Fatal Car Accidents in Houston

A car accident is one of the most devastating experiences a human can endure, especially when it ends in the death of a driver and/or one or more passengers. Sadly, fatal car accidents result in approximately one death every two hours in Texas. In 2022, not a single calendar day in Texas passed without a traffic death. Collisions between motor vehicles are the most common type of fatal car accident, representing 63% of fatal injuries while collisions between a vehicle and a fixed object are the second leading cause of fatal accidents at 26% of deaths.

In at-fault insurance states like Texas, it’s necessary to investigate accidents to prove a driver’s negligence and liability. This process is crucial to recover damages like medical expenses and lost wages in a Texas car accident claim or for family members to gain compensation in a car accident wrongful death claim. It is important to work with an experienced auto accident attorney, like those at The Doan Law Firm, who have a deep understanding of fatal car accidents and the process of filing and negotiating for compensation to give you the best chance at obtaining full and fair compensation.

Fatal Car Accident Causes in Houston and Other Urban Areas of Texas

The two most common causes of fatal car accidents in rural and urban areas of Texas are the same—speeding and distracted driving. However, the other leading causes of car accidents in urban areas like Houston are more commonly related to high traffic volume and failure to adhere to traffic laws, while in rural areas accidents are more often caused by overcorrection, animals in the roadway, and intoxication.

Traffic fatalities in Houston often result from the following types of car accidents:

• Head-on collisions
• Side-impact collisions
• Accidents involving large commercial trucks
• Rear-end collisions
• Rollover accidents

Startling Statistics in Fatal Car Crashes in Texas

Texas drivers log a total of over 288 billion miles driven within the state each year, including in Houston’s busy metro area. Sadly, Texas has some of the nation’s most alarming traffic accident records, including the following:

• Texas has the country’s highest number of commercial truck accidents, exceeding the second-highest state (California) by 137% more accidents
• Texas is one of the nation’s top-five states for drunk-driving-related traffic deaths with one alcohol-related car accident death every 8.5 hours. There was a total of 1,163 people killed in alcohol-related car accidents in Texas in 2022, equaling 25.9% of all traffic deaths in the state
• In 2022, 484 motorists and pedestrians were killed in Texas due to distracted drivers
• There were 317 crashes in Houston in 2021 with nine fatalities
• In 2022, 48.03% of car accident fatalities in Texas occurred to motorists who were not properly restrained
• 1,030 motorists were killed in traffic accidents in intersections in Texas in 2022

Compensation For Traffic Accident Wrongful Death in Texas

Texas is a fault-based insurance state for car accidents. When a driver’s negligent, reckless, or wrongful actions behind the wheel cause a car accident fatality in Houston, close family members can recover compensation for their economic damages. Common damages include the lost income of a provider for the remaining working years they had left had they not died, funeral expenses, and compensation for the loss of companionship or support. A successful wrongful death claim after a fatal car accident in Texas also provides a sense of justice for grieving family members.