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.
Do I Need a Wrongful Death Attorney?
If you have lost a loved one in a car accident, you have our deepest condolences. Our compassionate legal team has helped many families seek the answers and justice their loved ones deserve.
Losing someone suddenly can be overwhelming. At Pierce Skrabanek, we understand filing a wrongful death claim is not only about financial compensation. No amount of money can make up for the loss you have suffered.
Additionally, a wrongful death claim can serve to deter future acts of negligence and may help to save lives. By holding the responsible party accountable for their actions, it may offer you and your family the closure you need to move on.
Any financial compensation can serve to settle affairs and unexpected expenses, including:
- Medical expenses for your loved one’s treatment
- Loss of care, services, support, maintenance, and counsel your loved one would have provided
- Funeral and burial costs
- Loss of financial support and benefits
- Loss of companionship, love, comfort, society
- Pain and suffering damages
- Mental pain and anguish
- Lost inheritance
- Possible punitive damages
After the unexpected loss of a loved one, there are numerous affairs to settle. The estate must be put in order. Any debts the deceased owes must be paid. In addition, funeral costs are often much higher than families anticipate. If your loved one had life insurance, they may not have included enough for all end-of-life expenses.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Claim?
Those able to file a wrongful death claim are limited, even among family members. If you have recently lost a loved one and are considering filing a claim, it is important to discuss who will be the deceased’s personal representative. Per Texas Law, one of the following may bring a wrongful death lawsuit against a negligent party:
- Surviving spouse
- Deceased’s children
- Deceased’s parents
Grandparents are not eligible to bring a wrongful death claim. However, one of the above surviving family members may file a claim on behalf of the entire family.
If your loved one was killed in a careless accident, our wrongful death attorneys can secure the compensation you and your family deserve to cover all your unforeseen bills. It is important to know that there is a statute of limitations (filing deadline) associated with making a claim. Surviving family members have two years from the date of passing to file a wrongful death claim.
We understand the highly emotional nature of your claim. Our exceptional legal team will represent your loved one with dignity and respect and provide your family with sensitivity and guidance throughout the process.
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