unfortunately, the Sunshine State also sees nearly 400,000 crashes per year, with over 2,500 of them proving fatal. Prudent motorists planning to traverse Florida’s roads will naturally ask which cities in Florida have the most traffic accidents.

This question is not entirely simple to answer. For starters, up-to-date traffic accident data from official sources is often unavailable until 2 or 3 years after the fact. Someone trying to predict Florida traffic accidents for 2025 may still need to largely rely on data from as far back as 2022 or even earlier.

There can also be subtle differences in the way various state, federal, and private agencies code and quantify traffic accidents. An insurance company and the Florida State Police might have two different definitions for what exactly constitutes a car accident, or a particular data source might only record accidents where at least one injury requiring medical treatment occurs.

When trying to research these issues for yourself, we strongly recommend sticking to reputable first-hand sources, such as the Florida Department of Health, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, or directly from local law enforcement departments.

Florida’s Most Dangerous Metros for Motorists

Let’s start by focusing on four key “danger zones” that represent Florida’s most crash-prone areas. The key factors involved will vary from place to place and can include weather conditions, congested urban centers, seasonal tourist traffic, and high-risk intersections.

Miami

Florida’s largest and busiest metro area, Miami, tops our list for traffic accidents in the state. This vibrant and diverse city also sees a diversity of underlying causes when it comes to its high number of car crashes. Of Florida’s nearly 400,000 annual traffic accidents, close to 60,000 are credited to Miami-Dade County, with almost 40,000 more occurring in Broward County, just north of the city proper.

• Congested Intersections – Cities that experience periods of fast growth, the way Miami often has, will naturally run the risk of outgrowing their infrastructure. While city officials try to keep up with the demand for new and improved roadways year after year, Miami and the various satellite cities that comprise its metro still have some older, heavily congested intersections that see an outsized share of accidents.
• Distracted Drivers – Miami remains synonymous with a fast-paced lifestyle for some people. Unfortunately, Miamians who take this mindset too far may be more prone to the dangerous habits of distracted or aggressive driving.
• Bilingual Signage – Having signs in both Spanish and English is a great way to keep everyone using the roads safe and informed in a multicultural city like Miami. However, visitors who are unfamiliar with seeing signage in two languages sometimes report being momentarily “thrown off” by the experience, which can lead to delayed reactions or poor navigational choices.

Jacksonville

Some people are surprised to learn that Jacksonville, not Miami, is Florida’s largest city by population (when comparing only the cities themselves and not their greater metropolitan areas). With its sprawling highway and interstate system and the unpredictable Floridian weather, Jacksonville also sees its share of Florida traffic accidents. Last year, Duval County saw more than 10,000 crashes resulting in injuries and over 100 motor vehicle fatalities.

• Interstate Traffic – Jacksonville isn’t just a busy city in its own right; it is also a major travel corridor with I-95 running directly through it. Even the smart civic planning that siphons some local traffic onto I-295 (which loops around the city) cannot totally eliminate the possibility of crashes on I-95.
• Size – Measured by total land area, Jacksonville is the largest city in the lower 48 states. The daily commute for a working Jacksonville resident can be rather long, contributing to a higher incidence of car crashes.
• Weather – Jacksonville’s position at the northernmost point of Florida’s Atlantic coastline can leave it especially vulnerable to inclement weather events that make navigation difficult and dangerous for even the most experienced drivers.

Tampa

The roadways around bustling Tampa Bay are also often cited as some of the most dangerous in Florida. Tampa and the surrounding parts of Hillsborough County have a variety of law enforcement units engaged in investigating traffic crashes, with the local Police Departments taking just over 40% of the calls, or about 10,000 incidents annually. About a third of crashes fall under the jurisdiction of local sheriffs, and the remaining quarter or so are handled by the Florida Highway Patrol. 

• Truck Traffic – The busy highways and interstates going in and out of Tampa see massive amounts of commercial traffic, leading to the potential for catastrophic trucking accidents. If you have been injured by a truck while in the Tampa area, a Tampa truck accident lawyer from Paul Figueroa Law can help you pursue significant compensation.
• Unfamiliar Drivers – Tampa, like Orlando and Miami, also sees an influx of out-of-area seasonal travelers and may be less equipped to deal with this extra traffic than, for example, the Orlando area, which is largely designed with tourism in mind.
• Pedestrian Risks – Downtown Tampa, like many other Florida cities, also sees a lot of foot traffic crisscrossing its busy roadways. Motor vehicle collisions involving pedestrians can be catastrophic.

Orlando

Most of Orlando’s traffic challenges stem from its success as a major inland tourism hub, and they result in around 25,000 crashes and more than 100 traffic fatalities occurring in Orange County each year. These challenges include:

• Congested Highways – Interstate 4 runs through Orlando and is locally notorious for traffic backups, wrecks, confused out-of-town drivers, and perpetual construction.
• Theme Park Traffic – The Orlando area’s economy owes much to Disney, Universal Studios, and other big-time amusement and hospitality operations making long-term investments in large tourist attractions in the area. Consequently, a lot of the area’s traffic can be traced back to these attractions and their entry and exit areas.
• Construction Zones – Fast-growing cities like Orlando tend to be in a state of permanent road construction as highway infrastructure is perpetually expanded and improved. While this can lead to safer roads in the long term, construction zones can represent a driving hazard if they are not properly blocked off or signed.

FAQs

Q: Where Do Most Car Accidents Happen in Florida?

A: Most car accidents in Florida and other states happen at intersections and in parking lots. At nighttime, most car accidents occur on unlit or poorly lit roadways. While many accidents occur at low speeds due to the nature of intersections and parking lots, serious injuries can occur at any speed, depending on the other circumstances of the incident.

Q: Which City Has the Most Traffic Accidents?

A: Miami has the most traffic accidents in Florida when comparing all the state’s metro areas. Factors that contribute to car accidents in Miami include fast speeds, congested roadways, and the sheer size and population of the greater Miami-Palm Beach metropolitan area, which is not only Florida’s largest, but the 9th largest in the entire United States.

Q: Does Florida Have a High Accident Rate?

A: Florida does not necessarily have a high accident rate, but depending on the statistics and data you’re looking at, you may think otherwise. When calculating the rate of fatal car accidents per 100,000 residents, Florida’s rate of 15.9 is neither particularly low nor especially high and is comparable to states like Delaware, Georgia, and North Dakota.

Hurt in a Florida Car Accident? Contact Paul Figueroa Law

If you’ve been injured in a car accident in Florida, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Contact Paul Figueroa Law today to get the process started by setting up an initial consultation.