Car Accident Statistics in San Antonio, Texas

Texas is one of the worst states in the nation for car accidents. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found Texas had the highest number of auto accident fatalities in the U.S. during the first nine months of a recent year, with 3,300 lives lost. Additional data from the state Department of Transportation recorded nearly 20,000 serious injuries from collisions during the same year. 

After a car crash, Texas law allows injured people to seek compensation for their losses if someone else is at fault. If you have a potential legal claim against a negligent driver in San Antonio, an experienced car accident lawyer from the Law Offices of Troy A. Brookover can help you pursue the money you need for your recovery. 

Attorney Troy A. Brookover has over 30 years of legal experience in Texas, advocating for thousands of clients in and out of the courtroom. Our personal injury law firm has a proven record of success that includes recovering multiple six-and seven-figure awards for deserving clients. Let us help you get your life back on track.   

If you suffered injuries in a car accident that could have been prevented, contact us today at 210-941-1515 or fill out our online form for a free case review. 

Top Reasons for Car Accidents That You Need to Know

Some of the most frequent causes of car accidents include:

Drunk Driving Accidents: How Many Crashes Involve Intoxication?

NHTSA statistics show about 31 percent of all fatal traffic accidents in the U.S. involved a motorist with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 or higher. On average, 36 people nationwide die in alcohol-involved motor vehicle accidents every day. That’s one death every 39 minutes. 

In a recent year, the U.S. saw 13,384 fatalities from motor vehicle accidents involving alcohol impairment. Closer to home, TxDOT recorded over 1,000 deaths from drunk driving crashes in Texas in one year, accounting for nearly one-quarter of all motor vehicle deaths in the state. 

Speeding-Related Accidents: What Percentage of Car Crashes Involve Speeding?

The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that speed caused or contributed to 29 percent of all traffic fatalities nationwide in a recent year, killing 12,330 people in 11,057 accidents. That’s an average of 33 deaths per day. 

Males accounted for most of the drivers in speed-related collisions. Men between the ages of 15 and 24 were most frequently involved in fatal traffic accidents due to speeding. Female drivers from the same age group accounted for 19 percent of drivers involved in fatal speeding accidents.

Shocking Statistics: How Many People Don’t Wear Seatbelts During a Car Accident?

According to the NSC, seat belt use among vehicle occupants rose to 91.6 percent in one recent year. Although most people use seat belts, those who don’t face a significant risk of death in a car accident. Still, unrestrained vehicle occupants accounted for about half of all traffic accident fatalities. In Texas, around 46 percent of people killed in car accidents were not restrained.

When Do Most Car Accidents Occur? Find Out Now

NSC data indicates that most motor vehicle accidents occur on weekends. Fatal crashes accounted for 17 percent of all car accidents on Saturdays and over 12 percent of nonfatal collisions. Nearly 16 percent of deadly accidents and 11 percent of nonfatal crashes occurred on Sundays. As for the time of day, most fatal accidents occurred from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The period from noon to 4 p.m. also had a fatal accident rate slightly higher than average. 

Fatal Car Accidents: Key Stats You Should Be Aware Of

Statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) found car accidents resulted in 38,824 deaths in a recent year. Alcohol, speeding, lack of seat belt use, and distraction were among the leading causes of deadly crashes. August was the deadliest month for motorists, and most fatal collisions occurred on weekends. 

Fatal Car Accidents in Texas: How Many Happen Each Year?

There were no deathless days on Texas roads in a recent year. Four crashes resulted in more than six fatalities. Additional TxDOT data for that year shows: 

  • One person died every 1 hour, 57 minutes in an auto accident.
  • 613 people died in head-on collisions.
  • 1,037 individuals died in intersection accidents.
  • Single-vehicle crashes accounted for over one-third of all motor vehicle collisions, killing 1,550 people.
  • Distracted driving led to 433 deaths. 

Fatalities in Car Accidents: Who Are the Victims?

The IIHS data found males aged 20 to 24 had the highest rate of traffic accident fatalities, with 27.3 deaths per 100,000 people. Males also had the highest overall fatality rate, with 17.3 deaths per 100,000. By contrast, females had a fatality rate of 6.4 per 100,000 people. 

What Percentage of Car Accidents Result in a Fatality? Find Out Here

In one recent year, the U.S. had over 5.2 million traffic accidents. Of these collisions, 35,766 resulted in fatalities. That equates to one fatal accident in the U.S. every 15 minutes. 

Deadly Accidents: Which Types of Car Accidents Are Most Likely to Be Fatal?

Statistics from the National Safety Council reveal that car accidents between motor vehicles have the highest rate of fatalities, followed by collisions with a fixed object. In accidents between motor vehicles, angled collisions accounted for the largest share of fatal crashes at 44.8 percent, followed by head-on collisions at 29.4 percent, rear-end collisions at 17.9 percent, and sideswipe collisions at eight percent.

Car Accident Statistics by Age: Who Is Most at Risk?

In one recent year, individuals aged 25 to 44 had the highest number of fatal car accidents, with 16,040 deaths. Individuals between the ages of 45 and 64 had the second-highest number of deaths, with 12,950 fatalities. 

Child Fatalities in Car Accidents: What Percentage of Fatalities Are Minors?

Data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) found children aged 14 and younger accounted for about three percent of motor vehicle accident fatalities in just one year. Children between the ages of 5 and 14 represented around two percent of fatalities, with younger children accounting for the remaining percentage of deaths. The percentages are small, but the human impact is much starker. Overall, 1,459 children within those age ranges died in crashes in that year. 

Fatalities by Age Range: Understanding Car Accident Risks Across Age Groups

Additional NCHS data broke down the U.S. motor vehicle fatalities by age range. The number of deaths by age group in one year included: 

  • Ages 4 and younger: 480 
  • Ages 5 to 14: 979 
  • Ages 15 to 24: 7,425 
  • Ages 25 to 44: 16,040 
  • Ages 45 to 64: 12,950 
  • Ages 65 to 74: 4,783 
  • Ages 75 and older: 4,323 

Statistics give us crucial information about car accidents, but they don’t reflect the true extent of harm that comes from each loss of life. If you’re grieving the loss of a loved one, contact a knowledgeable wrongful death lawyer At Law Offices of Troy A. Brookover for help. 

Car Accident Statistics by Gender: Are Men or Women More at Risk?

According to the IIHS, men account for significantly more motor vehicle crash fatalities than women. In one recent year, 28,033 men died in road accidents compared to 10,690 women. Passenger fatalities are equal among men and women, but men account for a staggering 72 percent of driver fatalities.

Gender and Drunk Driving: Who Is More Likely to Drink and Drive?

Males again dominate the statistics for the most risk-taking behaviors. According to the IIHS, approximately one-third of male drivers killed in motor vehicle crashes had a BAC of 0.08 percent or more. By contrast, 23 percent of female drivers killed in accidents were under the influence. 

Driving Behavior by Gender: How Do Men and Women Compare on the Road?

A study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety evaluated differences in driving behavior between women and men:

  • Cell phones: Around 40 percent of men reported holding and talking on a cell phone behind the wheel at least once in the past 30 days, compared to 35 percent of women. Roughly equal percentages of men and women admitted to reading texts or emails while driving. However, women were more likely to send texts or emails while driving. 
  • Speeding: Over 54 percent of men admitted to driving 15 miles per hour or more over the speed limit on the highway, compared to 47 percent of women. 
  • Seat belt use: Around 14 percent of men admit to driving without a seat belt, while around 12 percent of women acknowledged driving unrestrained.

Get Legal Help from Our Experienced Car Accident Lawyers in San Antonio

If you’ve been hurt in a crash in South Texas, you need an experienced San Antonio car accident lawyer who can demand compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact the Law Offices of Troy A. Brookover today at 210-941-1515 or fill out our online form. You’ll get a free, no-obligation consultation to learn your legal options and how the claims process works. You can count on us to fight for justice after all you’ve endured.