West Palm Beach isn’t just home to more than 111,000 people – it’s also one of the most popular tourist attractions in South Florida. The tourism industry draws in more than 8 million visitors every year and employs no fewer than 66,000 people.
That’s a lot of people traveling the city’s roads and highways – and it can strain the infrastructure. Where there’s traffic, there are car accidents – and West Palm Beach is no exception.
Here’s a breakdown of traffic accidents in West Palm Beach and surrounding cities in Palm Beach County, straight from our award-winning legal team.
If you want to learn more about car accidents, contact the law office of Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers to talk to a car accident attorney in West Palm Beach. Call us at (561) 556-7873 today for a free consultation.
Table of Contents
How Often Do Car Accidents Happen in West Palm Beach, FL?
Accidents in West Palm Beach are more common than you think. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), the number of car accidents reported across Palm Beach County over the last several years is as follows:
- 2018: 26,962 (6.68% of the state’s collisions in 2018)
- 2019: 26,817 (6.67% of the state’s collisions in 2019)
- 2020: 22,106 (6.48% of the state’s collisions in 2020)
- 2021: 24,856 (6.19% of the state’s collisions in 2021)
- 2022: 24,777 (6.39% of the state’s collisions in 2022)
- 2023 (as of 1/07/23): 160 (9.38% of the state’s collisions reported so far in 2023)
In 2022, Palm Beach County saw roughly 68 auto accidents every single day. That’s about 2.8 accidents an hour. As the County Seat and largest city in Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach was likely the home of many of these collisions.
On average, Palm Beach County comprises around 6.5% of the State of Florida’s annual car accidents.
How Common Are Injury Crashes in West Palm Beach, FL?
Many car crashes that occur in West Palm Beach cause injuries. The number of injury crashes reported in Palm Beach County over the years is as follows:
- 2018: 10,697 (39.67% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2019: 11,104 (41.41% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2020: 8,626 (39.02% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2021: 9,806 (39.45% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2022: 9,842 (39.83% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2023 (as of 1/07/23): 56 (35% of all Palm Beach County collisions reported so far)
On average, Palm Beach County car crashes cause injuries nearly 40% of the time.
How Common Are Fatal Crashes in West Palm Beach, FL?
Sadly, not everyone involved in a car accident in West Palm Beach survives. Hundreds of people are killed in fatal wrecks on area roads every year.
The number of fatal crashes in Palm Beach County over the years is as follows:
- 2018: 170 (0.63% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2019: 163 (0.61% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2020: 177 (0.8% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2021: 199 (0.8% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2022: 201 (0.81% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2023 (as of 1/07/23): 0 (0% of all Palm Beach County collisions reported so far)
These statistics paint a grim picture. While the total number of collisions decreased by nearly 8% between 2018 and 2021, the number of fatalities increased by over 17%. Additionally, the fatality rate has increased, meaning car accidents are becoming more deadly in Palm Beach County.
Are Hit-and-Run Car Accidents Common in West Palm Beach, FL?
Hit-and-run accidents comprise a big part of Palm Beach County’s car wrecks:
- 2018: 7,449 (27.63% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2019: 7,535 (28.1% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2020: 6,155 (27.84% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2021: 6,919 (27.84% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2022: 6,739 (27.27% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2023 (as of 1/07/23): 40 (25% of all Palm Beach County collisions reported so far)
Data suggests that about 28% of car accidents in Palm Beach County are hit-and-run collisions.
How Often Do Car Accidents Involve Bicyclists and Pedestrians In West Palm Beach, FL?
Walking and biking are popular ways to get around West Palm Beach. While these modes of transportation are a great way to see the city and avoid traffic, they can also be quite dangerous.
Bicycle Accidents Between 2018 and 2023 in West Palm Beach, FL
Here are the bicycle accidents that have been reported in Palm Beach County over the last several years:
- 2018: 422 accidents resulting in 6 fatalities and 406 injuries
- 2019: 428 accidents resulting in 5 fatalities and 404 injuries
- 2020: 373 accidents resulting in 12 fatalities and 348 injuries
- 2021: 423 accidents resulting in 7 fatalities and 401 injuries
- 2022: 479 accidents resulting in 14 fatalities and 438 injuries
- 2023 (as of 1/07/23): 6 accidents resulting in 0 fatalities and 6 injuries
2020 and 2022 have been deadlier years for bicyclists than other years. While the average fatality rate was around 1.4% for bicyclists in 2018, 2019, and 2021, the rate was over 3% in 2020 and 2022.
On average, nearly 94% of bicyclists sustain injuries in Palm Beach County accidents – a higher injury rate than that of pedestrians and motorcyclists.
Pedestrian Accidents Between 2018 and 2023 in West Palm Beach, FL
Here are the pedestrian accidents that have been reported in Palm Beach County over the last several years:
- 2018: 595 accidents resulting in 42 fatalities and 519 injuries
- 2019: 633 accidents resulting in 42 fatalities and 542 injuries
- 2020: 487 accidents resulting in 43 fatalities and 404 injuries
- 2021: 573 accidents resulting in 48 fatalities and 456 injuries
- 2022: 629 accidents resulting in 55 fatalities and 515 injuries
- 2023 (as of 1/07/23): 2 accidents resulting in 0 fatalities and 2 injuries
The fatality rate for pedestrians has been slowly increasing over the years. In 2018, the death rate was slightly over 7%, but the data compiled so far in 2022 shows a rate of over 10%. On average, over 83% of pedestrians suffer injuries in auto-related accidents in Palm Beach County.
Are Motorcycle Accidents Common in West Palm Beach, FL?
While they typically don’t happen as frequently as collisions involving bikes and pedestrians, motorcyclists are involved in a significant number of car crashes in Palm Beach County:
- 2018: 450 accidents resulting in 28 fatalities and 351 injuries
- 2019: 410 accidents resulting in 23 fatalities and 339 injuries
- 2020: 376 accidents resulting in 29 fatalities and 296 injuries
- 2021: 386 accidents resulting in 29 fatalities and 314 injuries
- 2022: 399 accidents resulting in 28 fatalities and 346 injuries
- 2023 (as of 1/07/23): 2 accidents resulting in 0 fatalities and 1 injury
The average fatality rate for motorcyclists involved in collisions is around 7%. However, over 81% of riders involved in Palm Beach County crashes sustained an injury over the last several years.
West Palm Beach Car Accidents Resulting in Property Damage Only
Some accidents don’t injure or kill anyone involved but only result in property damage (or no damage at all).
Here are the accident statistics for Palm Beach County collisions that only resulted in property damage:
- 2018: 16,095 (59.7% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2019: 15,550 (57.99% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2020: 13,303 (60.18% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2021: 14,851 (59.75% of all Palm Beach County collisions)
- 2022 (as of 9/10/22): 9,431 (59.51% of all Palm Beach County collisions reported so far)
Property damage in a collision can range from a minor scratch to severe damage that totals the vehicle.
West Palm Beach’s Most Dangerous Roads and Intersections
Given the right circumstances, traffic accidents can happen anywhere in West Palm Beach, Florida. However, vehicle crash data suggests that certain roads – particularly intersections of two or more roads – tend to see more accidents than others.
Some of the most dangerous intersections in West Palm Beach, where accidents are often reported, include:
- Okeechobee Blvd and Military Trail
- North Congress Ave and 45th St
- North Job Rd and Okeechobee Blvd
- Palm Beach Lakes Blvd and Village Blvd
- North Robbins Dr and Palm Beach Lakes Blvd
- Palm Beach Lakes Blvd and Executive Center Dr
- Okeechobee Blvd and Wabasso Dr
- Southern Blvd and Lyons Rd
- Okeechobee Blvd and Haverhill Rd
- Okeechobee Blvd and I-95 southbound exit
Of course, I-95 runs right through the heart of West Palm Beach. So do Route 1 and many other heavily-traveled roads. Wherever there’s traffic congestion, there’s an increased risk of collisions.
While you might not be able to avoid these crossroads or highways entirely, you can exercise a bit of extra caution while you’re there. You can’t control how others drive, so exercising additional care and avoiding all distractions can help to reduce the likelihood of a crash.
Why You’ll Want A West Palm Beach Car Accident Law Firm Fighting For You
It’s not just about hiring an attorney to help you move forward after a collision in West Palm Beach. You need to work with the best attorney for your particular situation. That doesn’t just mean a big box law firm with dozens of attorneys and support staff running the show.
You deserve to work with an attorney who checks off all of the boxes:
- Experience handling tough car accident injury claims like yours
- Resources to match well-funded insurance companies and other defendants
- Genuinely compassionate and caring about your situation
- Respected by past clients and peers, alike
- Demonstrated track record of successful results for clients like you
You won’t just be another client at Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers. Your case won’t be passed off to support staff or newly-graduated associates. With Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, you’ll be our greatest priority, and your case will get the time and attention it deserves.
Gregg Hollander is a car accident attorney with over 28 years of experience fighting for clients like you. He’s gone head-to-head with some of the largest insurance companies, corporations, and adversaries in the state of Florida – and won huge results in the process.
Contact Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, we serve West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, and other cities in South Florida. Your first case evaluation is absolutely free, so call us today to schedule yours.
