Texas Car Accident Statistics Today & Yesterday 

Texas continues to face a severe traffic safety crisis, with Houston leading the state in total crashes. In 2023 alone, Houston recorded 67,851 motor vehicle accidents, more than any other city in Texas. These collisions included 245 fatal crashes, resulting in 263 deaths and over 1,000 incidents involving suspected serious injuries. Across Harris County, the numbers are even more striking; 447 fatal crashes and nearly 4,600 serious injuries were reported in the same year.

As we move into a new year, the focus on car accident statistics in 2024 becomes even more critical for Houston drivers. This data highlights the daily risks drivers, passengers, and pedestrians face on local roadways. Understanding where and how these crashes occur can help inform safer choices and ensure those affected have access to accurate, local information when it matters most.

Car Accident Statistics 2024

Car accident statistics in 2024 reveal an alarming rise in road fatalities across Texas and in Houston. According to the Official City of Austin Open Data Portal, the 12 months ending January 2025 saw a 6% increase in traffic deaths compared to the previous year. The fatality rate now stands at 4.9 deaths per 100,000 residents.

Houston, already a high-risk metro for car crashes, followed the state trend. January 2025 alone witnessed an 18.8% spike in fatal accidents over January 2024. Urban density, growing vehicle numbers, and ongoing infrastructure challenges contribute to this surge. Rapid population growth in Houston has also added pressure to existing roads, making them more congested and prone to crashes.

Other notable findings include:

• Over 68,000 car crashes occurred in Houston in 2024, continuing a troubling pattern from the previous year.
• Evening rush hours and weekends remain the deadliest times to drive in Houston.
• A rise in pedestrian and cyclist incidents has added to the overall increase in roadway fatalities.

These figures highlight the need for continued legal accountability, improved urban traffic planning, and public safety reform to curb preventable deaths.

Car Accidents by Gender

Men are consistently overrepresented in fatal motor vehicle crashes compared to women, both nationally and in Texas. The NHTSA’s Traffic Safety Facts report confirms a striking gender disparity in crash outcomes, revealing persistent behavioral and situational differences that impact safety on the road.

According to the report, male drivers were involved in 71% of all traffic fatalities nationwide, despite men comprising just slightly more than half of licensed drivers. In Texas, this national trend holds. The disproportionate involvement of male drivers is especially evident in high-risk crash categories:

• In speed-related fatal crashes, male drivers were involved at more than double the rate of female drivers.
• In alcohol-impaired driving fatalities, males made up 80% of the drivers involved.
• Male drivers also accounted for a higher proportion of fatalities in single-vehicle crashes and crashes involving motorcycles.

Behaviorally, men are more likely to engage in aggressive actions behind the wheel—such as speeding, impaired driving, and failure to use seat belts. These behaviors directly correlate with a higher likelihood of fatal and serious injury crashes.

In Houston, this pattern is reflected in local enforcement data. High-speed corridors such as I-45 and Highway 59 see the most serious crashes involving male drivers. While women are more often involved in minor collisions, they are statistically less likely to be involved in crashes that result in death or critical injury.

Addressing this gender imbalance remains a key focus for public safety initiatives in Texas.

Car Accidents by Age

Young adults between the ages of 18 and 34 are involved in more fatal car crashes in Texas than any other age group. Statewide data from TxDOT confirms that drivers in this age range consistently lead in both crash involvement and crash fatalities.

Based on 2023 statewide crash data:

• Drivers aged 18–34 accounted for approximately 46% of all traffic fatalities involving drivers where age was known.
• The 21–25 age group made up 15% of all fatal crash-involved drivers, the highest of any five-year range.
• In comparison, drivers aged 65 and older made up about 12% of fatal crash-involved drivers, with a higher rate of serious injury due to physical vulnerability.

Younger drivers are more likely to engage in unsafe behaviors like speeding, texting, and impaired driving, factors that continue to drive their overrepresentation in fatal incidents. Conversely, older adults tend to drive more cautiously but are at greater risk for life-threatening outcomes when crashes do occur, often due to slower reaction times and medical complications.

This trend remains evident in urban areas like Houston. High traffic volume, fast-moving expressways, and late-night driving increase crash rates for younger drivers, particularly those under 30. For older adults, navigating complex intersections and highway merges, especially at night or during peak traffic, can significantly increase the risk of severe injury.

Understanding how crash involvement and outcomes vary by age is critical for crafting effective traffic safety initiatives and ensuring age-appropriate legal support following a collision.

Impaired Driving Trends in Car Accident Statistics 2024

Driving under the influence remains one of the deadliest factors in traffic crashes throughout Houston and the state of Texas. Based on data from the Texas FY 2024 Highway Safety Plan (NHTSA), impaired driving accounted for 25% of all fatal crashes in the state, with over 1,000 deaths involving alcohol-impaired drivers.

Harris County has one of the highest impaired driving fatality rates in Texas. Local data shows that weekends and holidays, mainly between midnight and 3 a.m., have the highest frequency of these incidents.

In 2024, Houston law enforcement agencies are adopting increased patrol funding through the state’s Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP), which includes specific DUI/DWI saturation patrols.

Highlights from the NHTSA report:

• Males aged 21–34 make up the majority of impaired driving fatalities, as this group is more likely to engage in late-night drinking and drive without a designated driver, especially on weekends and holidays.
• Urban areas like Houston face higher rates of repeat offenses due in part to greater access to alcohol, denser traffic, and limited public transportation alternatives during peak risk hours.
• Campaigns like “Plan While You Can” and “Drive Sober. No Regrets” will see expanded rollouts throughout 2024, including targeted digital ads, law enforcement collaboration, and outreach events in nightlife districts and college communities.

As reflected in car accident statistics 2024, impaired driving continues to pose a serious challenge to road safety in Houston and demands both community engagement and legal accountability.

Harris County Leads Texas in Fatal Crashes

Harris County recorded the highest number of fatal crashes in Texas in 2024, with 447 deadly collisions leading to 483 deaths. These fatalities make up nearly 10% of all motor vehicle deaths in the state.

Key data points from the report:

• 3,901 suspected serious injury crashes occurred in the county, with 4,580 people seriously hurt
• More than 26,000 injury crashes of varying severity were reported
• Harris County also led in DUI-related crashes, speed-related incidents, and distracted driving cases

The high fatality and injury rates reflect the county’s size and traffic density, including Houston and numerous suburbs. The data also underscores the importance of driver accountability and infrastructure safety improvements, especially on high-speed corridors like I-10, I-45, and Beltway 8.

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.

Please read: 2025 Texas Car Accident Guide

[user-bio id=”1″]