Fresno travelers often have to take sudden action to keep themselves safe on local roads. They have to steer clear of aggressive drivers, large trucks from local farms and orchards, and the occasional drunk driver. Every trip can be risky, and according to state car accident statistics, Fresno’s accident rates remain alarmingly high.
Maison Law of Fresno wanted to find a way to get the attention of local motorists and make them aware of the toll their recklessness can take on our community. We examined the annual traffic accident statistics for the city. This is a visual reminder for all drivers to take the extra time to avoid reckless behavior and to always pay attention to the lanes ahead and behind.
How Many Car Accidents Occur in Fresno Each Year?
California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) data shows that Fresno was the scene of 1,647 accidents involving any level of injury in 2024. Over the past five years, Fresno has averaged 1,529 accidents a year.
Here are some other eye-opening statistics for Fresno’s traffic dangers:
- Fresno’s Worst Intersections: The Fresno Bee collected votes from readers on the most dangerous intersections in the Fresno area. The spot where Central and Chestnut Avenues meet got the most attention in the 2024 poll. The intersection has seen 83 crashes since 2019. Friant Road and Shepherd Avenue were also flagged by readers as a scary intersection. Also making the list were Shaw Avenue and Golden State Boulevard. You can read Maison Law’s article on the worst Fresno Intersections in 2025 here.
How Many People Are Killed in Fresno Car Accidents?
Fresno documented at least 53 fatalities caused by collisions in 2024.
Over the past decade, our city has recorded an average of 65 deaths each year.
While traffic fatalities have thankfully dropped over the past two years, the numbers are still way too high. These statistics from TIMS represent lives taken too soon and the family members and friends left behind.
Where Does Fresno Rank for Accidents Compared to Other Cities?
Fresno’s 2024 accident total made it the 11th most dangerous city for car accidents in California.
Fresno was just ahead of Modesto (12) and Bakersfield (13) on that list. By comparison, Los Angeles was first on the list with over 11,000 accidents with injuries over a full year. That’s according to data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS).
Fresno may have ranked outside the top ten for overall accidents, but in a troubling twist, our city ranks higher on the list of cities with the most fatalities in 2024.
Using SWITRS Figures, Fresno recorded 49 traffic deaths for the year, which puts us 3rd overall among other California towns.
Los Angeles, of course, was first in the number of deadly collisions with 256 incidents.
What Highways See the Most Accidents in Fresno County?
California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) reports that Highway 99 saw the most accidents involving injuries in 2024 along its route through Fresno County. It was the scene of 270 serious accidents and 123 fatalities. Highway 41/Yosemite Freeway was close behind.
Highway 99 may see the most traffic through Fresno County, but in another tragic twist, it was the more rural highways that recorded the highest death tolls in collisions in 2024.
It remains to be seen if this pattern continues when the 2025 accident figures are released.
- Hwy 41 – 9 deaths in 2024
- Hwy 180 – 6 deaths in 2024
- Highway 168 – 5 deaths in 2024
- Highway 99 – 4 deaths in 2024
- Interstate 5 – 4 deaths in 2024
How Many Car Accidents Are There in California Each Year?
SWITRS reports that there were 164,123 traffic accidents in California involving an injury in 2024.
Over the past five years (2020-2024), California has averaged over 159,000 serious accidents a year.
2024 numbers are actually higher than at any time over the most recent five-year period.
California recorded a tragic 3,119 traffic deaths in 2024. Over the past decade, the state has seen an average of almost 3,800 deaths a year.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 39,345 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2024 across the nation. That was a 3.8% decrease when compared to the accidents recorded nationwide in 2023.
California has trailed only Texas in the number of traffic fatalities over the past few years.
Hope for a Safer 2026 on Fresno Roads
After a brief look at the toll auto accidents take on Fresno roads, we hope that every driver can recommit to driving safely and showing caution to every other motorist. This is one of the few changes that will make a real difference as 2025 starts to wrap up and the year’s accident numbers are tallied.
If you or a loved one becomes the victim of a driver’s carelessness, don’t wait to seek legal help. Take advantage of a free consultation with a Fresno car accident lawyer to find out what you should be demanding in recovery support. Maison Law works with accident victims and their families to make sure insurance companies provide them with everything they need to rebuild their health and their lives.
