Seattle Car Accident Statistics [2025]

Seattle-area residents are all too familiar with the challenges of driving in the metro areas. A variety of factors, including the city’s large population, contribute to the traffic congestion.

According to the 2023 Traffic Report from the Seattle Department of Transportation, daily traffic in the city has rebounded to 86% of pre-COVID-19 levels from 2019. In 2022, average daily traffic on routes without bridges was 854,100, compared to 716,600 in 2019. On routes with bridges, average daily traffic in 2022 was 365,110, up from 241,600 in 2019.

With these challenges in mind, our Seattle car accident attorneys conducted an in-depth examination of the latest data to uncover key trends in traffic accidents and fatalities across the city.

Key Takeaways

Before diving into the details, it’s important to highlight some key takeaways from the data.

  • There has been a 50% decrease in Seattle car accidents from 2015 to 2024.
  • Adversely, there has been a 90% increase in fatalities in Seattle from 2015 to 2024.
  • Teen drivers and drunk driving have been factors in Seattle auto accidents, but have decreased by 38% and 24% respectively.
  • I-5 in Seattle between exits 161-169 is the deadliest 10-mile stretch in Seattle.

To Note: Data Considerations

COVID-19 Impact

Note that COVID-19 skewed the data starting in 2020 due to an increase in people staying at home and working from home. Additionally, there may also be differences in data reported by other entities depending on what data was used.

Data Sources

For this study we included a mixture of data from Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT). Our data from WSDOT is from 2015-2024 and our data from the SDOT is from the 2023 Traffic Report which compares data from 2019-2022.

*If you’d like to report on our findings or use any visuals or data from this analysis, please credit us by linking to this page.

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Are Car Accidents in Seattle Increasing or Decreasing? 

Seattle car accident decrease

Auto-related accidents in Seattle have decreased by 50% from 2015 to 2024. In 2015 there was a total of 14,483 accidents reported. Fast forward to last year in 2024 and this number was cut in half at 7,312 reported accidents.

When looking at 2019 and 2020, there was a sharp 37.5% decline in accidents indicating the start of COVID. Accident numbers did rise between 2021-2023 as drivers began to take to the road again. They remained steady between 8,000 and 8,500 before falling to 7,312 in 2024. Despite the post-2020 increase, accident rates are still significantly lower than they were from 2015 to 2019.

Is the Number of Car Accident Fatalities in Seattle Rising or Falling?

Seattle car accident fatalities

While total car accidents in Seattle have decreased by 50% since 2015, fatalities have risen sharply. In 2024, there were 38 traffic fatalities—a 90% increase from the 22 recorded in 2015. Interestingly, fatalities remained relatively stable in 2020 (26) compared to 2019 (27), likely due to reduced traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, fatal accidents surged to their highest levels in the years following 2020, with a slight uptick again in 2024. This trend suggests that while fewer accidents are occurring, those that do happen are more severe.

2025 Car Accident Statistics

As of March 2025, there have been 29 reported crashes with 1 fatality, 16 injuries, and another 12 with no apparent injuries. There was 1 accident that involved a drug impaired crash. Other causes were speeding and inattentive/distracted drivers – each with 1 reported incident.

Most Severe Injury per Crash Crashes
Fatal 1
Suspected Serious Injury 9
Suspected Minor Injury 4
Possible Injury 3
No Apparent Injury 12
Total Crashes 29

Contributing Factors To Auto Accidents in Seattle

The main contributing factors to these accidents include distracted driving, impaired driving, speeding, failure to yield to pedestrians, and teen driving.

Seattle Drunk Driving Statistics

Seattle drunk driver accidents 2015-2024

Drunk driving accidents have decreased by 24% from 2015 to 2024, dropping from 609 to 465. There was an increase in accidents from 2015 to 2017, followed by a decrease in 2018 and 2019. In 2020, drunk driving accidents dropped by almost 38%. However, in 2021, crashes involving drunk driving spiked an extra 113 reported cases and then rose a further 94 crashes in 2022. Although they remained high in 2023 at 591, they dropped by 21% in 2024. Despite the fluctuations, the overall trend shows a reduction in drunk driving accidents over the last decade.

Seattle Teen Driving Accidents

Seattle teen driver accidents 2015-2024

While new and less experienced teen drivers have been involved in a portion of Seattle crashes, that number has decreased. From 2015 to 2024, crashes involving teen drivers dropped by 38%, from 960 in 2015 to 596 in 2024. Although the number increased from 532 in 2020, it has still decreased compared to the years 2021 through 2023.

Workers Returning to the Office

Other factors to consider is the number of people returning to the office and the reopening of the West Seattle Bridge. According the the SDOT, there was an increase in commuters working from home between 2019-2021. However, post COVID, there was a 36% decrease in individuals continuing to work from home.

West Seattle Bridge Reopening

The West Seattle Bridge also reopened in September of 2022 with 70% of pre-closure volumes returning. This means more cars on the road with the potential for more accidents. The SDOT reported that the number of reported collisions remained relatively stable between 2021 and 2022. However, the overall citywide collision rate decreased by 33% due to the significant increase in traffic volumes during this period. 

While understanding the contributing factors to accidents is important, it’s equally critical to identify where these accidents are most likely to occur. Below, we examine the deadliest roads in Seattle.

The Deadliest Roads in Seattle

Like any metropolitan area, certain areas are busier and more dangerous than others. According to the Seattle Department of Transportation, the busiest roads in Seattle, in descending order, on the average weekday are:

  • 1st Ave S Bridge
  • West Seattle High-Rise Bridge
  • Aurora Bridge
  • Montlake Bridge
  • East Marginal Way, N/O 1st Ave S
  • S Spokane St, E/O 1st Ave S
  • Mercer St. E/O Westlake Ave N
  • Ballard Bridge
  • Elliott Ave W, NW/O W Mercer Place
  • Denny Way, W/O 2nd Ave

Additionally, I-5, I-90, I-405, and other interstate highways in Seattle can get extremely congested, due to commuter traffic, Sea-Tac Airport traffic, downtown traffic, and more.

The Deadliest 10 Mile Stretch in Washington State

A previous study conducted by our firm, The Deadliest Highways in the United States, revealed that the I-5 in Seattle between exits 161-169 is the worst 10-mile stretch in Washington. It was the deadliest highway in Washington State with 70 fatal crashes and 73 deaths. This data was compiled from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) 2000-2019 fatal crash data.

[Interactive Map] See the Deadliest Areas on US Highways

What Is Seattle’s Vision Zero Plan?

Seattle’s Vision Zero plan is a comprehensive plan to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on city streets by 2030. This initiative aligns with an international movement focused on promoting street safety and prioritizing the well-being of all individuals who use Seattle’s roads. 

Vision Zero represents a shift in the way we approach transportation safety, encouraging a culture of compassion and respect. Vision Zero launched in 2015 and continues to refine its strategies based on best practices, all while remaining committed to its equally important climate action and racial equity goals.

Considering all of this, Seattle drivers should take driving safety very seriously. However, driver negligence remains a persistent issue, contributing to preventable accidents and fatalities. Driver negligence in its many forms can have dire effects on driver safety. The result? More car accidents, pedestrian accidents, and other motor vehicle accidents within the city leading to more serious injuries and unnecessary deaths.

Local Personal Injury Representation

If you or a loved one have been injured in a pedestrian or car accident in Seattle, get a local personal injury attorney on your case as soon as possible.

At Elk & Elk, we are experienced d, approachable, and we get results. You don’t have to face the aftermath of an accident alone. Whether you were injured by a driver who was distracted, drunk, speeding, or otherwise negligent, we can help you.

Schedule a free consultation at our downtown Seattle office. You can call us at 1-844-ELK-WEST. We take cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you owe us no attorney fees unless we recover money for you.