What City in Texas Has the Most Car Accidents?
Dallas has the most car accidents in Texas. Dallas is a large city, ranking 9th most populous in the nation. Though smaller than Houston and San Antonio, Dallas has become home of the worse drivers in the state.
In the last reporting year:
- 228 people lost their lives on Dallas roads
- Dallas now has the second-highest car accident fatality rate
Dallas traffic fatalities have increased 80% over the last ten years. Pedestrians are especially impacted. Despite making up only 2% of those traveling around the city, pedestrians account for 36% of all motor vehicle deaths.
How Many Car Accidents Happen in Houston Each Year?
Each year, there are between 40,000 and 70,000 car accidents in Houston. Until recently, Houston has led the state in car accident injuries.
According to news sources, an average week in Houston sees 11 fatal car accidents. Most crashes are due to reckless driving. Speeding is one of the largest contributing factors in all fatal car accidents in Houston.
Despite ranking as the worse city for drivers 2001-2019, the city confesses it simply does not have enough law enforcement to curb reckless drivers.
Are Drunk Driving Accidents Common in Houston?
Despite laws against driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs, 886 people died in crashes when the driver was under the influence in Texas. DUI crash victims account for 25% of all fatal accidents in the last reporting year:
- DUI crashes happen most often between 2 and 3 a.m. and on Saturdays.
- In Harris County, there were 3,603 DUI crashes and 120 deaths
- Houston reported 2,436 of those DUI crashes and 102 deaths
If you or a loved one were hurt in a DUI car accident, our attorneys are here to help. We will hold the drunk driver responsible for their actions.
How Many Car Accidents Happen a Year in Texas?
Nearly 500,000 car accidents happen a year in Texas. Since the pandemic, motor vehicle crash statistics have undergone significant changes. Despite fewer passenger vehicles on the road, automobile collisions and fatalities have increased. Unfortunately, there were no deathless days in Texas.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation:
- 1 car accident occurs every minute and 7 seconds
- 1 person is killed every 2 hours and 15 minutes
- 1 person is injured every 2 minutes and 34 seconds
In the last reporting year, the fatality rate has increased to 7.54%. The sharp increase may be attributed to an increase in reckless driving.
While government agencies are still analyzing the data and have not made the details available to the public, a prevailing theory is that drivers felt more comfortable speeding and engaging in other reckless behavior due to the decrease in vehicles on the road.
In addition, supply-chain shortages have increased the number of commercial vehicles on the road. With over 500 fatal large truck collisions, Texas leads the country in deadly commercial truck accidents. Over 13% of the nation’s fatal truck crashes occur on Texas highways.
The deadliest car accidents involved the following:
- Nearly 900 people were killed in car accidents at intersections or near an intersection
- Just over 500 people lost their lives in head-on collisions
- Almost 400 traffic fatalities were caused by distracted drivers
Despite Dallas and Houston ranking as the deadliest cities in the state for car accident fatalities and injuries, most Texans lost their lives in rural areas.
Where Do Most Fatal Accidents Occur?
Most fatal accidents occur in the rural parts of Texas. In the last reporting year, there was an estimated 4,000 traffic fatalities, with over half occurring in the rural parts of the state:
- 51.03% of all traffic fatalities happen in rural areas
Texas roads have ranked as some of the worse in the country for years. While cities are more congested, road maintenance is taken more seriously than in rural areas. Cities budget for upkeep and maintenance.
However, the country has fewer funds to fix older highways and streets. Poor road conditions are a major contributing factor in many fatal crashes.
Are Teenagers Safe Drivers?
Teenagers are not known for being cautious behind the wheel. They can be inexperienced and prone to taking risks.
In the last reporting year:
- 13-19-year-old drivers were in 85,311 crashes
- 19-year-olds were the worst offenders with 28,253 crashes, 121 of which were fatal
- Drivers under 21 years old also made up 7% of DUI drivers in fatal crashes
- Of the young drivers in fatal crashes, 31 were urban drivers and 26 were rural drivers.
Most DUI crash fatalities were not teens. Only 49 teens between the ages of 13 and 19 died in DUI accidents. It is much more common for a person in their 20s to pass away in alcohol-related crashes.
What Are the Top Causes of Car Accidents in Texas?
Understanding the top causes of car accidents is the best way to prevent crashes. The most common cause of collision include:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Driver inattention
- Speeding
- Backing up
- Unsafe lane changes
- Unsafe turns
- Failing to stay in one lane
- Failing to yield
- Disregarding stop signs or lights
- Defective or slick tires
- Fatigued driving or falling asleep
- Following too closely
At Pierce Skrabanek, regardless of what causes contributed to your car accident, we are fully prepared to represent your case.
Call our experienced car accident attorneys headquartered in Houston at 832-690-7000—your consultation is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation on your part.
What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accidents in Texas?
The most common types of car accidents in Texas involve passenger cars and speeding. In the last reporting year:
- 82,922 vehicles collided with a fixed object, typically another car
- 25,932 cars hit a parked car
- 11,523 vehicles rolled during the accident
- 7,494 car crashes involved an animal
If you or a loved one have been hurt in a car accident, it is important to know your rights. If the accident resulted in the death of a loved one, there are ways to hold negligent parties accountable for their actions.
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