Last year, someone was killed in a Texas car accident every 2 hours and 7 minutes — and someone else was injured nearly every 2 minutes.
These numbers from the Texas Department of Transportation aren’t just alarming, they’re a sobering reminder that every trip on Texas roads carries real risk. Behind every number is a family left grieving and lives forever changed.
Understanding why these deadly crashes happen is the first step toward protecting yourself and others on the road. Read on to learn more about Texas traffic fatalities and how our undefeated Texas car accident lawyers stand up, fight, and win the record-setting recoveries families deserve after the devastating loss of a loved one.
The Impact of Traffic Accident Fatalities
In 2024, Texas recorded 4,150 motor vehicle deaths, marking a 3.29% decrease from the 4,291 fatalities reported in 2023. While this is a step in the right direction, the toll remains significant, highlighting that traffic collisions continue to pose a serious public safety and economic threat across the state.
From a financial perspective, the estimated economic loss due to these fatalities totaled approximately $56.9 billion, accounting for medical expenses, lost productivity, and societal impacts.
What Causes Car Accident Deaths in Texas?
Several factors combine to cause road deaths in Texas. For example, while truck accidents are less common than car accidents, the likelihood of a death in a truck accident can be significantly higher. The same is true for accidents involving vulnerable parties, which include pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists.
Other factors that lead to motor vehicle deaths include:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Unsafe road conditions
- Reckless driving or speeding
- Bad weather
- Nighttime driving
This means that the same factors that can result in a car accident can also increase the likelihood that the accident will be fatal.
Your Options After a Fatal Accident in Texas
If you lose a loved one in a fatal car accident in Texas, you may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party. Texas laws are reasonably straightforward when it comes to these types of lawsuits.
Who Can File a Wrongful Death Lawsuit?
You may file a lawsuit if you are the surviving child, spouse, or parent of someone who died due to the negligent, careless, reckless, or intentional act of another. If you don’t file a lawsuit within three months, the representative of the deceased’s estate must then file the lawsuit on your behalf.
What Compensation Is Available?
Typically, a wrongful death lawsuit is similar to a personal injury lawsuit. You can seek compensation for any expenses related to the death of your loved one, and you can also get compensation for loss of companionship and any financial support that the deceased would have provided for you had they lived.
For example, if your spouse dies in a Texas car accident at the age of 30, it is reasonable to assume that had they lived, they would have worked at a comparable job for the next 30 to 35 years, and you would have benefited from that income. This means that you would potentially be eligible to receive compensation for your spouse’s annual income times roughly 30.
Why You Should Act Quickly
To pursue these options, it’s important to consult a Texas wrongful death attorney as soon as possible. They can help you navigate the legal and insurance processes effectively. Unfortunately, these processes require that you move quickly, despite the emotional turmoil you may be suffering after the death of a loved one.
You’ll typically need to bring a wrongful death case within two years of the death of the injured person.
Navigating the Future After Losing a Loved One in a Crash
Texas is a large state with ample vehicle traffic. Unsurprisingly, it has a relatively high number of vehicle deaths every year. However, if your loved one was a victim of one of these crashes, you may have the right to pursue compensation to address the far-reaching impact that loss has on your life, both today and beyond.
For help, contact Zehl & Associates to schedule a free consultation with an Undefeated Texas car accident lawyer.
Contact the Undefeated Midland Personal Injury Lawyers from Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers for Help Today, Call 1-888-603-3636
For more information, please contact our Undefeated personal injury attorneys in Midland, Texas at Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Harris County, Midland County, and throughout the state of Texas. We are located in Houston and Midland and throughout the state of Texas:
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Houston
2700 Post Oak Blvd #1000, Houston, TX 77056
(888) 603-3636
Open 24 hours
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Midland
306 W Wall St Suite 701, Midland, TX 79701
(432) 220-0000
Open 24 hours