Fort Lauderdale’s natural beauty and constant energy make it a great place to live and a fantastic place to vacation. Unfortunately, that popularity puts a lot of cars, trucks, and SUVs on already busy roads like U.S. 1 and I-95. That extra traffic pressure leads to risks for all motorists and pedestrians.
Far too many local and visiting drivers allow themselves to become careless and reckless in local lanes. Sometimes those errors in judgment lead to devastating accidents.
Extra Fort Lauderdale Police patrols and local ads asking drivers to use more caution don’t always seem to help. With this in mind, Cowen Edwards Trial Lawyers surveyed recent accident statistics for Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. The hope is that a visual reminder to all drivers of the consequences of dangerous driving can make a difference in the care they take in 2023 and beyond.
Florida Car Accident Statistics Overall
Florida accidents involving motor vehicles have remained at a steady level, and alarmingly high, over the past five years (except for a dip in accidents seen during the 2020 pandemic year). Florida saw over 396,000 collisions in 2022 according to The Florida Highway Safety And Motor Vehicles Department (FLHSMV). Those accidents led to almost 252,000 injuries for the year and a tragic 3,538 roadway fatalities.

Nationally, The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 42,795 people lost their lives on U.S. roads in 2022. That was down slightly from 42,939 deaths recorded in 2021. In those two years, Florida only trailed California and Texas in fatal accident figures.
Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Statistics for 2022
There was a noticeable detour in car accident rates in 2020 when traffic was greatly reduced due to the pandemic. However, Broward County accident levels in 2021 returned to almost exactly the same levels seen in 2019.
2022 saw a slight drop in collisions and fatalities when compared to 2021. The accident statistics for the Fort Lauderdale area are collected every year by FLHSMV.

In an unexpected and sad turn, fatality rates in Broward County accidents did not fall back in 2020. Fatalities have steadily climbed over the past five years until a slight decline in 2022. In 2022, there were 249 fatal crashes recorded in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. Tragically, 267 people lost their lives in those collisions.

Broward County Hit-And-Run Accident Statistics
Florida drivers must still contend with a widespread hit-and-run driver problem. The state recorded almost 107,000 crashes involving a hit-and-run driver in 2022.
According to the FLHSMV, The Fort Lauderdale area recorded 11,704 hit-and-run accidents in 2022. Those cases led to at least 42 heartbreaking deaths. When drivers speed away from an accident scene, they often leave victims to wait longer on life-saving medical care. Victims and their families may also have to pay for medical care and even funeral costs themselves if a hit-and-run suspect is never located.

Drunk Driving Statistics for Fort Lauderdale in 2022
Drunk driving may be the one risk that Florida motorists are warned about the most, but the incidents that injure motorists and claim lives continue to happen every year.
According to the Florida Crash Dashboard on the FLHSMV website, Florida documented 5,241 collisions involving alcohol use in 2022. Those incidents led to at least 416 deaths and more than 3,000 injuries.
The Fort Lauderdale area was the scene of at least 190 alcohol-related accidents in 2022. Overall, Broward County lost 7 victims to drivers who were under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In a shocking turn, Broward County saw more accidents involving drunk driving in 2022 than at any point over the past 5 years. Hopefully, this upward trend won’t be carried into 2024 and beyond.

Hope for a Safer 2023 and 2024 on Fort Lauderdale Roads
Fort Lauderdale is a great place to cruise, set out exploring on foot, and take a bike tour. But every motorist must make a conscious effort to show more care towards those who use the roads, bike lanes, and crosswalks.
If you or a loved one are ever the victim of a careless or reckless driver, please contact a Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyer, before speaking to auto insurance adjusters. Cowen Edwards Trial Lawyers offers a free consultation to anyone who is seriously hurt in a car accident. Take advantage of this no-obligation case review before insurance companies try to convince you that your injury is worth nothing at all.