Undefeated Midland Car Accident Lawyers
Car accidents in Midland, TX, have surged over 15% since 2020, resulting in a troubling increase in severe injuries and tragic fatalities.
In the heart of the Permian Basin, the Midland-Odessa area’s growing population and booming oil and gas industry have not only increased traffic, but also made accidents far more dangerous. With more commercial vehicles like 18-wheelers, oil tankers, and work trucks on the road, crashes are significantly more devastating than those in other regions — and often entirely preventable.
If you or your loved one were injured by a reckless driver in Midland, TX, you need accident lawyers who know how to stand up, fight, and win for you.
With Billions won and the largest verdicts and settlements in Texas, Zehl & Associates does whatever it takes to seek the justice and compensation your family deserves. We have the resources, skill, and experience to take on any unsafe driver or company in the world and not only win, but set records.
Read on to learn more about the alarming uptick in Midland County car crashes and how our Undefeated Midland Car Accident Lawyers can protect your legal rights and secure your family’s future after a serious accident.
Midland, Texas Car Accidents Statistics
Midland has one of the highest car accident rates in the Lone Star State. Last year, Midland experienced over 3,000 car accidents. Of these:
- 959 were injury-related crashes
- 1,359 individuals were injured
- 20 people tragically lost their lives
However, these figures likely underestimate the true extent of the problem. The Midland Police Department’s recent change in response policy means that many accidents, especially minor ones, went unreported in 2023.
Despite these gaps, the data gathered by Midland’s Traffic Operations Division reveals some alarming trends. Traffic volume across the city rose by 15% in 2023 compared to the previous year, while injury-related crashes increased by 9%. Even more alarming, the number of car accident fatalities has nearly doubled over the past five years.
In response, the Midland Police Department announced in July 2024 that it would ramp up traffic enforcement, focusing on high-risk areas like major intersections and school zones. Many officers are already working overtime to help curb the rising number of accidents and keep Midland’s roads safer for everyone.
Midland-Odessa’s Most Dangerous Roadways
City data reveals that seven of Midland’s top 10 high-crash locations are interchanges along Loop 250 or Interstate 20. Year after year, the interchange of Loop 250 and Andrews Highway has ranked as the most dangerous location, and it again had the highest number of crashes reported in 2023.
Midland locations with the highest number of accidents:
- Loop 250 & Andrews Hwy
- Loop 250 & Thomason Dr.
- Loop 250 & Big Spring St.
- I-20 & Rankin Hwy
- Midkiff Rd. & Wadley Ave.
- Loop 250 & Midland Dr.
- Longview Ave. & Belmont St.
- Andrews Hwy & Midland Dr.
- Loop 250 & Midkiff Rd.
- Garfield St. & Front St.
These high-crash locations are also the busiest intersections within Midland’s city limits, underscoring the dangers posed by heavy traffic.
Outside the city, Midland County’s rural roadways are even more deadly. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 24 lives were tragically lost on these roads in 2023, surpassing the fatalities recorded within the city. The deadliest accidents occurred on U.S. and state highways, farm to market roads, and interstates including “Death Highway” U.S. 285, Farm-to-Market Road 1788, and State Highway 158.
The heavy presence of oil and gas trucks on these rural roads has made them significantly more dangerous. The increased weight and size of industrial vehicles have not only caused more severe crashes, but contributed to the deterioration of many roadways, which has worsened driving conditions — and made it far more unsafe — for anyone behind the wheel.
Common Causes of Car Accidents in Midland, TX
In Midland, as in other areas dominated by oil and gas drilling activities, car and truck accidents are often entirely preventable and typically result from careless, reckless driving and corporate negligence. Many of these accidents involve commercial trucks operated by drivers under pressure to meet tight deadlines, leading to unsafe behaviors on the road.
Frequent causes of crashes in the Midland-Odessa area include:
Unqualified or Inexperienced Drivers: A historic shortage of experienced truck drivers has led to an influx of novice operators. In fact, many fatal truck accidents involve drivers without a valid Commercial Drivers License (CDL).
Fatigue: Especially common in oil producing regions, exhausted drivers are often pressured to rush and ignore federal safety regulations that limit the hours they are allowed to work. A fatigued driver is just as impaired as a drunk driver with a Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) of .10.
Impaired Driving: The constant demand to deliver goods on time can push some drivers to use substances to stay awake or “self medicate” to deal with the pressure. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs impairs judgment and reaction times, significantly increasing the risk of accidents.
Distracted driving: Any activity that causes a driver to take their attention away from the road (texting, talking on the phone,eating, reading a billboard) can lead to an accident.
Speeding: The majority of accidents on Texas two-lane roads, including in Midland, happen at speeds over 60 miles per hour. Higher speeds lead to more severe crashes due to the greater force of impact.
Aggression: Aggressive driving, such as tailgating, unsafe lane changing, and improper passing, causes up to 40% of all truck accidents in the nation, and is especially dangerous on two-lane roads where there is very limited space to avoid a truck driver’s reckless actions.
Any of these behaviors can lead to a catastrophic car or truck accident. To protect yourself, always stay alert, follow traffic laws, and avoid distractions. If you feel fatigued, pull over and rest. Practicing defensive driving is crucial when sharing Midland’s roads with commercial vehicles and heavy traffic.
Hurt in a Midland Car Accident? What You Need to Do
After a car accident, your first priority should be seeking medical attention and ensuring your safety. If you want to hold the responsible party accountable, it’s important to act quickly and avoid actions that could harm your case. Follow these steps to protect your rights:
Call 911: Even if the accident seems minor and you don’t believe you were injured, it’s best to call the authories and have the police or highway patrol come to the scene. In doing so, you’ll ensure that an official report documenting the accident is available should you choose to take legal action against the trucking company or other responsible parties.
Gather Information: Share contact and insurance details with the other driver and gather information from witnesses. If the other vehicle involved is a large truck or other commercial motor vehicle, make sure to write down the truck’s license plate number and DOT number, the trucking company’s name and contact information, the trucker’s CDL number, and the license numbers of any other vehicles involved.
Document the Scene: If conditions are safe, take pictures or videos of the crash scene, including vehicle damage, road conditions, and any relevant traffic signs or signals.
Seek Medical Treatment: As a precaution and to ensure any injuries you suffered are fully documented, you’ll want to get checked out at the ER or urgent care. Not all injuries are apparent immediately after a crash, so no matter how good you might feel, you need to be seen by a medical professional.
Don’t Speak with the Other Party’s Insurance Adjuster: Speaking with the other party’s claims adjuster, giving a recorded statement, or signing anything could prevent you from ever obtaining compensation for all of your injuries and losses. NEVER speak to their insurers or sign anything before consulting with a lawyer.
Follow Medical Advice: If you were hurt, follow your doctor’s orders and keep records of all medical bills and treatments related to the accident. Adhering to your treatment plan not only helps ensure your physical recovery but also denies the insurance company an opportunity to cast doubt on the seriousness of your injuries.
Contact an Experienced Lawyer: Reach out to our undefeated car accident lawyers for a free consultation. We’ll guide you through the legal process and stop at nothing to recover the maximum compensation for your injuries and injuries.
How Zehl & Associates Can Help After a Car Accident in Midland, TX
At Zehl & Associates, our clients are our top priority.
When you hire us, we make sure you receive the best medical treatment possible, including access to the top doctors and specialists in the country for your injuries. We make sure your medical bills and reasonable living expenses are covered while your case is pending, so you can focus on what matters most. We NEVER accept an inadequate settlement offer and prepare every case for trial to recover the maximum compensation. And we ensure that we recover the full compensation you deserve — no matter what.
Most importantly, our legal team and support staff treat our clients like family. We are available around the clock, day and night, to answer questions and assist you in whatever way possible — because that’s who we are and that’s how we work.
We stand by you every step of the way.
Undefeated Midland Vehicle Accident Attorneys: Call 432-220-0000 for a Free Consult
With Billions won, our Undefeated Midland Car Wreck Lawyers have repeatedly secured the largest verdicts and settlements in history for car and truck accident victims across West Texas, who were injured or tragically killed by negligent and reckless drivers.
If you or a loved one were injured or tragically killed in a Midland car crash, call 432-220-0000 or send us a confidential email through our Contact Us form.
We’ll answer all your questions, explain your rights and options, and provide you with all the information you need to decide what’s best for you and your family.
The consultation is free, and you won’t owe us anything unless we win your case.