Texas is one of the most populous states in the US, meaning there are a lot of drivers who can make mistakes that cause car accidents. Victims of Texas car accidents can experience significant injuries and damages that affect their physical health, finances, and quality of life.
Many potential causes can result in Texas car accidents, such as poor road maintenance, defective car parts, and adverse weather conditions. However, the most likely cause of a Texas car accident is reckless driving behavior from a negligent driver.
Some ways Texas drivers can cause car accidents include speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, and unsafe lane changes. If you experienced a Texas car accident, you could file a car accident claim with the liable party’s insurance company to pursue compensatory damages.
Texas Car Accident Statistics
Car accidents in Texas are some of the most dangerous types of personal injury accidents. According to Texas state records, the Lone Star state averages over 600,000 car accidents annually. While some minor accidents, others can result in severe car accident injuries with long-term health consequences.
Texas drivers who suffer severe car accident injuries, including traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), broken bones, and knee ligament tears, can experience numerous health issues and possibly wrongful death. Texas car accidents occur nearly daily and can cause severe pain and suffering for victims.
The following are some Texas car accident statistics:
- 2021 had 15,769 serious injury crashes
- 4,497 Texas car accident fatalities in 2021
- Over half of Texas’ traffic accident fatalities happened in rural areas
- There were 1,040 intersection accident fatalities in 2021
- A reportable car crash happened once every 57 seconds in Texas in 2021
Speeding is the Most Common Cause of Texas Car Accidents
Common causes of car accidents in Texas include negligent driving behavior. Reckless drivers can expose others to car accident risk through behavior that causes them to strike other drivers. The most common cause of Texas car accidents is speeding.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were 136,165 statewide crashes in 2022 caused by a motorist failing to control their speed. A Texas driver speeding can reduce the margin of error while behind the wheel, reducing reaction time, increasing stopping distance, and causing drivers to miss vital information.
Speeding Texas drivers can compound their mistake of driving above the speed limit by running red lights and stop signs, making ill-advised lane changes, and cutting off other drivers. Texas drivers who drive above the speed limit can cause severe rear-end accidents that result in serious injuries.
Distracted Drivers Cause Motor Vehicle Crashes in Texas
Texas car accidents can also result from distracted driving. This is when manual, visual, and cognitive distractions can cause someone to take their focus off driving. The driver may focus more on texting, conversing with someone in the car, or looking out the window than the essential visual information that drivers must know to avoid accidents.
Instead of worrying about going the speed limit, avoiding other cars, and following traffic control signals, a distracted driver may miss all of this and hit another car. Distracted Texas drivers may lose control of their vehicle, leading to them crashing into another vehicle or heavy object.
The following are some common distractions that can cause Texas car accidents:
- Texting or talking on the phone
- Using social media
- Putting on makeup
- Eating or drinking
- Adjusting a GPS
- Using a radio
- Looking out the window away from the road
- Having an in-depth conversation with someone in the car
- Thinking about something other than driving
The Dangers of Drunk Driving in Texas
Texas has plenty of bars, restaurants, and clubs that serve alcoholic beverages. People who go out to these establishments with friends for a night of fun can cause car accidents through drunk driving if they do not have a designated driver.
Drunk driving is dangerous for Texas drivers because of the effect it can have on the brain. It can affect the brain’s communication pathways and reduce cognitive functioning. Drunk drivers can experience reduced coordination, poor decision-making, worsened judgment, and poor vision, which can make driving a car safely challenging.
Drunk drivers can miss traffic control signals, other drivers, and heavy objects like light poles. Their reduced mental faculties can lead to them crashing into other drivers and causing severe car accident injuries.
Motor Vehicle Accidents in Texas: Unsafe Lane Changes
Another reckless driving behavior that can cause a Texas car accident is making unsafe lane changes. Many Texas drivers in a rush may make rash decisions behind the wheel, such as changing lanes when they should not.
Drivers need space to make a lane change. They also must notify drivers in that lane by using their turn signals. When a Texas driver does not take the proper steps before beginning a lane change, they can cause a car accident.
The drivers in the lane they are changing into may not give them the proper space to safely make the lane change because they don’t realize they are coming over. This can lead to a car trying to fit into a space too small for their car, leading to a car accident.
Hiring a Texas Car Accident Lawyer
Following a car accident in Texas, victims can suffer injuries and damages. Some damages they can experience include medical bills, lost wages, and loss of consortium. A Texas car accident victim can file a car accident claim to pursue compensation for car accident damages.
Hiring a car accident lawyer can help with recovering fair compensatory damages. They can assess the value of your damages, assign liability, file paperwork, collect evidence, and negotiate a fair settlement with the liable party’s insurer.
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Texas Car Accident Claim
At The Russo Firm, we have car accident lawyers in Dallas, Houston, and other Texas cities who can help you recover compensatory damages. They know the process for recovering economic and non-economic damages based on their decades of experience.
Our Texas car accident lawyers can craft a legal counsel plan that specifically caters to the details of your case to help you recover compensation for damage affecting your financial situation, physical health, and psychological well-being. Contact us for a free consultation today at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
