Car accidents can happen anytime, from backing out of a parking space to traveling on I-10 or US-59, and driver error is often a contributing factor. Crashes happen frequently across Texas, but that doesn’t make the experience any less stressful for the people involved.
Understanding the common causes of car accidents in Texas can help you stay safe on the road, protect your rights after an accident, and assist in determining liability. Joe Stephens has successfully settled thousands of car accident cases in the state, understands how accidents happen, and will use his experience to provide effective legal representation for your case.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Major factors contributing to car accidents in Texas include distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence, failure to yield the right of way, and running red lights or stop signs. These behaviors significantly increase the risk of crashes.
- In Texas, over 91,000 crashes in 2024 were attributed to distracted driving, with activities like texting, adjusting GPS, or eating behind the wheel diverting attention and increasing accident risk.
- Alcohol and drug impairment, which contributed to over 1,000 fatalities in Texas in 2024, severely affects driving abilities, impairing judgment, reaction time, and coordination.
- Texas drivers should follow safety measures like avoiding phone use, obeying traffic signals, and adjusting for weather conditions to reduce the risk of accidents. Keeping a safe distance and driving sober are key to safer roads
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving includes any action that takes a driver’s attention away from the road. Distracted driving is a leading cause of car accidents in the state, with Texas car accident statistics attributing 91,442 crashes to distracted driving in 2024, according to the Texas Department of Transportation.
Common distractions include:
- Texting while driving
- Looking at or adjusting your GPS
- Looking at or adjusting the radio or air conditioning
- Eating or drinking while driving
- Having a conversation with passengers
- Reaching for something in the backseat
- Daydreaming
Even a brief lapse in attention can be dangerous. Looking away from the road or taking your hands off the wheel can slow your reaction time, cause you to drift out of your lane, miss a traffic signal or stop sign, and increase the risk of a crash.
Speeding and Unsafe Speed
Speeding is a significant contributor to accidents in Texas, resulting in over 140,000 crash-related incidents annually. Speeding makes it harder to stay in control, shortens the time you have to react, increases stopping distance, and can make a crash more severe.
Drivers should always adjust their speed to match the road conditions, such as rain, heavy traffic, or sharp turns. Especially in wet conditions, taking a turn too quickly can cause a driver to lose control easily. On a quiet, country road, it might be easy to speed, but if a sudden hazard appears, you may not be able to stop in time to prevent a collision if you’re speeding.
Driving Under the Influence
Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is a leading cause of fatalities in car accidents. In 2024, 1,053 people died in motor vehicle crashes involving an alcohol-impaired driver, accounting for a quarter of all traffic-related fatalities in Texas. TxDOT reports many impaired-driving fatalities occur in the early morning hours, commonly around 2 to 3 a.m., and especially on weekends.
Driving under the influence severely impairs a driver’s judgment, reaction time, coordination, and vision. Alcohol is not the only substance that can impair your ability to drive. Some drugs and even prescription drugs can impact your driving ability, especially when taken with alcohol.
Accidents happen—but that doesn’t mean you have to face the aftermath alone. Attorney Joe Stephens will walk you through your options and handle the hard stuff so you can focus on getting better.
Failure To Yield Right of Way
Failing to yield the right of way is often a major factor in accidents at intersections, during left turns, at four-way stops, or when merging. Side-impact collisions often happen when drivers fail to yield the right of way, such as misjudging another vehicle’s speed or distance before turning in front of oncoming traffic or trying to merge onto the highway.
Accidents can also happen at four-way stops if someone doesn’t know who has the right of way and begins to travel through the stop sign at the same time as another driver. Drivers attempting to merge into traffic can cause accidents if they fail to check their blind spots, match the speed of surrounding vehicles, or drive recklessly.
Failure to yield can also be a danger if a driver doesn’t check for pedestrians or bicyclists before driving through an intersection. In 2024, over 6,000 crashes involved a driver hitting a pedestrian, and nearly 3,000 involved bicyclists in Texas.
Running Red Lights and Stop Signs
Drivers who are distracted or impatient are more likely to roll through stop signs or run red lights, which raises the risk of a crash, especially at busy intersections in large cities like Houston. In 2024, 1,050 fatal crashes occurred in intersections or were related to an intersection in Texas.
Not stopping at a signal raises the risk of serious car accidents because oncoming traffic isn’t expected to slow down, leading to T-bone crashes. Always be especially careful near intersections and come to a complete stop.
How to Reduce Your Risk of a Car Accident in Texas
With an average of over 1,500 accidents per day in Texas, drivers should always be aware of the risks on the road.
When you’re driving, keep your safety a priority by:
- Put your phone away while driving
- Obey all road signs and traffic signals
- Slow down at intersections
- Never drive under the influence
- Keep a safe following distance
- Follow the speed limit
- Always wear your seat belt
- Adjust your driving for weather conditions
Texas weather can change quickly, and the state has seen significant winter storms in recent years. Snow and rain can reduce visibility, and wet roads can make it harder to stop. Slow down in wintry conditions, leave extra following distance, and drive with your headlights on.
For more information on Texas accidents, the Texas Department of Transportation provides annual crash statistics by county, including causes and injuries.
How Attorney Joe Stephens Secured a $1.2 Million Car Accident Settlement
Car crashes can lead to serious injuries that need urgent medical care, and Joe Stephens knows how to ensure you get compensation for your losses. When a driver ran a stop sign, our client, Monica, was badly hurt. Her claims were initially disputed, but with a surgeon’s expert testimony and her medical records, we showed that this accident caused her injuries, helping her recover a significant settlement.
Joe and The Stephens Law Firm will build a solid case for you, backed by evidence, so we can help you recover the settlement you deserve.
Schedule Your Free Consultation With Our Texas Car Accident Lawyer
Many of the common causes of car accidents in Texas are preventable and often contribute to driver error. If you’ve been injured in a car accident, Joe Stephens will help you recover.
Joe and The Stephens Law Firm will provide you with personalized, dedicated representation and aggressively negotiate on your behalf. The firm operates on a contingency basis, so you won’t owe us anything unless we win your case.
If you’ve been hurt in a Texas car accident, contact The Stephens Law Firm for your free consultation or call (281) 201-0035.
