Every year, the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) collects data on motor vehicle accidents. The most recent data reveals Houston leads Texas not only in the overall number of crashes, but also in fatal car accidents and crashes involving serious injuries. In 2019, Houston had 68,682 car accidents, which included 3,600 fatalities (over a 10% increase as compared to 2018). In addition, a study by the Accident Data Center concluded that Interstate 45 (I-45) is the most dangerous highway in the entire nation. This highway averaged about 56.5 fatal accidents per 100 miles.
Road safety is obviously a very serious issue for those who live in and/or drive in the Greater Houston area. Motor vehicle accidents happen hundreds of thousands of times per year across the country. They are so widespread, in fact, that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) treats them as a primary concern. Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death in the United States and a major source of patients in U.S. hospital emergency rooms.
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Common Causes of Houston Motor Vehicle Accidents
Driver behavior is one of the main causes of car accidents, but problems with a vehicle and environmental factors also cause or contribute to Houston motor vehicle accidents. Some of the most common car crash causes include:
- Texting and driving
- Distracted driving
- Drunk driving
- Fatigued driving
- Being unfamiliar with the route
- Aggressive driving
- Automotive defects (tires, airbags, seatbelts, and more)
- Speeding
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Poor weather conditions
- Poor road conditions
- Tailgating
- Driving under the influence of drugs
The trial-tested, experienced injury lawyers of Minces Rankin handle a variety of motor vehicle accident cases, including pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, dram shop accidents, motorcycle accidents, trucking accidents, Uber or Lyft ridesharing accidents, rollover accidents, and more.
Houston Car Accident Lawyers
If you were injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, in Texas, you have only two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, typically measured from the day of the crash. This is why it is important to talk with an attorney as soon as possible. Two years might seem like a long time to you, but it takes months to investigate the crash, the causes, and to understand the full extent of your injuries.
It is very important not to sign away your rights in exchange for a quick settlement without consulting with both a doctor and a knowledgeable attorney. If you were not hurt in a Texas car accident and only suffered property damage, then you likely can handle the insurance claim on your own. However, you should contact an automobile accident attorney if you suffered injuries in a car accident, or your loved one was killed in a crash. If you suffered a motor vehicle accident injury, then you should speak with a Houston trial attorney about your legal rights. Texas drivers are legally required to carry insurance that covers bodily injury and property damage.