Car accidents in Texas happen far too often. Whether accidents are due to inattentive drivers or high-speed limits on some highways is unclear, but it is clear that you need to be careful every time you venture out onto the road. Remember, the best kind of car accident is one that you’ve avoided altogether. We don’t always have a choice, but we can plan ahead for potential dangers if we know what to look for.
The best way to get an idea of what to expect out on the roads of Texas and places like Odessa is to look at the official car accident statistics. You may have heard that Texas is the car accident capital of America, and that’s no joke. Take a look at some of the most notable Texas car accident statistics to find out why and discover how an experienced car accident lawyer can help with your Odessa personal injury case.
Texas Car Accidents By the Numbers
Texas car accidents are getting worse and worse by the year. Since 2010, car accident fatalities in Texas have increased by over a third. That brings the grand total of car accident fatalities to 3,773 people. Of those fatalities, most occurred in rural areas where highway speed limits are high and people travel incredibly fast. Even when drivers don’t hit anyone else, an accident can be fatal – running off the road killed 1,293 people in 2016, which alone accounted for over a third of all fatal accidents.
Not all crashes are fatal, but a good number of them have resulted in serious injury. 17,582 people sustained serious injuries from their incidents over the span of just 14,202 accidents. If you look at any kind of injury sustained, that increases the number to an incredible 265,076 people who were injured in collisions.
When Accidents Occur
Knowing what kind of accidents to look out for is always helpful, but you can play it safe by knowing when accidents occur, as well as potentially avoiding times where the likelihood increases. In terms of the entire year, all months are generally the same in terms of accident distribution, with the exception of February. Accidents are far less likely to occur in that month, though it’s unclear whether it’s simply because there are fewer days in the month. The most dangerous months are April, June, and October.
Accidents tend to occur at different times during the week. Most weekdays are generally safe, with the exception of Monday, in which early morning accidents are common. During the week, most accidents happen in the afternoon on the way home from work. Keep in mind that the rate of Monday afternoon accidents doesn’t differ all that much from other weekday afternoons. It’s only the morning that has increased likelihood.
Saturday and Sunday are a bit different, as Saturday somewhat increases the likelihood of having an accident in the afternoon. Sunday mornings are particularly dangerous as well, but that’s likely because people who were out too late Saturday night are finally driving home.
Weather Conditions and Accidents
Surprisingly enough, the vast majority of accidents occur when it’s clear or just a bit cloudy outside. It is Texas, so that may simply be because it’s clear most of the time, but it’s still an important fact to consider. Rainy conditions can still be dangerous, with 14,344 accidents occurring during the rain in rural areas. After rain, fog is somewhat dangerous with 1,346 accidents occurring in the fog. Conditions like snow and ice found in other states are so rare in Texas, you won’t have to worry about them too much.
Distracted and Impaired Driver Accidents
One of the most common causes of car accidents these days is distracted driving. In fact, out of all the accidents in 2016, 109,629 of them were caused by distracted driving. Of these accidents, 412 accidents caused someone to die and 2,512 accidents left people incapacitated. Fortunately, this is actually an improvement compared to last year. A day hasn’t gone by in Texas without a traffic fatality in nearly 10 years, but at least distracted driving practices are getting better.
Impaired driving is another serious problem plaguing the country. Despite the increased public knowledge of the dangers of drunk driving, people still attempt it, and the results are often disastrous. Only .62% of total car accidents were fatal in Texas, but 3.6% of DUI crashes caused someone to die. Not only are these accidents more deadly, but they put other drivers at risk who weren’t driving impaired.
Hire an Odessa Personal Injury Lawyer
If you’ve been involved in a car accident in Texas near Odessa, you deserve representation that can get you the damages you’re owed. For an Odessa personal injury lawyer, you can count on, look no further than Braker White. With our years of experience, you can be sure we’ll stand up to the insurance companies for you and increase your chances of getting the payment you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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