Human Error Behind over 90% of Texas Vehicle Crashes

April 12, 2024 - Personal Injury

In the Lone Star State, collisions involving cars, trucks, and buses are distressingly common, often resulting from the actions of drivers themselves. Victims extend beyond those in vehicles to include pedestrians, cyclists, skateboarders, scooter users, and motorcyclists, all left vulnerable when reckless drivers encroach upon their space.

Legal practitioners in Dallas have coined the term “The Three Deadly D’s” to encapsulate the primary culprits behind Texas roadway mishaps:

• Drunkenness
• Distraction
• Drowsiness

These attorneys highlight that over 90% of traffic incidents in Texas stem from human error. However, despite the 3 D’s being very important, the Texas Department of Transport (TxDOT), which puts out annual statistics of vehicle crashes in the state, only agrees with one of these being the top three causes of accidents on the roads. That’s distracted driving which, according to 2015 statistics, accounted for the second highest number of vehicle crashes in Texas.

However, the real nemesis remains speeding. In 2022 alone, over 130,000 accidents in Texas were attributed to excessive speed, resulting in over 10,000 fatalities or life-altering injuries. Despite efforts to curb speeding through enforcement and awareness campaigns, the problem persists unabated.

Modern technology exacerbates the issue of distracted driving, with cell phones and similar devices contributing to over 85,000 crashes in 2022. Enforcement of laws regarding handheld device usage while driving proves challenging, often relying on circumstantial evidence rather than direct observation.

Another significant cause of accidents, as per TxDOT, is failure to maintain lane integrity, resulting in over 45,000 crashes in 2022.

While DUI and drowsiness were flagged as significant by Dallas attorneys, TxDOT data places them lower on the list, each contributing to roughly 17,000 and 8,000 crashes respectively.

Other noteworthy factors include failure to yield, disregarding traffic signals, unsafe lane changes, and tailgating.

Regardless of the specific cause, all these incidents are preventable. Drivers have the ability to adjust their behavior to match road conditions, refrain from distractions, maintain proper following distances, and abstain from driving under the influence.

If you find yourself injured through no fault of your own, the aftermath can be overwhelming. Juan Reyna, also known as “JR,” an adept personal injury attorney at the Reyna Law Firm in San Antonio, stands ready to assist those injured anywhere in Texas. With compassion and expertise, he helps victims secure the compensation they deserve, allowing them to reclaim control of their lives.