Local motorists already know about the constant dangers when traveling on busy roads like Highway 198 and Ben Maddox Way. It only takes a small mistake from a distracted or speeding driver to cause a major accident on the major streets and highways in Visalia.
There are weekly collisions, and people can get seriously hurt. It’s a never-ending problem for those who move about Visalia and Tulare County each day. Maison Law wanted to highlight the real hazards on our roads and the consequences that can follow.
We compiled the traffic accident stats from the past few years to help drivers understand the need for more caution and attention on local lanes.
How Many Accidents Are There in Visalia?
On average, there are 390 accidents involving injury in Visalia each year. That’s according to data from California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) over a recent 5-year period (2020-2024).
Sadly, the past few years have boosted that average to shocking levels. In 2024, TIMS recorded 425 accidents with any level of injuries in Visalia. That was almost 30 accidents beyond what was seen in 2023. 2024 accidents left an estimated 579 victims injured. It remains to be seen where 2025 accident levels will land and if the upward trend will continue.
Fatalities in accidents can fluctuate every year. Years with more accidents can result in fewer lost lives. Years with fewer accidents can end up especially deadly. Visalia has averaged around 11 tragic deaths in car accidents a year, according to TIMS data over the past five years.
The figures show that at least 8 people were killed in collisions in the city in 2024. 2023 saw fewer accidents than 2024, but saw many more lost lives, with 15 fatalities.
- By comparison, Fresno recorded over 1,600 collisions involving injuries in 2024, leading to 48 deaths.
- Tulare recorded 59 serious accidents and five fatalities.
How Many Accidents Occur in Tulare County?
Tulare County averages almost 1,900 serious accidents (collisions with injuries) a year. That’s according to data from TIMS from 2020 to 2024.
2024 figures show a small step back from extreme car accident figures in the county. In 2024, there were 1,987 serious accidents, leading to at least 61 deaths. That was in contrast to a heartbreaking year in 2023 when there were 2,028 collisions w/injuries and at least 85 deaths.
- California documented 161,311 accidents involving injuries in 2024. Those collisions led to at least 2,780 deaths. That’s according to California’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS).
How Many Alcohol-Related Accidents Happen in Visalia?
According to TIMS, Visalia authorities respond to around 48 alcohol-related injury accidents a year. That’s an average based on figures from 2020 to 2024.
Drivers continue to drink more than they should and then get behind the wheel of a vehicle. The accidents they cause make up a large percentage of the traffic fatalities in Visalia each year.
Visalia was the scene of 44 drunk driving accidents that resulted in injuries in 2024. Those accidents led to at least 2 fatalities. Overall, in 2024, Tulare County recorded 295 drunk driving accidents involving injury, leading to 27 deaths.
Hope for a Safer 2025 on Visalia Roads
With the discouraging statistics released by traffic analysts in recent years, every local motorist must recommit to safe driving. That means keeping the focus on the lanes and not on cellphones. It means not allowing a vehicle to reach unsafe speeds. These are a few of the changes that will make a real difference in the tragic accident numbers tallied across our city each year.
If you or a loved one becomes the victim of a driver’s carelessness, don’t wait to seek legal help. If you are seriously hurt, a lawyer may be able to help you get much more for your injury claim. Take advantage of a free consultation with a Visalia Car Accident Lawyer to find out what your injuries may be worth.
