What Are The Deadliest Highways In Texas?

Houston car accident lawyers explain what drivers need to know

Highway car accidents often occur in Houston and other parts of Texas. But just how dangerous are interstates in the Lone Star State? Which Texas highways have the most accidents? And why do crashes happen on these highways?

Highway accidents account for some of the most serious accidents in Texas, including many fatal car accidents. And Texas has some of the deadliest highways in the country, according to national accident statistics.

This is why drivers need to be aware of where and why accidents happen on highways in Houston and other cities in Texas. It’s also important to know what to do if another driver hits your car and causes a highway accident.

What are the most dangerous highways in Texas?

The insurance website ValuePenguin recently conducted an in-depth study analyzing the deadliest roads in the country. The website analyzed accident data from 2015 to 2019. Using such information, ValuePenguin then ranked the deadliest highways in the country.

Many of the deadliest highways in the country can be found in the greater Houston area and throughout Texas. Texas has 3 highways listed in the top 10 deadliest roads nationwide, along with 12 other highways in the top 100. These dangerous Texas highways include:

I-10 in Texas (El Paso County) – 4^th deadliest road in the country.
1-35 in Texas (Travis County) – 6^th deadliest.
I-20 in Texas (Tarrant County) – 8^th deadliest.
I-45 in Texas (Harris County) – 23^rd deadliest.
US Route 59 in Texas (Victoria County) – 30^th deadliest.
US Route 281 in Texas (Bexar County) – 40^th deadliest.
State Route 6 in Texas (Harris County) – 48^th deadliest.
I-30 in Texas (Dallas County) – 52^nd deadliest.
US Route 287 in Texas (Tarrant County) – 63^rd deadliest.
US Route 90 in Texas (Bexar County) – 65^th deadliest.
US Route 190 in Texas (Polk County) – 66^th deadliest.
US Route 290 in Texas (Travis County) – 70^th deadliest.
US Route 83 in Texas (Webb County) – 77^th deadliest.
US Route 84 in Texas (Lubbock County) – 93^rd deadliest.
US Route 87 in Texas (Lynn County) – 94^th deadliest.

In addition, certain Texas highways received top 10 rankings for specific types of accidents. These include:

US Route 290 in Texas – 10^th nationwide for accidents in bad weather conditions.
I-35 in Texas – 3^rd for accidents at night.
I-45 in Texas – 6^th for accidents at night.

Are highways more dangerous?

In general, more serious accidents happen on highways compared to other roads. In particular, the fatality rate for car accidents on highways in Texas is consistently higher compared to crashes on city streets and roads.

This trend can be found in the comparison between accidents on rural versus urban roads in Texas. According to accident statistics compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the fatality rate per 100 million vehicle miles driven in Texas in the past decade was 113.7 percent higher on rural roads (including highways) compared to urban roads. The average fatality rate on rural roads was 2.18 deaths for every 100 million miles versus 1.02 deaths for urban roads, according to the NHTSA.

Why do highway accidents happen?

Highway accidents happen for many different reasons. But the most common reason is speeding. Indeed, speeding-related accidents have become even more common in Texas and nationwide. In 2020, car accidents caused by speeding drivers increased nationwide by 11 percent, according to the NHTSA.

As for Texas, speeding continues to be one of the leading causes of fatal car accidents each year. An estimated 1 out of 3 fatal car accidents each year in Texas involve speeding drivers, according to the NHTSA. Part of this has to do with the high speed limits in Texas. Some highways in Texas have maximum speed limits as high as 85 mph, and many motorists drive even faster than that.

Other reasons why highway accidents happen

While speeding is a common cause of collisions on highways in Texas, it’s not the only reason. Other reasons why highway accidents happen in Texas include:

Distracted drivers, including texting drivers, not paying attention on the highway.
Tailgating drivers who don’t leave enough room between vehicles.
Reckless drivers who change lanes without warning, causing serious car crashes.
Drivers who fall asleep at the wheel, especially at night on highways.

Highway car accidents happen for many other reasons. And in each case, drivers need to be prepared to act fast to protect their rights, safety and well-being.

What should I do if I’m involved in a highway accident?

If you have been involved in a highway accident in Houston or elsewhere in Texas caused by another driver, you need to take certain steps right away. At the scene of the accident, such steps often include:

Call 911 to report the accident and have it investigated by the Texas Highway Patrol.
Seek immediate medical attention, especially if you’re in pain after your crash. Don’t try to diagnose yourself. Have a medical professional examine you right away.
Take pictures of your accident. If possible, take photos of the accident scene, skid marks on the road, visible injuries – anything you think might be important.
Get the names and contact information of any witnesses who saw your accident.
Exchange information with the other driver. This includes your name, address, driver’s license number and insurance formation.
Don’t discuss your accident with the other driver. Anything you say could be used as evidence to deny your claim.

A few hours or days after your accident, you should take the following steps as well:

Write down as much as you can remember about your accident. The more details, the better. Make sure to include what the weather was like, what you were doing before the crash, what the other driver did, etc.
Call your insurance company and tell them you have been in a crash. Keep your comments brief and stick to the facts of what happened.
Contact the Texas Highway Patrol and ask for a copy of your official Texas car accident report. This way, you can make sure all the facts in your accident report are correct and accurately reflect what actually happened.
Schedule an appointment with your doctor right away. Even if an EMT examined you at the scene of the crash, you could have a serious car accident injury that takes hours or days to develop, including whiplash or a concussion.
If the at-fault driver’s insurance company contacts you, don’t talk to them. Anything you say could be used as evidence to deny your injury claim. You do not have to talk to them, no matter what they might say.
Don’t discuss your accident with anyone or post anything on social media about your collision. You could harm your ability to get the money you deserve for your crash. Insurance companies carefully monitor websites and social media accounts for anything they can use against people filing accident claims.
Contact a car accident attorney right away.

How can a lawyer help?

The sooner you have an attorney investigating your crash, the better. Technically, you have two years to file a lawsuit or take other legal action related to your Texas car accident. This is due to the state’s statute of limitations (deadline) for taking legal action after a car accident.

But if you wait nearly two years after your accident to take legal action, the evidence you need to build a strong case might no longer exist. Witnesses might move away or forget what happened. Damaged vehicles often get destroyed. And without such evidence, getting the compensation you deserve can be much harder.

Don’t wait. Take action now. Contact the Houston car accident attorneys who know how to get results. Schedule an appointment with Smith & Hassler Attorneys at Law. Our Houston law firm has years of experience fighting for the rights of injury victims and their families. We understand how the legal system works in Harris County and throughout Texas, and we can level the playing field for you.

When you have our legal team on your side, you can demand the financial compensation you rightfully deserve for medical bills, vehicle repairs, replacement income and other injury-related expenses. Our law firm consistently obtains sizable settlements and verdicts for car accident injury victims and their families, including $1.38 million for two clients injured in a motor vehicle accident. Case results matter here – and so do you. Schedule your free case evaluation right now. We have four offices conveniently located throughout the Houston area.

have four offices conveniently located throughout the Houston area.

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