Houston Car Accident Statistics
Houston has over 2.3 million residents. As the most populous city in Texas, Houston also has more registered vehicles and more car accidents than any other city in the state.
But population does not explain the sheer number of Houston car accidents. Houston has 8% of Texas’s population but a whopping 16% of Texas’s car accidents. Based on its population, Houston has twice as many car accidents as it should.
Read on for an overview of Houston car accident statistics. If you’ve been in a collision, contact the experienced Houston car accident attorneys at Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers today for a free consultation. Give us a call at (713) 500-5000.
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How Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in Houston
Experience and knowledge can make a big difference in the outcome of your case. Attorney Brian White is certified in personal injury trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization – a distinction held by only 3% of attorneys in Texas.
Our firm’s legal team has over 45 years of combined experience helping accident victims throughout Harris County. During that time, our Houston personal injury lawyers have recovered tens of millions of dollars in injury compensation for our clients.
Our firm has received many honors and awards. We’re a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and have a perfect-10.0 Superb rating on Avvo.
When you hire our team to represent you after a car crash, you can expect us to:
- Investigate your accident and determine all avenues for compensation
- Consult leading experts regarding your case
- Negotiate with insurance companies and others on your behalf
- Fight tactics used to undervalue or deny your claim
- Take your case to court if the opposing party refuses to negotiate fairly
To discuss your Houston car accident and the compensation you can seek, contact Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers.
How Common Are Houston Car Accidents?
In 2021, Houston had 66,988 traffic accidents. This total equates to roughly 184 car accidents every day or 7.6 accidents every hour. What’s even more shocking is that 52,128 people were injured in Houston car accidents in 2021. This number is roughly equivalent to 2.2% of Houston’s population.
Houston’s numbers make it significantly more dangerous than the rest of the country. The car accident fatality rate across the U.S. is 11 deaths per 100,000 residents. Houston has 14.2 car accident deaths per 100,000 residents.
Overview of Houston Car Accident Statistics
Most of Houston’s car accidents cause only property damage. Of the 156,289 people involved in Houston car crashes in 2021, 126,066 walked away without any injuries. Slightly more than 21% of people involved in car accidents were injured or killed.
These accidents happened most frequently on undivided highways. But divided highways were close behind. Based on use, interstate highways had the lowest crash rate.
What Car Accidents Get Counted in Texas?
The Texas Department of Transportation counts all traffic accidents, including those involving commercial trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians.
And while Texas is one of the most dangerous states for motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians, the overwhelming majority of traffic accidents involve passenger cars and commercial trucks.
Texas also includes single-vehicle accidents. In Texas, single-vehicle accidents account for about 34% of traffic fatalities.
What Causes Houston Car Accidents?
When police officers in Texas prepare a crash report, they identify factors that contributed to the crash. A crash can have more than one contributing factor. For example, a collision where a distracted driver hits a speeding driver would have two contributing factors.
The most common contributing factor in Texas urban crashes like those in Houston is speeding. Speeding reduces a driver’s time to react to road, weather, or traffic conditions. It also increases the energy involved in the crash, leading to worse outcomes.
The second most common contributing factor is driver inattention. Distracted driving was identified as a contributing factor in 12,010 car crashes in Harris County.
Distracted driving crashes have exploded recently due to the use of mobile electronic devices while driving. But it’s not just smartphones — anything that takes your eyes, hands, or mind off driving can pose a distraction.
The third-most common contributing factor is an improper lane change. Improper lane changes can result from improper lookout, inattention, or even intoxication.
Another common contributing factor is intoxicated driving. Driving while drunk or drugged is entirely preventable. Houston had 2,452 drunk driving crashes in 2019. These crashes killed 74 and injured 1,253.
What Types of Injuries Usually Happen in Houston Car Accidents?
Of those involved in Houston car accidents in 2021, 0.2% died of their injuries. Another 21% suffered a range of injuries.
Over 21,000 complained of pain or other symptoms without having any visible injuries. Some 7,231 had visible but non-life-threatening injuries like cuts and bruises.
Altogether, 1,595 had injuries serious enough to require paramedics or an ambulance. These injuries included broken bones, paralysis, or a brain injury that rendered the accident victim unable to drive themselves to the hospital.
Who is Liable in Houston Car Accidents?
When someone causes an accident through negligence, they bear liability for the property damage and injuries that result. Negligence happens when a driver fails to exercise reasonable care while driving.
Looking at the top four contributing factors of car accidents in Houston, the driver who acted negligently was the driver who:
- Was speeding
- Drove while distracted
- Changed lanes improperly
- Drove while intoxicated
If you can prove negligence, you can recover the economic and non-economic damages that you suffered due to your injuries.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Houston Car Accident Lawyers
Car accidents happen too frequently in Houston. You can seek injury compensation when you get injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence. Contact Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your case and the compensation you might seek.
