Is San Diego Dangerous?

San Diego is one of America’s premier coastal cities. It is filled with eateries and neighborhoods like La Jolla Shores, Mission Beach, Pacific Beach, the Gaslamp Quarter, and Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve. Generally, it is a safe place, not even making the rankings for the 25 most dangerous U.S. cities. Compare that to other Californian cities like San Francisco, which ranks 20th.  

Of course, the San Diego region will always be dangerous because life is dangerous. There is no such thing as perfect safety. If this is your first time in California, then get ready to enjoy one of America’s finest cities. But, before you go, you should know the potential dangers that are out there.   

Violent crime  

San Diego has one of the lowest violent crime rates among large U.S. cities, making it one of the safest big cities.   

Here are some crime statistics to support this:  

• Murders decreased by 13.5% in 2023. Of the 45 homicide cases, six were confirmed to be associated with gang activity, and five were associated with family/domestic violence.  

• Sexual assault decreased 16.2% in 2023.  

• Overall, non-fatal shootings decreased by 23 cases, a 12% decrease compared to 2022.  

• The violent crime rate of 4.4 per thousand residents is one of the lowest of major cities in the nation.  

• Hate crime reports have increased from 38 cases in 2022 to 66 cases in 2023.  

• Race accounted for 38% of hate crimes in 2023.  

• Religious bias accounted for 27% of hate crimes.  

• Crimes committed by gang members decreased by 12%, and the number of documented gang members decreased by 20%.  

Lower crime rates do not mean crime is completely gone. Break-ins still occur. Property crime happens from time to time. Just know that violent crime is lower than it has been in a long time compared to the national average. Most crimes occur in specific neighborhoods and not in tourist areas.   

Wildfires  

Southern California is a powder keg just waiting to explode. Just look at the wildfires around Los Angeles in January 2025. San Diego has all the conditions necessary for fire: high temperatures, dry conditions, and flammable vegetation. 

The biggest risk for most people is smoke. Wildfire smoke is harmful to breathe in, akin to smoking several packs of cigarettes in a day. Smoke particles exacerbate cardiovascular and respiratory conditions. If you are in San Diego when it is smoky, stay indoors.   

If your house is at risk of burning, follow this wildland fire action guide.   

Earthquakes  

The Pacific Ring of Fire is a tectonic belt of volcanoes and earthquakes encircling the Pacific Ocean. All of coastal California falls in it, making it a state all too familiar with earthquakes (less so with volcanoes).  

Minor earthquakes are nearly a daily occurrence. One hundred seventy-one earthquakes of four or higher magnitude have struck near San Diego in the last decade.  In terms of preparation, there isn’t much you can do. The best thing is to know what to do during an earthquake.  

Accidents  

Accidents involving vehicles are the most dangerous aspect of San Diego County. If you are visiting San Diego, you will probably have to drive. Two facts are especially important to remember:  

• The rate of motor vehicle collision deaths increased from 10.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2010 to 12.9 deaths per 100,000 in 2021.  

• Alcohol-impaired driver-related accidents accounted for 30% of all traffic-related deaths in the United States in 2020.  

Traffic accidents have gone up, and intoxicated driving is still a big issue. If you are in a San Diego car accident, call The Advocates. It does not matter if you are not a resident of California; if you are injured in this state, then you deserve fair compensation for your injuries.

Enjoy San Diego, stay safe, and contact us if you need any help with personal injuries. We are available 24/7 by phone or online.