Dallas metro area roadways include interstates, U.S. routes, state highways, loops, spurs, and tollways. Many highways in the area have more than one name. For example, the Tom Landry Highway is also known as I-30 between I-35E in Dallas and I-35W in Fort Worth. The Elmer Weaver Freeway is also U.S. Highway 67 from I-635 south. As in most major cities today, dangerous driving behavior can lead to accidents and make driving on Dallas roads a risk.
How Many Traffic Crashes Happen in Dallas?
In the most recent year for which statistics are available, as reported by the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT):
- 48,393 traffic crashes occurred in Dallas County
- 307 of these accidents were fatal
- 1,227 were suspected serious accidents
- 333 people were killed
- 1,438 suspected serious injuries occurred
Statewide, traffic deaths increased by 7.54% to 3,896. Nearly 205,500 people were injured in motor vehicle accidents. The fatality rate on Texas roadways increased by 18.94% from the previous year to 1.50 deaths per hundred million vehicle miles traveled.
Where Does Dallas Rank in Terms of Road Safety?
Of all Texas counties, Dallas county had the second highest number of traffic crashes in a recent year, exceeded only by Harris County. It also ranked second highest in fatal crashes and suspected severe injury crashes, again second only to Harris County. Nationwide, a public safety study ranked Dallas fifth in the country for traffic accidents, as reported in People Newspapers.
What Types of Accidents Are Common on Dangerous Dallas Roads?
Many traffic crashes in Dallas are caused by driver negligence. When you travel on Dallas roadways, you face the risk of being involved in:
- Drunk driving crashes: In a recent year, Dallas had 868 DUI accidents and injuries, as stated by TXDOT.
- Distracted driver crashes: 5,530 accidents were caused by distracted drivers in Dallas, killing 27 people and causing 139 suspected serious injuries.
- Speeding accidents: Of the 3,260 speed-related crashes in Dallas, 101 were fatal and 163 caused suspected serious injuries.
- Work zone crashes: Dallas County had 2,605 traffic crashes in highway work zones. These construction zone accidents caused 27 deaths and 57 suspected serious injuries.
- Teen driver accidents: Drivers in their teens are involved in a disproportionate number of accidents, as compared to other age groups. Teen drivers lack driving experience and may be more likely to become distracted than older drivers. In a recent year 18-year-old drivers in Texas were involved in nearly 22,000 crashes, as compared to 45-year-old drivers, who were involved in less than 12,000 crashes.
What Types of Injuries Can Victims Suffer in Dallas, TX Traffic Accidents?
Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death in the Texas and the U.S. Non-fatal traffic crashes can cause serious and catastrophic injuries with potentially life-altering consequences, including:
- Internal organ damage
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Amputation
- Severe bone fractures
- Disfiguring facial injuries
How Do You Recover Compensation After a Serious Dallas Traffic Crash?
If you have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, your best course of action is to speak with an experienced Dallas personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Insurance companies are in business for profit and primarily interested in their own bottom line. Their goal is to minimize their payouts or deny claims altogether. It is not advisable to accept a settlement offer from an insurance company without first consulting with an experienced lawyer.
At The Lenahan Law Firm, our team of Dallas highway accident attorneys will evaluate the details of your accident to pursue all forms of compensation. We can protect your rights and fight for the recovery you need to cover all your losses related to the crash – past, present, and future. Call us at (214) 295-1008 to schedule a free consultation.