How Often Does Someone Die In A Texas Car Accident?
Car crashes in Fort Worth, TX, can cause injuries ranging from bruises to brain injuries. Victims survive most of these injuries. How often does someone die in a Texas car accident? Over 4,000 Texas crash victims succumb to their injuries annually.
The deceased victims often leave behind spouses, children, parents, and others who rely on them for love and financial support. You deserve justice and compensation after losing a loved one in a car accident.
A Fort Worth car accident lawyer from Stephens Law Firm, PLLC, pursues a wrongful death claim against anyone responsible for causing the car accident. You can contact us online or call (817) 420 7000 for more help.
Table of Contents
How Stephens Law Firm, PLLC Can Help After An Accident In Fort Worth, TX
Stephens Law Firm, PLLC was established in 2003 to represent accident victims in Fort Worth, Texas, against those responsible for hurting them. Our attorneys have over 35 years of combined experience standing up to at-fault parties and their insurers. We are known as “difference makers,” providing trustworthy and compassionate legal representation.
We provide the following services after someone else’s negligent or wrongful actions injure you:
- Analyze your situation and identify the legal claims you may have
- Gather evidence, including medical records, for your case
- File an insurance claim with the at-fault party’s liability insurer
- Negotiate to settle your case and file a lawsuit if a settlement is not reached
A fatal car accident can leave survivors with emotional and financial losses. Contact Stephens Law Firm, PLLC for a free consultation with a Fort Worth car accident lawyer to discuss your loved one’s accident and how we can help you fight for fair compensation.
How Common Are Car Accident Fatalities In Texas?
According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), 4,283 people died in car accidents in 2023. The state’s statistics quantify this number in a few ways.
Based on the number of crashes and the duration of a year, TxDOT calculated that someone died in a Texas crash every two hours and three minutes. In other words, if you spread the number of deaths evenly throughout the year, one death occurred about every two hours.
However, car accident deaths don’t happen in this pattern. According to the state’s statistics, the most common time for fatal crashes is the late evening. Over three times as many people died in crashes between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. as in crashes between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m.
The state also calculated the fatality rate based on vehicle miles traveled (VMT). This rate is somewhat helpful because it accounts for variations in road usage. In other words, the total number of fatalities may drop in one year simply because people did not travel as much.
According to TxDOT, the fatality rate in 2023 was 1.4 deaths per 100 million VMT. This means one person died for every 71 million miles traveled by Texas drivers.
Odds Of Dying Based On Collision Type (According To TxDOT)
The odds of dying in a car accident vary widely based on the type of crash. The following crash types have a higher risk of causing fatalities:
Motorcycle Accidents
In 2023, Texas had 421,736 total multi-vehicle collisions, including 1,661 fatal multi-vehicle collisions. In other words, over 421,000 car accidents involved a collision between two motor vehicles. About 0.4% of these crashes caused at least one fatality.
Motorcycle accidents had a much higher fatality rate. In 2023, 9,405 motorcycle operators and passengers were involved in traffic accidents. Of these, 599 suffered fatal injuries, giving a motorcyclist fatality rate of over 6%.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents are dangerous because pedestrians wear nothing to protect them from a collision. TxDOT reported 5,921 pedestrian accidents in 2023, 799 of which were fatal. This results in a pedestrian fatality crash rate of over 13%.
Speeding Accidents
Speeding increases the crash energy generated by a collision, causing more severe property damage and injuries. State statistics identified 2,630 crashes involving drivers who exceeded the speed limit. These crashes included 295 fatal collisions, meaning over 11% of speeding accidents ended with at least one death.
DUI Accidents
Intoxicated drivers usually do not have the time or alertness to slow down before hitting someone. As a result, many DUI crashes happen at full speed. Additionally, DUI drivers are notorious for wrong-way crashes. These head-on collisions are very dangerous for both the intoxicated driver and the people they hit.
In 2023, Texas had 15,775 crashes involving drivers under the influence of alcohol and 2,226 crashes involving a driver under the influence of drugs. These crashes included 843 fatal collisions, giving a fatal crash rate of nearly 5%.
Contact Our Fort Worth Car Accident Lawyers For A Free Consultation
You deserve fair compensation from those responsible for your loved one’s death. Contact Stephens Law Firm, PLLC for a free consultation to discuss the fatal crash and your options for seeking compensation from those who caused it.
