Texas Car Accident Statistics

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Michael E. Pierce

Serious and fatal car accidents plague Texans. Hundreds of accidents disrupt the lives of individuals and families every day.

At Pierce Skrabanek, we deal with Houston auto accidents regularly. We are honored to have guided families across the state through the insurance claim or litigation process. Individuals hurt in collisions or surviving family members often turn to us for help during these difficult times.

If you or a loved one have suffered injuries due to a driver’s negligence, our car accident attorneys are here to fight for your right to compensation. Call 832-690-7000 to set up a free consultation and speak to one of our knowledgeable personal injury lawyers.

How Much Is a Texas Car Accident Claim Worth?

Every car accident is different. The details of your collision and injuries will determine the value of your claim. You may be entitled to receive the following damages:

  • Complete coverage of medical expenses, both present and future
  • Lost wages if you are unable to work
  • Loss of earning potential
  • Emotional distress damages
  • Pain and suffering damages
  • Possible punitive damages against a grossly negligent party

It is best to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer to properly evaluate your case.

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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.

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How many car accidents happen in Texas?
  • 1 car accident every minute and 7 seconds
  • 1 person killed every 2 hours and 15 minutes
  • 1 injury every 2 minutes and 34 seconds
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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.

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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.

Testimonials

Read what our past clients have to say about our legal services. 

Daryl M.

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“My experience with Mr. Skrabanek was honestly far better than all expectations that we had. He took care of us like we were family, making sure me and my wife always felt like a priority and walked us through all of the concerns that we had. If you are looking for a professional who truly cares for his clients you can stop the search. You won’t be disappointed.”

Denise J.

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“Mike and his team helped me settle an injury claim case. I was informed and helped through every step and they were always professional and very responsive. I really enjoyed working with them.”

Victoria S.

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“My attorney, Michael, did an amazing job with my case. He’s a straight shooter and has a vast knowledge of the law combined with an extensive amount of experience, making him a fantastic attorney. I fully recommend this firm.

Thank you Pierce Skrabenek!”

Gabriela C.

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“Paul Skrabanek of the law firm Pierce Skrabanek was very professional and went above & beyond in handling my daughter's case. Very dedicated, worked diligently, and got justice for my family. If I could give a higher rating than 5 stars I would. Thank you and your firm for such tenacity.”

Raymond H.

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“These guys are awesome, they were very informative from the beginning to end, working with them was super smooth, and I had all questions answered thoroughly. The whole team at this firm works to help in every way they can. They were able to get me the compensation I deserved and exceeded my expectations. If you’re ever in need of a stellar team to stand behind you and work for you, these guys are the ones you would want in your corner.

Thank you very much Paul and thank your team for me.”

Cam F.

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“Working with Paul Skrabanek was a very positive experience. He helped me understand the legal process as someone who has never been a part of a lawsuit, and was able to get me settled quickly and painlessly! Loved working with Pierce Skrabanek law firm!”

Michele R.

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Michael Pierce and his team, especially Krystle, were very professional, always available (even on weekends), and very knowledgeable. We appreciate their hard work on our case and the time they took to explain every detail as our case progressed. Mike is a phenomenal attorney and we highly recommend them for your legal needs.”

Beverly C.

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“I found Mr. Skrabanek to be very trustworthy, creditable, and genuinely concerned about my well-being while I was going through this very difficult process. He showed constant concern for me being completely satisfied before making any final decisions.”

Diane T.

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“Fantastic team of attorneys and staff dedicated to their clients. Michael Pierce is an outstanding trial attorney for personal injury cases.”

Deborah S.

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“We watched, participated & listened to Paul Skrabanek fight for a settlement which we could be happy with. Just this month the case has been put to rest.”

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What Can a Texas Car Accident Lawyer Do for My Case?

At Pierce Skrabanek, we believe everyone is entitled to strong, effective representation. Many claims end with car accident victims receiving less than they deserve. Our car accident attorneys are dedicated to our clients. We provide:

We have a long track record of success. Our talented litigators have been recognized by the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Million Dollar Advocates Forum.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a negligent car accident, schedule a free evaluation of your claim by calling 832-690-7000.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Accident Reports Public Record in Texas?

No, accident reports are not public record in Texas. In accordance with Texas law, traffic collision reports are confidential. However, you are required to report a car accident to the police.

What Are the Most Common Car Accident Injuries?

The most common car accident injuries include:

  • Neck and back injuries that may result in whiplash or spinal damage
  • Head wounds, including concussions and traumatic brain injuries
  • Broken, dislocated, and fractured bones

Car accidents can lead to a wide range of injuries. It is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.

What Is a Car Accident Lawsuit Worth?

It depends—a car accident lawsuit’s worth is contingent on a number of factors, including:

  • The total cost of medical bills
  • Prescription medications costs
  • Property damage
  • How your income has been affected since being injured
  • How you have been emotionally affected by your injuries

A car accident has economic and non-economic damages that will make up the full amount of your lawsuit. Non-economic damages like pain and suffering are more difficult to determine. An experienced car accident attorney can help you recover the full amount of compensation you deserve.

How Long Do I Have to File A Car Accident Lawsuit?

You have two years from the date of your collision to file a car accident lawsuit in Texas. The reason a statute of limitations is put in place is to ensure a fair trial for both parties. If car accident victims wait too long, the evidence in the case may no longer be provable.

Schedule a free evaluation at Pierce Skrabanek to discuss the details of your claim by calling 832-583-1862.

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Real Results for Real Challenges

We know how tough things can get after an injury. That’s why we make your struggles our fight. With over three decades of combined experience, we’ve been the reliable allies our clients need, tackling financial hardships, physical pain, and major life changes. Our track record of successful verdicts and settlements speaks to our team’s passion and dedication to helping clients get the support and justice they need.

$117 Million for Ambulance Accident Victim

Served as trial counsel in a case involving an automobile accident between an ambulance and a cane truck. The accident caused catastrophic physical injuries to a twenty-one year old mother of two. Discovery revealed that an Acadian Ambulance employed a driver who repeatedly fell below Acadian’s own minimum safe driving standards. At trial, plaintiff proved that Acadian’s driver dropped his keys on the floor and took his eyes off the road while traveling 60 mph, leading to a violent rear-end collision. The jury returned a verdict of $117 million, which is the largest single personal injury verdict in Louisiana history.

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$2 Million Settlement for Automobile Accident Victim

Served as second chair trial attorney on plaintiff’s case concerning injuries suffered in an automobile accident. Plaintiff obtained a total judgment in the amount of $2 million, which was approximately five times defendant’s highest pretrial settlement offer.

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