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Florida doesn’t get the snow, but it definitely gets the Snowbirds, and with them, thousands more drivers on already busy roads. From October to April, our population swells as seasonal visitors escape the northern cold for Florida’s sunshine. We love the energy, tourism, and family visits they bring, but there’s a flip side: car crashes spike hard during these months.
Whether you’re a year-round Floridian or just here for the season, knowing the high-risk areas could protect you or your loved ones from a serious crash.
Which Florida Cities Have The Most Car Accidents?
According to the FLHSMV, in 2023, there were over 394,000 car crashes in Florida in 2023—that’s more than 1,000 crashes every single day. A large share of these accidents happened in just a handful of high-risk counties, including:
Miami, Miami-Dade County
- Crash Volume (2023): 64,009
- Trends: Miami consistently ranks at the top in Florida for traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities. It’s the most dangerous metro area for drivers, with nearly double the crashes of most other counties.
- Why: High population density, aggressive driving, tourist traffic, and congested urban roads.
Fort Lauderdale, Broward County
- Crash Volume (2023): 40,304
- Trends: Always in the top 3. Though crash numbers slightly decreased in 2023, fatalities remain high.
- Why: A mix of interstate highways (I-95), fast-moving suburban traffic, and distracted drivers in urban areas.
Tampa, Hillsborough County
- Crash Volume (2023): 27,474
- Trends: Remains firmly in 3rd place for total crashes. Tampa also has the second highest fatality count in 2023 (230 deaths).
- Why: Known for heavy commuting, growing population, and major roads like I-4 and I-275, which have some of the most dangerous corridors in Florida.
Orlando, Orange County
- Crash Volume (2023): 26,263
- Trends: Orange County, unfortunately, stays competitive with Hillsborough for crash volume and ranks consistently high in injury and fatality numbers.
- Why: Tourists unfamiliar with local roads, distracted driving near theme parks like Disney and Universal, and constant highway construction all combine to make Orlando a crash hotspot.
West Palm Beach, Palm Beach County
- Crash Volume (2023): 26,250
- Trends: Nearly tied with Orange County, Palm Beach saw a steady increase in crashes and remains one of the top five most dangerous places to drive in Florida.
- Why: Aging infrastructure, high-speed traffic corridors like I-95, and seasonal population surges all contribute to the crash rate—especially during winter and spring breaks.
Miami-Dade County leads the state every year in both total car crashes and traffic fatalities. Meanwhile, Broward, Hillsborough, Palm Beach, and Orange counties consistently remain in the top five, reflecting ongoing and serious traffic safety concerns in these areas.
Statewide, fatalities have shown a gradual decrease over the last few years. In 2021, Florida recorded 3,741 traffic deaths. That number dropped to 3,553 in 2022, and again to 3,375 in 2023—a reduction of nearly 10% in just two years.
If you live in or near Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Orlando, or Jacksonville, your chances of being involved in a crash are among the highest in the entire state.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Florida Cities
There are common causes of car accidents in Florida. Speeding and alcohol related car accidents are at the top of the list for Florida car accidents. Other common causes for car accidents in Florida cities are:
- Distracted driving, such as texting while driving and passenger distractions
- Aggressive and reckless driving
- Failure to follow traffic laws, such as unsafe lane changes, running red lights, and not yielding to the right of way
Another major cause of the accidents in Florida is the weather conditions.
Seasons in Florida That Make it More Dangerous to Drive
Although we don’t have true summer, fall, winter and spring seasons, as it tends to be hot year round in the Sunshine State, we do have a rainy season! Through the months of June to November, we have hurricane season. As this time runs into Snow Bird season, it is important for out-of-state tourists to educate themselves about the possible dangers that can occur from a hurricane and excessive rain. With just rain alone, it caused over 87,000 car crashes in 2019!
Rain in Florida has been known to cause flash flooding, which severely affects driving. Vision can be compromised when rain is heavy or if it is raining heavily at night. Hydroplaning occurs during rain storms and occurs when a driver accelerates quickly or slams on their brakes, causing their car to lose traction with the road. Hydroplaning is another major cause of Florida city car accidents, so it is important to drive safely during rain storms or in areas where flash flooding occurs. Learning how to handle hydroplaning is very important. Wiki-how has a great 3-step method explaining hydroplaning, how to avoid it, and what to do if you find yourself hydroplaning in your car.
Tips for driving in the rain:
- You should always look over your car if the weather calls for rain.
- Balding tires reduce traction on the road during rainstorms, which can lead to a higher chance of hydroplaning.
- Making sure your headlights and tail lights work is very important in everyday driving. But especially in rainy conditions, for vision in front of you and for drivers to see you from behind.
- Use your windshield wipers properly.
- Making sure your windshield wipers are clean for optimal use.
- Applying a rain repellent on your windshield can also help the wipers clear off the rain.
- Drive slower and avoid quick braking.
- Having a safe braking distance from the car in front of you to avoid quick braking and sliding into another driver.
- Avoid areas of standing water.
- Certain cars, like trucks, have no problem driving through areas of standing water, but smaller cars closer to the ground should avoid deep puddles. The water can easily flood your engine, causing it to stall.
- The middle lane is normally a safe, flood-free lane.
If you find yourself the victim of a car accident in a Florida city, reaching out to a Florida car accident lawyer at Steinger, Greene & Feiner to help you get the compensation you deserve will be the safest option for you! Whether you are a Florida native or an out-of-state visitor, we will help you win your case! We fight the insurance companies for you, so you can focus on getting better. Our family is here for you. We will fight tirelessly on your behalf, working to secure the compensation you are entitled to. Don’t count on the insurance company to do the right thing, count on us instead! Give us a call 24/7.