Car Accidents Caused by Drivers at Night in Texas – What to Know

Houston car accident lawyers explain what types of crashes occur

Driving at night in Texas can be dangerous. Whether it’s tired drivers falling asleep at the wheel on I-10 or drunk drivers crashing into other vehicles in Houston, car accidents often occur at night in Texas.

So just how common are nighttime car accidents in Texas? Do certain types of crashes occur at night? If so, who’s most at risk? And what legal options are available to car accident injury victims hurt at night? Who’s responsible for paying for accident expenses if a driver causes a collision at night?

Our Houston car accident lawyers at Smith & Hassler know how complicated these legal cases can be for injury victims. That’s because we have been helping people dealing with nighttime car accidents in Texas for years. Below, you can learn all about these accidents as well as your legal rights. We also encourage you to contact us to schedule a free case evaluation at our Houston law firm.

How common are nighttime car accidents in Texas?

The numbers are clear – many car accidents happen at night in Texas. According to accident data collected by the Texas Department of Transportation (TDOT), roughly 50 percent of all car accidents in Texas occur at night, even though only about 25 percent of Texas drive during evening hours.

The most dangerous time of day for drivers in Texas based on car accident data is 5 to 6 p.m., when it’s often dark from November to February. Between 5 and 6 p.m. in 2023 in Texas, there were 45,108 accidents throughout the state, making this time the most dangerous hour of the day to drive in Texas.

Other high-risk times to drive at night in Texas include:

Between 6 and 7 p.m., the fourth-most dangerous time to drive in Texas.
Between 7 and 8 p.m., the ninth-most dangerous time to drive in the state.

What makes driving at night so dangerous?

There are many reasons why so many accidents happen at night in Texas and across the country. Some of the reasons why driving at night is so dangerous include:

Difficulty seeing because it’s dark outside.
Reduced visibility, which makes it harder to see far ahead.
Less time to react to other drivers or pedestrians due to reduced visibility.
Headlights from other vehicles can temporarily blind other drivers, who might not see another vehicle on the road for a split second.
There are more tired or drowsy drivers on the road.
There are an increased number of impaired drivers at night.

Younger drivers often cause car accidents at night.

Another reason why roads and highways are so dangerous at night in Texas and across the country is because so many young drivers cause collisions after dark.

Between 6 p.m. and midnight, drivers between the ages of 16 and 19 years old cause more accidents than any other age group on the road at that time, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). In addition, October is the deadliest month of the year for teen driving accidents, when 10 percent of all teen driving deaths occur and the nights are longer than during the summer months.

The main reason why teens cause so many accidents at night is because they don’t have the driving experience that older drivers have in Texas. As a result, they often fail to accurately assess risks or distances between vehicles while driving at night. In addition, many young drivers are tired or driving under the influence at night, increasing the likelihood of a collision.

There are more drowsy drivers at night in Texas

Not surprisingly, most car accidents caused by drivers who fall asleep at the wheel occur at night in Texas. And collisions caused by drowsy drivers remain one of the most common causes of car accidents statewide. Specifically, roughly 200 people each year die in Texas in collisions caused by drowsy drivers, according to federal car accident data.

In addition, tired Texas drivers cause certain types of accidents more often than others, including:

73 percent of tired driving accidents in Texas happen while drivers are heading straight on the road.
40 percent of drowsy driver accidents involve head-on collisions or rear-end accidents.
35 percent of tired driver accidents involve large commercial trucks, which are often on the road more than other vehicles at night, including tractor-trailer drivers, garbage truck drivers and other commercial truck drivers who work at night.

There are more drunk drivers on the road at night in Texas

Another statistic that might not come as a surprise is that most car accidents caused by impaired drivers in Texas occur at night. What you might not realize is just how many drunk driving accidents occur in Texas.

Year after year, Texas has more drunk driving accidents than nearly every state in the country. One study ranked Texas the second deadliest state for impaired driving accidents nationwide compared to all other states. Another study by Forbes ranked Texas the third-worst drunk driving state nationwide.

In 2022, for example, 42.4 percent of all car accident deaths in Texas were caused by drunk drivers, according to accident data collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). That’s 1,869 car accident fatalities in one year in Texas due to impaired drivers, often at night.

Who’s responsible for paying for nighttime car accidents in Texas?

Texas’ car insurance system functions based on two main rules when it comes to liability, the legal term for who’s responsible for paying for an accident:

The at-fault party is legally responsible for compensating injury victims for all financial losses.
Modified comparative fault means that the amount of money you receive could be reduced by the percentage you are found to be at fault, according to Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001.

In addition, what makes nighttime accidents in Texas different is injury victims may be able to obtain compensation from more than one at-fault party depending on the circumstances of the crash. Such at-fault parties could include:

The driver who caused the nighttime accident.
A bar, restaurant or liquor store that sold alcohol to the driver who caused your accident, if you’re dealing with a drunk driving accident.
The parents of the teenager who caused your nighttime car crash.
The company the driver works for if you’re dealing with a commercial motor vehicle accident.
The insurance company for the at-fault party.

These are just some of the most common at-fault parties when it comes to car accidents caused by drivers at night in Texas. You may be able to obtain compensation from other at-fault parties depending on the circumstances of your crash. The best way to know for sure is to talk to an experienced Texas car accident lawyer as soon as possible after your crash.

What makes nighttime accidents in Texas so complicated?

Accidents that happen at night in Texas often turn into complicated legal cases for many different reasons, including:

There are fewer witnesses in many cases since it’s dark outside and some people might have a harder time seeing what happened. In addition, when accidents occur very late at night, there are often fewer people on the road who saw what happened.
Because many collisions at night in Texas involve drunk drivers, such accidents often involve people who don’t remember what happened. Many legal issues also often come up when it comes to impaired driving accidents.
Tired drivers who cause collisions rarely remember what happened at the time of the accident.
Poor lighting sometimes makes video footage of a collision dark and hard to see.
Police might take longer to respond to an accident, which could have an impact on the accident investigation. For example, the vehicles involved in a nighttime crash might be moved by the time police arrive at the scene of the accident.

How can a Houston car accident lawyer help with a nighttime accident?

An experienced Houston car accident attorney can often have a positive influence on the outcome of your car accident claim or lawsuit. Some of the different ways a lawyer can help you include:

Collecting and preserving evidence: Nighttime accidents can make it difficult to gather clear evidence, as poor lighting conditions may obscure details. A skilled lawyer can work with accident reconstruction experts, review traffic camera footage and track down witnesses who saw what happened to build a strong legal case based on solid evidence.
Determining liability: Night driving increases risks related to impaired vision, fatigue, and potentially impaired driving due to alcohol or drug use. A lawyer can investigate whether any of these factors contributed to your accident and help establish fault, which is crucial for obtaining the maximum financial compensation.
Analyzing police reports and road conditions: A lawyer who knows how to deal with the Houston Police Department or the Texas Highway Patrol can thoroughly review your accident report for important details about your nighttime accident. For example, did poor lighting conditions, road hazards or improper signage play a role in contributing to the cause of your collision? Your attorney can also examine the accident scene in person to compare how well the accident report matches up with the actual crash site.
Negotiating with insurance companies: Insurance companies often try to reduce compensation by arguing that darkness makes determining fault difficult. An experienced car accident lawyer can counter these tactics by presenting strong evidence in support of your case and negotiating on your behalf.
Handling complex legal processes: Nighttime accidents often involve more nuanced legal considerations, such as evaluating if alcohol was a factor or if a lack of visibility played a role. A skilled lawyer knows how to navigate these complexities and can guide you through the legal process to pursue the best possible outcome, including filing a car accident lawsuit on your behalf if necessary.

The experienced Houston car accident lawyers at Smith & Hassler know how to handle such complex legal cases. That’s why we have such a strong track record of success, including a $537,000 case result awarded to a car accident injury victim represented by our law firm.

Put your trust in a Houston law firm that puts your needs first. Contact us and schedule a free case evaluation with a Houston car accident attorney focused on winning your case. We can answer your questions, explain your options and demand the compensation you rightfully deserve.

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