California Pedestrian Accident Statistics [Updated 2025]

January 11, 2023 Posted In Pedestrian Accident

Pedestrian accidents are a serious problem, and fatalities are trending up throughout the country and in California.

California Pedestrian Accident Statistics

Pedestrian Accident Injury and Fatality Data

A study completed in 2023 reports that California is the 8th most dangerous state for pedestrians. Over 9,000 pedestrians were killed between 2015 to 2023, increasing the state’s pedestrian fatality rate by 11 percent. In 2024, 7,148 pedestrians were killed in a vehicle accident, which is 4.3% down from 2023, and the second consecutive year with a decline.

The California Office of Traffic Safety reported the following data for 2018:

No state has more pedestrian deaths on its roadways than California.
893 pedestrians were killed, a 26% increase from 2014.
More than 14,000 pedestrians were injured.
Pedestrian deaths rose 26% between 2014 and 2018.
Nearly 7,500 pedestrians have died between 2009 and 2018.
California’s pedestrian fatality rate is almost 25% higher than the national average.

The latest data for 2023 reports the following:

1,106 pedestrians were killed in 2023.
Pedestrian fatalities decreased 8.8% from 1,213 in 2022.
Bicycle fatalities decreased by 20.8% from 183 in 2022 to 145 in 2023.

Nationwide Pedestrian Accident Statistics

The latest pedestrian accident statistics in the U.S. are as follows for 2024:

On average, a pedestrian was killed every 81 minutes and injured every 10 minutes in traffic crashes in 2020.
There were 7,148 pedestrians killed in traffic accidents, a 4.3-percent decrease from 2023.
18% of all people killed in traffic accidents were pedestrians.
Nearly 1 in 4 pedestrians killed were struck by hit-and-run drivers.
65% of pedestrian deaths occurred in locations without sidewalks
71% of the pedestrians killed were males.
29% of pedestrian deaths involved the driver with a BAC of 0.08 or higher.
Over 80% pedestrian fatalities occurred in urban areas.
77% of pedestrian deaths with known lighting conditions occurred after dark.
Almost 90% of pedestrian fatalities happened in single-vehicle accidents.

Safety Tips

For Drivers

Slow down in pedestrian areas.
Look for eye contact from the pedestrian.
Don’t pass when a car ahead of you stops.
Observe school crossing signs and school bus rules.
Only drive while sober.
Take the weather into account.
Be patient with seniors and other people with challenges.
Follow the speed limit.
Be extra cautious when backing up.

For Pedestrians

Don’t expect drivers to see you.
Stay far away from the curb when you stop for cars.
Look around parked vehicles before crossing.
Use crosswalks and stay observant.
Wear brightly colored clothes and carry a flashlight at night.
Stay alert and off your phone to avoid distractions.

Rights of Pedestrian Accident Victims

Pedestrians injured or the family of a pedestrian killed in an accident has the right to hold the at-fault party accountable. If you or a loved one has been severely injured, speak to a Riverside Pedestrian Accident Attorney today.