According to data collected by the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), the leading causes of fatal car accidents in Texas are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (DUIs), speeding, and distracted driving. Between 2012 and 2021, nearly 40,000 of the state’s drivers, passengers, and pedestrians were killed due to accidents like these.

Table of Contents

Causes of Fatal Car Accidents in Texas: Year by Year

The Leading Causes of Car Accident Fatalities in Texas

Texas DUI Accidents

According to statewide data, as many as 43% of fatal car accidents in Texas were due to drunk driving and other forms of DUI from 2012-2021. Unsurprisingly, most of these deaths occurred between 2:00 AM and 3:00 AM on Saturday and Sunday, just after bars close. Fatal DUI accidents in Texas are most often caused by male drivers between the ages of 19 and 32. Texas DUI accidents involving deaths began to decrease in 2018 and the following years, perhaps due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Texas Speeding Accidents

The second-leading cause of fatal car and truck accidents in Texas is speeding. Speeding significantly raises the chance that a driver will lose control of his or her vehicle, particularly during bad weather or when other unsafe road conditions are present. In 2021, there was a stunning 7.4% increase in speed-related fatalities in Texas over the previous year, with a total of 1,518 deaths. When it came to pedestrian deaths, 2020 was the worst recent year on record, with 79 killed in Texas speeding accidents.

Texas Distracted Driving Accidents

With the proliferation of mobile devices and growing complexity of automotive touchscreens, drivers have more competing for their attention than ever before—and distracted driving accidents are the inevitable result. More than 14% of fatal auto accidents in Texas are caused by distracted driving, and the State of Texas banned texting while driving in 2017. Like Texas DUI car accidents, this figure fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, but began to rise in 2021. Not all Texas distracted driving accidents are caused by mobile devices. Eating in the car, grooming oneself in a visor mirror, adjusting the radio, and paying too much attention to passengers can all contribute to the problem.

Do I Qualify for a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a DUI, Speeding, or Distracted Driving Car Accident?

In Texas, the driver who is responsible for a car or truck accident is responsible for paying for damages, along with his or her insurance company. Other people injured in the accident have the right to take legal action to seek compensation, and the car accident lawyers and distracted driving accident lawyers at the Roach Law Firm represent clients like these every day.

We have the knowledge and experience to help you with the following:

  • Negotiation with insurance companies
  • Recovery of lost wages, medical expenses, and more
  • Assistance with wrongful death claims

The Roach Law Firm will also handle your case from beginning to end, whether your case results in a substantial settlement or goes all the way to trial. Unlike most of the law firms you see advertised on TV and billboards, we do not outsource your case to inferior lawyers who lack courtroom experience and who agree to unjust settlements.

Next Steps for Families of Victims of Fatal Car Accidents in Texas

If you or a loved one have suffered due to a DUI, speeding, or distracted driving car accident in East Texas or the surrounding region, make sure to find an accident lawyer who is based in the area, who has a long record of substantial verdicts and settlements, and who is willing and able to give you the personal attention you deserve. Your fair compensation depends on it.