Car AccidentsThousands of Texans traverse the Lone Star State’s vast highways and byways daily.
From Austin’s vibrant streets to Galveston’s serene shores, Texas roads are bustling arteries of life and commerce. Unfortunately, a sobering reality lies beneath the daily hustle and commotion—car accidents in Texas happen far too often.
Roadway safety has become a pressing concern for Texans and policymakers alike. But as the saying goes—knowledge is power.
So in this blog, we want to equip you with comprehensive and data-driven Texas car accident statistics in the hope that you’ll better understand what hazards to avoid and the safety issues to consider before hitting the road.
If you have any questions or would like to speak with a Texas car accident lawyers, please contact us today.
Texas Car Accident Statistics: A Bird’s Eye View
In 2022 Texas car crashes resulted in an economic loss of $55,900,000,000. In the same year, Texas vehicles drove a total of 289.965 billion miles, a 1.66% increase from the 285.244 billion driven in 2021. The billions of miles driven resulted in the following:
- One crash every 55 seconds;
- One injury every two minutes and nine seconds, representing 244,092 people; and
- One death every one hour and 55 minutes, representing a total of 4,481 people.
While there were no deathless days in 2022, the good news is that the fatality rate of 1.55 deaths per hundred million people on Texas roadways decreased by 1.99% from 2021.
As for the deadliest hour to travel Texas roadways, Saturdays between 2 am and 3 am were the worst, while more crashes occurred on Saturdays in general than any other day of the week. As for the deadliest month, September takes the prize. In 2022, 427 people were killed in September alone.
Drunk driving accounted for many Texas accidents in 2022 and resulted in 1,163 deaths. This figure accounted for 25.95% of the total number of people killed in Texas crashes.
Distracted driving resulted in 448 deaths, an 11% increase from 2021. But numerous other factors caused accidents as well, including the following:
- 136,165 attributed to speeding;
- 84,887 attributed to driver inattention;
- 45,833 attributed to unsafe lane changes;
- 45,632 attributed to failing to stay in a single lane; and
- 16,358 attributed to disregarding a stop light or sign.
Based on its population, Harris County unsurprisingly accounted for the most crashes in 2022, coming in at 115,584 accidents. And Houston was the most accident-prone city.
Conversely, Kent County accounted for the least number of accidents, with only 10 crashes. Overall, more crashes occurred on urban Texas highways than on Interstates or U.S Highways.
Car Accident Statistics by Age and Gender
While drivers of all ages can be safe or dangerous drivers, drivers between the ages of 19-24 accounted for more accidents on Texas roads than any other age group. Conversely, older drivers over 72 had substantially fewer car accidents than any other demographic.
Car accident fatalities in 2022 were also highest for males between the ages of 20 and 35 and lowest for females between 40 and 60.
Non-Fatal Car Accident Statistics
A whopping 244,092 non-fatal injury crashes occurred in Texas in 2022. And approximately 15,299 of those resulted in serious injury.
October was the worst month for non-fatal crashes in 2022, resulting in 51,085 accidents. The slowest month was July, which came in at 41,385 crashes.
Non-fatal crashes were also more likely to occur on Saturdays between 3 and 4 p.m. and least likely to occur on Sundays between 4 and 5 a.m.
Motorcycle vs. Car Accident Statistics
Motorcycles lack a car’s protective features, such as seat belts, airbags, and a sturdy metal frame.
For obvious reasons, these deficits leave riders more vulnerable to a collision’s impact and more likely to be directly exposed to its force.
This vulnerability can lead to severe injuries or fatalities. Motorcycles also offer less stability and are more susceptible to losing control on uneven or slippery road surfaces, which means even a minor loss of balance can result in a serious accident.
Additionally, motorcycles are smaller and less visible on the road. This makes it easier for other drivers to overlook or fail to notice them and increases the likelihood of collisions.
Given a motorcycle’s inherent dangers, it should be no surprise that motorcycle accidents are more likely to result in death than car accidents.
In fact, according to the administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 16% of all vehicle fatalities in Texas involve motorcyclists.
In 2022, motorcycle crashes accounted for 562 motorcyclist deaths, representing an 8% increase from 2021. Moreover, 39% of those killed weren’t wearing helmets when they crashed.
Similarly, 60% percent of people killed in car accidents in 2022 weren’t wearing seat belts when their accidents occurred. The takeaway? Both motorcycle and vehicle safety measures save lives.
Car Accident Head Injury Statistics
Motor vehicle accidents are the third most common cause of traumatic brain injuries. This is likely because, in a car accident, a direct impact or sudden deceleration often causes significant jarring.
While there aren’t a ton of current car accident head injury statistics for Texas, according to the CDC, nearly 44,000 people died from car accident-related injuries in 2022 across the U.S.
If you suffered a head injury in a Texas car accident, first, seek medical attention. Don’t wait. Even a slight knock on the head can be serious, and its effects can take time to present itself.
Afterward, consult with an experienced car accident attorney who understands Texas car accident laws and can help you understand your rights and options.
The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C.: Your Car Accident Advocates
If you suffered an injury during a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you know the toll it can take on your health and finances.
At The Zimmerman Law Firm, P.C., we have 85 years of shared experience and dedicated car accident know-how and have put it to work for our clients, securing over nine million dollars in settlements and verdicts.
We can review your case, explain your options, and fight for the compensation you deserve. We pride ourselves on our personalized service and aggressive representation, and will work tirelessly to secure a just settlement.
Contact us online or call 254-232-6283 for a free consultation, and rest assured knowing that our award-winning car accident attorneys are on the case.
Michael Zimmerman
Michael was born in Houston, Texas. His education at Baylor and Texas State Universities earned him a Bachelor of Science degree in 1987. His major was in Biology with a Minor in Chemistry. He finished his legal education at Texas Southern University in 1990, earning a Juris Doctorate from Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1990.
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