In 2021, the Texas Department of Transportation reported 4,497 motor vehicle traffic fatalities, an increase of 15.4% from the 3,896 recorded fatalities in 2019.
Additionally, Texas recorded 15,769 serious injury crashes in 2021, with 19,456 people sustaining serious injuries.
In 2022, Texas reported 4,481 motor vehicle traffic fatalities, a slight decrease from the previous year.
Additionally, the state recorded 15,299 serious injury crashes, with 18,880 people sustaining serious injuries. Texas did not record a single day in 2021 or 2022 without a traffic-related death.
As you can see, car accidents are far from irregular in Texas. Many people do not know what to do after a car accident and overlook several crucial steps that are important to a future personal injury claim. Our attorneys at Armstrong Lee & Baker, LLP, are here to help.
Types of Car Crashes in Texas
Car accidents occur in numerous different ways. When one driver’s negligent or wrongful act directly causes an accident, that driver may be liable for injuries suffered by other involved parties. Examples of a Texas car accident caused by a driver’s wrongdoing or negligence are described in more detail below.
Distracted Driving Crashes
Texas reported 436 traffic-related fatalities involving distracted driving in 2021, an 18.2% increase from the prior year. In 2022, the number of fatalities involving a distracted driver rose to 487. Harris County recorded 11,496 total accidents involving at least one distracted driver that resulted in 27 fatalities.
Many people think distracted driving means sending a text message while driving. However, distracted driving includes a variety of other behaviors, such as:
- Applying makeup;
- Eating;
- Using social media;
- Talking to passengers, or
- Daydreaming.
Distracted driving includes any activity that takes your attention away from the road. Texas imposes fines against drivers caught sending a text message while driving.
If a distracted driver caused your accident, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim to recover your losses. Contact Armstrong Lee & Baker today to review your case with an experienced Texas car crash attorney.
Drunk Driving Accidents
In 2021, 1,141 fatalities occurred in an alcohol-related traffic accident in Texas. In 2022, this number rose to 1,163 fatalities. Thus, more than a quarter of the traffic accident fatalities in Texas in 2022 involved a driver who was under the influence of alcohol. Harris County alone recorded 148 alcohol-involved fatal accidents that resulted in 160 fatalities. Alcohol-involved accidents also resulted in 257 serious injuries and 697 minor injuries.
When a drunk driver causes an accident, an injured party can file a personal injury claim to recover their financial losses.
Car Accidents Caused by Excessive Speeds
TxDOT reports that speed is the number one factor in Texas car accidents and is responsible for one out of every three traffic fatalities. In 2021, speeding factored into more than 163,000 car accidents and resulted in approximately 1,532 fatalities and 6,493 serious injuries.
In 2022, speeding contributed to approximately 794 accidents in rural areas of Texas and approximately 1,805 accidents in urban areas.
What Should I Do After a Houston Car Accident?
The aftermath of a car accident often feels like a blur. Our team provides a guide of steps you should take after an accident, if possible, to preserve your claim for trial.
Report Your Accident to Authorities
First, contact the police. An officer will respond to the scene and complete an accident report. The officer will likely attempt to ascertain the cause of the accident and include it in the report. Thus, you should cooperate with the responding officer as much as possible to give them a clear idea of what happened.
You should never leave the scene of an accident before the police arrive. Otherwise, you could face charges for hit and run.
If you need urgent medical attention, law enforcement will request an ambulance at the accident scene. Otherwise, you can go to the hospital after you answer questions about the collision.
Collect Evidence at the Accident Scene
The police report is just one piece of evidence your attorney can use to prove who caused the accident. Other evidence will typically exist at the accident scene immediately after the collision. If you are not seriously injured, try to collect as much relevant information as you can before the scene is permanently altered.
Information at the scene that can help your case includes:
- Photographs of the accident scene;
- Names and contact information for witnesses;
- Names of businesses with surveillance cameras facing the accident scene, and
- Photographs or videos showing the conditions at the time of the accident.
A qualified car accident lawyer will request a copy of the accident report as well, so any information contained in the report can help prove your case.
Seek Medical Attention
Once you finish collecting evidence from the scene, you should seek medical attention right away. Even if you do not notice any injuries, some injuries hide beneath the surface and only present symptoms later. The at-fault party might be liable for your medical expenses if their negligent or wrongful conduct resulted in your injuries.
Medically related costs in a motorcycle accident that you may seek compensation for include:
- Emergency surgery;
- Ambulance rides;
- Prescription medication;
- Doctor visits, and
- Physical therapy.
An experienced car accident attorney can compile information about your losses to determine the value of a fair settlement offer.
Do You Have Questions About Texas Car Accident Statistics? Contact a Car Accident Lawyer at Armstrong Lee & Baker Today
If you suffer injuries in a car accident in Texas, contact an attorney at Armstrong Lee & Baker right away. We have extensive knowledge about personal injury claims and know what it takes to secure favorable results for our clients. At Armstrong Lee & Baker, our clients are more than just numbers.
We take the time to speak with you individually and listen to the details of your case. This personal knowledge helps us tailor a strategy to fit your needs. Contact our office today so we can start reviewing your claim.
Joshua Lee believes in aggressive, tough advocacy and a client-centered approach to every case. Joshua draws from a wide body of experiences and a robust understanding of the law. Joshua graduated from the New York University School of Law in New York City, which is considered among the best law schools in the world.