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Fatal car crashes in Massachusetts, county by county

From 2020 through 2024, 1,896 people died in 1,806 crashes on Massachusetts roads. That is 5.3 deaths a year for every 100,000 residents, below the US rate of 12.1, and the 51st highest rate of the 50 states and DC.

Middlesex County had the most deaths (276). The road stretch with the most fatal crashes was I-195 in Bristol County (23). In 2024, 363 people were killed, 6% more than in 2020.

Source: NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), 2020-2024 · checked October 2, 2026

1,896

people killed in crashes, 2020-2024

5.3

deaths a year per 100,000 residents, 51st highest of 51 (US 12.1)

364

pedestrians killed, 19% of deaths (US 18%)

31%

of fatal crashes were speeding-related (US 28%)

Death rate by county

Deaths a year per 100,000 residents, 2020-2024. Rural counties often rank highest: fewer people, faster roads and longer waits for an ambulance.

Barnstable County: 6.1 per 100,000 a year, 71 deathsBerkshire County: 9 per 100,000 a year, 58 deathsBristol County: 7.1 per 100,000 a year, 210 deathsEssex County: 4.3 per 100,000 a year, 177 deathsFranklin County: 9 per 100,000 a year, 32 deathsHampden County: 10.1 per 100,000 a year, 235 deathsHampshire County: 5.2 per 100,000 a year, 43 deathsMiddlesex County: 3.3 per 100,000 a year, 276 deathsNorfolk County: 5.3 per 100,000 a year, 198 deathsPlymouth County: 6.8 per 100,000 a year, 185 deathsSuffolk County: 3.5 per 100,000 a year, 138 deathsWorcester County: 6 per 100,000 a year, 264 deaths
under 1010-1515-2020-3030+ too few crashes

The most dangerous roads in Massachusetts

Fatal crashes by road within each county, 2020-2024. A long interstate shows up once per county it crosses.

#RoadWhereFatal crashesDeaths
1 I-195 Bristol County, MA 23 24
2 I-495 North Middlesex County, MA 22 23
3 I-95 Norfolk County, MA 22 23
4 I-93 Northern Expy Middlesex County, MA 19 19
5 I-495 N Exit 51B Essex County, MA 18 20
6 SR-3 Main St Plymouth County, MA 16 16
7 US-20 Southwest Cutoff Worcester County, MA 15 18
8 US-6 Mill St Bristol County, MA 14 16
9 I-90 E Exit 10A Worcester County, MA 14 14
10 SR-24 Amvets Memorial Hwy Bristol County, MA 13 13
11 US-1 Bridge Rd Essex County, MA 13 13
12 I-290 Worcester County, MA 12 13
13 SR-28 Falmouth Rd Barnstable County, MA 12 12
14 US-3 Alewife Brook Pkwy Middlesex County, MA 12 12
15 SR-24 Fall River Expy Norfolk County, MA 12 12

Deaths by year

Every Massachusetts county

12 counties with 10 or more fatal crashes in five years, by deaths. 2 more had fewer than 10 and are listed after the table.

CountyDeaths 2020-24Per 100K a yearPedestriansPopulation
Middlesex County 276 3.3 59 1,668,956
Worcester County 264 6.0 38 881,248
Hampden County 235 10.1 49 464,151
Bristol County 210 7.1 34 588,593
Norfolk County 198 5.3 42 740,754
Plymouth County 185 6.8 28 542,090
Essex County 177 4.3 34 823,938
Suffolk County 138 3.5 50 793,144
Barnstable County 71 6.1 13 232,570
Berkshire County 58 9.0 7 128,726
Hampshire County 43 5.2 8 165,399
Franklin County 32 9.0 2 70,871

Fewer than 10 fatal crashes, 2020-2024: Dukes County (6 deaths), Nantucket County (3 deaths).

What was involved

FactorMassachusettsShareUS
Speeding was a factor
a driver coded by police as speeding, racing or too fast for conditions		 553 31% 28%
A driver had been drinking
police reported alcohol involvement for at least one driver		 533 30% 26%
A large truck was involved
a truck over 10,000 lbs		 159 9% 13%
Hit-and-run
a driver left the scene		 84 5% 7%
Pedestrians killed
share of all deaths		 364 19% 18%
Motorcyclists killed
share of all deaths		 317 17% 15%
Bicyclists killed
share of all deaths		 42 2% 3%
Teens (15-19) killed
share of all deaths		 125 7% 7%

After a crash in Massachusetts

  1. Get the crash report

    Statewide copies come from Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), Crash Records, cost $20 non-refundable search fee for each report requested and are usually ready Wait at least 4 weeks after the crash to submit a request; allow 4 weeks for the RMV to process it. If a report is not found the RMV keeps searching for 90 days from the crash date..

    How to get a Massachusetts crash report

  2. Know your deadline

    Massachusetts gives you three years to file a personal injury lawsuit (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A). If a city, county or state vehicle was involved: For injuries caused by a defect in a public way, written notice must be given to the county, city, town or responsible person within 30 days of the injury; other claims against a public employer under the Tort Claims Act must be presented in writing within two years (ch. 258, s. 4).

    Work out your date

  3. Who pays

    Massachusetts is a no-fault state: your own personal injury protection (PIP) pays first, with at least $8,000 required, and you can sue the other driver only past the state's threshold.

    Massachusetts car accident laws

  4. If you were partly at fault

    If you were partly at fault, your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault, but you recover nothing if your negligence is greater than the total negligence of the people you are suing (more than 50%).

    The rule and its statute

  5. The other driver’s minimum coverage

    The legal minimum liability coverage in Massachusetts is $25,000 per injured person, $50,000 per crash and $30,000 for property (25/50/30).

    Every state’s minimums

Check your deadline and a rough claim range

A filing date and a rough value range for Massachusetts. Both take under a minute.

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