Fatal crashes in Jefferson County, Alabama
In 2024, 101 people died in 95 fatal crashes in Jefferson County, Alabama, 9.8% fewer than in 2023. From 2015 to 2024 the county recorded 904 fatal crashes and 959 deaths, the most of any county in Alabama.
15.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 18.7 across Alabama in 2024; 14.4 against 19.3 a year over 2015 to 2024. Population 664,744, Census Bureau estimate. All fatal crashes in Alabama.
Deaths in Jefferson County by year
| Year | Fatal crashes | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 95 | 101 |
| 2023 | 103 | 112 |
| 2022 | 94 | 98 |
| 2021 | 101 | 108 |
| 2020 | 106 | 110 |
| 2019 | 80 | 85 |
| 2018 | 84 | 92 |
| 2017 | 79 | 83 |
| 2016 | 88 | 90 |
| 2015 | 74 | 80 |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
The deadliest roads in Jefferson County
I-59 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Jefferson County from 2015 to 2024: 108, with 114 deaths. The 14 roads listed held 40% of all fatal crashes in Jefferson County from 2015 to 2024; 5 are interstates, 4 US routes, 5 state highways. 42% of the county's fatal crashes were on an interstate, US or state route; the other 58% were on county roads and city streets. Routes are listed from 5 fatal crashes.
| Road | Fatal crashes | Deaths | 2022 to 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I-59 | 108 | 114 | 32 | |
| 2 | I-65 | 69 | 73 | 25 | |
| 3 | I-459 | 50 | 54 | 12 | no page |
| 4 | State Highway 5 | 23 | 24 | 13 | |
| 5 | State Highway 79 | 23 | 23 | 5 | |
| 6 | I-20 | 18 | 20 | 6 | |
| 7 | I-22 | 13 | 14 | 5 | |
| 8 | US 31 | 10 | 11 | 4 | |
| 9 | State Highway 75 | 10 | 10 | 1 | |
| 10 | State Highway 3 | 8 | 8 | 4 | no page |
| 11 | State Highway 150 | 7 | 8 | 1 | no page |
| 12 | US 11 | 7 | 8 | 4 | |
| 13 | US 280 | 7 | 7 | 4 | |
| 14 | US 78 | 7 | 7 | 2 | no page |
Birmingham had 41% of the county's fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, 374 of 904.
Cities NHTSA filed, with their fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024: Birmingham 374, Bessemer 58, Hoover 36, Trussville 23, Adamsville 10, Vestavia Hills 8, Leeds 7, Midfield 7. The city is not filed for crashes outside a city.
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
When fatal crashes happen in Jefferson County
The heaviest slot is Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 44 fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024. The worst hour is 9 pm to 10 pm; the worst month is July.
| Midnight to 4 | 4 to 8 am | 8 to noon | Noon to 4 | 4 to 8 pm | 8 to midnight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 4.9 percent, 44 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 0.8 percent, 7 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 26 fatal crashes |
| Mon | 1.3 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 22 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 33 fatal crashes |
| Tue | 1.1 percent, 10 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 1.9 percent, 17 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.9 percent, 26 fatal crashes | 2.5 percent, 22 fatal crashes |
| Wed | 1.2 percent, 11 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 1.7 percent, 15 fatal crashes | 2.3 percent, 21 fatal crashes | 2.7 percent, 24 fatal crashes |
| Thu | 1.6 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 1.6 percent, 14 fatal crashes | 2.0 percent, 18 fatal crashes | 3.7 percent, 33 fatal crashes | 3.0 percent, 27 fatal crashes |
| Fri | 1.8 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 1.3 percent, 12 fatal crashes | 1.8 percent, 16 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 3.6 percent, 32 fatal crashes | 3.8 percent, 34 fatal crashes |
| Sat | 3.9 percent, 35 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 0.7 percent, 6 fatal crashes | 2.2 percent, 20 fatal crashes | 2.6 percent, 23 fatal crashes | 4.8 percent, 43 fatal crashes |
By hour
By month
- Jan8.2%
- Feb7.6%
- Mar8.5%
- Apr6.9%
- May7.3%
- Jun6.4%
- Jul10.6%
- Aug8.3%
- Sep8.3%
- Oct10.1%
- Nov9.5%
- Dec8.3%
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
What fatal crashes in Jefferson County first hit
The first harmful event was a collision with another vehicle in 37%; a fixed object such as a tree, pole or barrier in 33%, a pedestrian in 19%, a rollover in 4.4%.
| First harmful event | Fatal crashes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Collision with another vehicle | 332 | 37% |
| Fixed object (tree, pole, barrier, ditch) | 294 | 33% |
| Pedestrian | 172 | 19% |
| Rollover | 40 | 4.4% |
| Other | 34 | 3.8% |
| Parked vehicle | 21 | 2.3% |
| Cyclist | 11 | 1.2% |
| Not reported | 0 | 0.0% |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
How fatal crashes in Jefferson County compare with Alabama
The largest difference from Alabama: from 2015 to 2024, 16% of fatal crashes in Jefferson County were on rural roads, against 59% across Alabama. Also above the Alabama share: hit-and-runs and pedestrians. Below it: unlit roads at night, drinking drivers, speeding and distracted drivers. Shares of fatal crashes from 2015 to 2024, against the share across all of Alabama. A share is only given over 20 crashes; above or below means more than chance would give on 904 crashes.
| Jefferson | Alabama | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| On rural roads | 16% | 59% | below the Alabama share |
| At or near an intersection | 21% | 18% | about the same as the Alabama share |
| In the dark, road unlit | 24% | 33% | below the Alabama share |
| A drinking driver | 12% | 25% | below the Alabama share |
| Speeding | 18% | 27% | below the Alabama share |
| A distracted driver (as recorded) | 3.5% | 5.5% | below the Alabama share |
| Occupants killed unbelted | 55% | 58% | about the same as the Alabama share |
| Hit-and-run | 8.2% | 3.9% | above the Alabama share |
| A motorcycle involved | 12% | 10% | about the same as the Alabama share |
| Pedestrians among the dead | 19% | 12% | above the Alabama share |
Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2024 Annual Report File (released April 2026, subject to revision). How we count
Questions about fatal crashes in Jefferson County, Alabama
- How many people died in car accidents in Jefferson County in 2024?
- 101 people died in 95 fatal crashes in Jefferson County, Alabama, in 2024, 9.8% fewer than in 2023. That is 15.2 deaths per 100,000 residents, against 18.7 across Alabama. Source: NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).
- What is the deadliest road in Jefferson County?
- I-59 had the most fatal crashes of any numbered road in Jefferson County from 2015 to 2024: 108, with 114 deaths.
- When do fatal crashes in Jefferson County happen most often?
- The heaviest slot from 2015 to 2024 was Sunday, midnight to 4 am (the night from Saturday), with 44 fatal crashes.
- How many fatal crashes in Jefferson County involved a drinking driver?
- 109 of 904 fatal crashes in Jefferson County from 2015 to 2024 involved a driver NHTSA recorded as drinking, 12%, against 25% across Alabama.
Other counties in Alabama with a page
- Mobile County
- Madison County
- Montgomery County
- Tuscaloosa County
- Baldwin County
- Limestone County
- Cullman County
- Talladega County
- Calhoun County
- Shelby County
- Lee County
- Walker County
All fatal crashes in Alabama, with every county ranked.
Where the Jefferson County numbers come from
Counted from NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, 2024 Annual Report File: every fatal crash NHTSA filed in Jefferson County (county code 73). A fatal crash is one in which someone died within 30 days. The rate per 100,000 uses the Census Bureau's population estimate for the county; it is the only figure here not counted from FARS. Totals from state highway departments and news reports can differ: they count from their own crash reports, often before every death within 30 days is known, while NHTSA's file is checked against death certificates and revised once a year. The full method.
Download every county with a page as CSV. Free to reuse with credit: “Fatal Crash Data, fatalcrashdata.com/fatal-crashes/alabama/jefferson-county/, from NHTSA FARS (2024 Annual Report File).”