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Claim it before someone else doesReported traffic injuries & collisions — Santa Cruz County
Injury rate: 288.1 per 100k · Fatality rate: 1.6 per 100k · Pop. 64,220
Rate per 100,000 residents — the only fair way to compare a city to its county and state.
In 2025, Santa Cruz's injury rate of 288.1 per 100k ran 10% above the county average and 45% below the state average.
Δ vs prior year. Feeds the Car & Truck and Wrongful Death silos.
Reported collisions by time of day and weekday, 2020–2025.
Most collisions are reported on Fridays and between 3p–6p.
Ranked by injuries and fatalities, 2020–2025.
Junctions with the most reported crashes.
Injury crashes by year — tap a bar to load that year above.
Search or sort any column. Every row is one finalized (or provisional) SWITRS year.
| Year ▼ | Fatal | Injury | Killed | Injured | Serious | Pop. | Inj/100k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026prov | 1 | 92 | 1 | 105 | 15 | 64,220 | 163.5 |
| 2025 | 1 | 159 | 1 | 185 | 17 | 64,220 | 288.1 |
| 2024 | 1 | 162 | 1 | 185 | 26 | 64,220 | 288.1 |
| 2023 | 2 | 117 | 2 | 136 | 25 | 64,220 | 211.8 |
| 2022 | 5 | 137 | 5 | 162 | 18 | 64,220 | 252.3 |
| 2021 | 5 | 132 | 5 | 159 | 22 | 64,220 | 247.6 |
| 2020 | 4 | 86 | 4 | 99 | 14 | 64,220 | 154.2 |
Source: CCRS via data.ca.gov + CA city population. Collision counts are reported crashes from California's Crash Reporting System (CCRS), published on data.ca.gov and aggregated to city jurisdiction; fatality totals are cross-checked against NHTSA's Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Rates per 100,000 use annual city population. Years marked prov are provisional and update as the record is finalized.
Santa Cruz's mix of coastal visitors, commuters, and beach traffic keeps roads like Rt 1, Ocean Street, Soquel Avenue, and Water Street busy year-round. Public records show 159 injury collisions in the most recent final year, with 185 people hurt and 1 traffic death — numbers that reflect how often everyday drives here end in an unexpected trip to urgent care or worse. If you were hurt in a crash anywhere in the city, from downtown to the corridors near the harbor, you may be weighing medical bills, missed work, and confusing next steps all at once. LawProactive is a free service that connects injured people with an independent personal injury attorney — we are not a law firm, and we never charge you for the connection. The attorneys in our network work on contingency, meaning there's no fee unless they recover something for you. Our goal is simple: help you figure out what to do next without adding to your stress, so you can focus on healing while someone experienced looks at what happened and what options you may have.
California generally gives you two years from the date of injury to file a claim, but that window can shrink to as little as six months if a government entity was involved. Waiting too long can cost you the right to recover at all.
Stay informed about road safety incidents in Santa Cruz, California. Real-time news from local sources.
If you or a loved one was injured in a Santa Cruz accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Get a free case review today.
Mounting medical bills with no clear way to pay them
Missed paychecks while unable to work
Confusion over who's liable and what to do next
Worry that speaking up might hurt their case with insurance
Connect with personal injury lawyers serving Santa Cruz. No attorney's fee unless your case results in a recovery. Court costs and case expenses may apply.
Of Injury Cases Settle Out of Court
Most injury claims are resolved through negotiation rather than a courtroom trial.
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First offers are often 40 to 60% lower than a claim's full value.
Critical Window to Preserve Evidence
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Santa Cruz & Surrounding Areas
Important legal information for accident victims in Santa Cruz, California.
2 years from the date of injury
Pure Comparative Fault
$15,000/$30,000/$5,000
Understanding these rules can significantly impact your case outcome.
California follows pure comparative negligence, meaning you can recover damages even if you're 99% at fault.
The state requires all drivers to carry minimum liability insurance.
California has no cap on non-economic damages in most personal injury cases.
You have 2 years to file a lawsuit after an accident.
Disclaimer: This is general legal information, not legal advice. Statutes of limitations vary by case and exceptions may apply — consult a licensed attorney about your specific deadline.
Essential contacts for accident victims in Santa Cruz, California.Proudly serving the community near Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
Seek immediate medical attention for your injuries
File an accident report if you haven't already
Where personal injury lawsuits are filed
Call 911 for immediate emergencies
If you were injured in an accident in or near Santa Cruz, California, our advertising platform connects you with licensed attorneys who serve the Santa Cruz area. Request a free, no-obligation case evaluation and let a local California attorney review your claim.
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Our network of personal injury attorneys extends beyond Santa Cruz. Find experienced legal help in these nearby communities.
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*No attorney's fee unless there is a recovery. The client may be responsible for court costs and case expenses.
Healthcare provider negligence cases
Under California's pure comparative fault rule, you can still recover damages even if you were partly responsible for the crash. Your compensation is simply reduced by your share of fault, not eliminated.
In ordinary injury cases, California places no cap on non-economic damages like pain and suffering. That means your full experience of the injury can factor into what's pursued.
Attorneys in our network work on contingency, so you don't pay upfront and owe nothing unless they win money for you. This keeps legal help accessible regardless of your financial situation.
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