Located in Florida’s Treasure Coast region, St. Lucie County is an absolutely amazing place to live. With plenty to see and do (including hanging out on Florida’s Atlantic Coast beaches), it is also a great place to visit. It is little wonder, then, that so many people flock to St. Lucie County.
Unfortunately, St. Lucie County is also home to a fair number of traffic accidents. While the total number of accidents in the region has decreased slightly, the number of crash injuries has increased. These accidents may be due in part to the relatively high number of traffic citations in the region, as unsafe driving behaviors are a leading contributor to motor vehicle accidents.
At Gould Cooksey Fennell, we are committed to helping our clients get the best possible outcome for their accident claims. We advocate for injury victims throughout St. Lucie County and beyond, fighting to get them maximum compensation. Contact our law firm today to schedule a free initial consultation with a St. Lucie County car accident lawyer.
The Scope of the Problem: Serious and Fatal Traffic Accidents in St. Lucie County
Each year, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) compiles data related to motor vehicle accidents in the state. Broken down by county, type of accident, and more, this report provides valuable insight into how many motor vehicle accidents are happening across Florida. The data also provides more specific insights into traffic accidents in St. Lucie County.
In 2024, there were 5,666 reportable traffic accidents in St. Lucie County. Compared to 5,679 in 2023, this represents a .23% decrease in overall crashes. On average, there are 5,612 traffic accidents in St. Lucie County each year.
While the overall number of collisions decreased, the number of serious and fatal injuries actually increased. In 2024, 49 people died in traffic accidents, compared to 49 deaths in 2023. On average, 47 people die each year in motor vehicle accidents in St. Lucie County.
There were also more injuries linked to auto accidents in St. Lucie County in 2024. In this year, 3,402 people were hurt in accidents, compared to 3,314 people in 2023 – a 2.66% increase. On average, 3,276 people are hurt in traffic crashes each year. In 2024, 3,379 accidents in St. Lucie County only involved property damage.
These numbers include accidents involving more vulnerable road users, such as bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. The risk of serious and fatal injuries for these individuals is often much higher. In 2024, there were:
- 120 bicycle crashes
- 1 bicyclist fatality
- 110 cyclist injuries
- 134 motorcycle crashes
- 8 motorcyclist fatalities
- 116 motorcyclist injuries
- 125 pedestrian crashes
- 6 pedestrian fatalities
- 107 pedestrian injuries
- 12 other non-motorist crashes
- 0 other non-motorist fatalities
- 7 other non-motorist injuries
The data also includes information about commercial motor vehicles (CMVs), such as big rig trucks, buses, and other large commercial vehicles. In 2024, there were 778 CMV accidents, 8 fatalities related to CMV accidents, and 139 injuries related to CMV accidents.
At least some of these accidents are directly linked to driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. For 2024, this included:
- 64 alcohol confirmed crashes
- 7 alcohol confirmed fatalities
- 26 alcohol confirmed injuries
- 12 drug confirmed crashes
- 9 drug confirmed fatalities
- 6 drug confirmed injuries
- 6 drug and alcohol confirmed crashes
- 4 drug and alcohol confirmed fatalities
- 12 drug and alcohol confirmed injuries
Together, this means that in 2024, there were 82 accidents, 20 fatalities, and 44 injuries definitively linked to drugs and/or alcohol. Keep in mind that these numbers do not include accidents where it was not clear if a driver was under the influence at the time of the crash.
In addition to driving under the influence, age also plays a role in traffic accidents. A fairly high number of accidents each year are attributable to young drivers. This includes:
- Drivers aged 15 to 19: 786 crashes
- Drivers aged 15 to 19: 3 fatalities
- Drivers aged 15 to 19: 211 injuries
- Drivers aged 20 to 24: 943 crashes
- Drivers aged 20 to 24: 4 fatalities
- Drivers aged 20 to 24: 224 injuries
In total, 1,729 crashes involved youthful drivers. That means that over 30% of all traffic accidents in St. Lucie County were related to younger people. According to the CDC, this is due to a number of factors, including inexperience, nighttime and weekend driving, not using seatbelts, distracted driving, and driving under the influence.
A motor vehicle accident can upend your life. You may find yourself dealing with property damage, medical bills, lost wages, and more. In these situations, our St. Lucie car accident attorneys can help you get maximum compensation for your injuries.
Traffic Citations in St. Lucie County
There are many possible causes of motor vehicle accidents. You might hit a pothole and lose control of your car, for example, or deal with a mechanical failure. However, studies show that the single most common cause of a car accident is driver error.
In some cases, these mistakes result in a criminal charge or traffic citation. Data collected by the state for St. Lucie County shows just how common these violations are. It may also offer a window into why car accidents are such a frequent occurrence in our area.
In 2024, drivers in St. Lucie County were charged with a range of criminal offenses related to driving. This includes:
- DUI: 569
- Reckless Driving: 129
- Leaving the Scene of an Accident: 274
- Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer: 110
- Racing on Highway: 30
- No, Improper, or Expired Driver’s License: 956
- Driving While on a Suspended or Revoked License: 1,041
- Violation of Driver License Restriction: 4
- Unlawful Use of Driver’s License: 8
- No, Improper, or Expired Vehicle Tag: 290
- Other Driving-Related Criminal Offenses: 167
Drivers in St. Lucie County were also charged with numerous moving violations in 2024, including:
- Speeding in Posted Zone: 17,535
- Speed Too Fast for Conditions/Failure to Use Due Care: 61
- Careless Driving: 1,130
- Unknown Driver/ Driver’s License Suspended or Revoked: 1,660
- Failure to Yield Right of Way: 939
- Ran Stop Sign: 424
- Ran Red Light: 745
- Violation of Traffic Control Device: 793
- Improper Turn: 323
- Failure to Stop for School Bus: 106
- Improper Passing: 311
- Following Too Close: 319
- Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road: 151
- Improper Lane Change: 476
- Improper Backing: 102
- Texting While Driving: 9
- Driving without Lights: 107
- Failure to Dim Lights: 34
- Child Restraint: 176
- Toll Violation: 15
- Other: 950
St. Lucie drivers were also cited for various non-moving violations in 2024, including:
- Load Dropping/Shifting/Leaking/Blowing Off and Not Covered: 9
- Improper Parking: 181
- No/Improper Headgear: 7
- Defective/Unsafe Equipment: 523
- Seat Belt Violation: 1,088
- Expired Driver’s License/Failure to Display Driver’s License: 1,086
- Expired Vehicle Tag/Failure to Display Vehicle Tag: 3,906
- No Proof of Insurance: 3,693
- Texting While Driving: 46
- Bicycle Regulation Violation/Improper Pedestrian Action: 29
- Other: 1,299
Obviously, some of these violations don’t increase the risk of a motor vehicle accident (such as having an expired vehicle tag). However, many of these criminal charges, moving, and non-moving violations do increase the likelihood of being in an accident or the potential for severe injuries if they are in an accident. For example, if a person is speeding and not wearing a seatbelt, then the odds of being in a crash and getting seriously hurt in an accident are far higher.
For accident victims, evidence that the other driver was cited for many of these charges may also be important for any personal injury claim that you file. In Florida, drivers may be presumed liable for an accident under a legal concept known as negligence per se. This can make it far easier to prove your case and get the compensation that you deserve.
To win a negligence per se case, you will have to prove that the other driver (defendant) violated a statute or ordinance that was designed to protect people from harm. You must also show that you are within the class of people that the law was designed to protect, and that the violation was the cause of your harm. The defendant would be presumed to be at fault for the accident, and the burden would shift to them to prove that they were not responsible.
For example, consider a situation where a driver rear-ends your vehicle while you are stopped at a red light and is cited for texting while driving. Florida’s distracted driving laws are meant to protect others on the road, and you fall within the class of people who are protected by the law. The driver failed to stop in time and hit your car because they weren’t paying attention. In this case, you could use Florida’s negligence per se laws to recover financial compensation for your injuries.
Of course, because any type of car accident claim can be complex, it is always a good idea to consult with a lawyer. Even if the other driver has been cited for some type of violation, their insurance company may still argue that they are not liable for your losses. Our St. Lucie car accident lawyers will fight to get you the compensation that you deserve for your injuries.
Hurt in a St. Lucie County Auto Accident? We Can Help.
A motor vehicle accident can turn your life upside down. In the days and weeks that follow, you might find yourself dealing with medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. Our law firm will fight for your right to full compensation, whether you were in a crash in Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce, St. Lucie Village, or anywhere else in St. Lucie County.
At Gould Cooksey Fennell, we offer experienced legal representation for victims of all types of accidents in St. Lucie County, Florida. We handle all cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you will never pay a fee unless we recover money for you. To learn more or to schedule a free consultation with a St. Lucie County car accident lawyer, give us a call at 772-758-8791 or fill out our online contact form.
