Houston, Dallas Rank High for Most Car Accidents in the Nation
Car accidents can happen anywhere, from rural areas to suburbs to urban areas and large cities. It doesn’t matter where you live, work, or commute. At any moment, you could collide with another car or go off the road and hit a tree or other object. That’s why you need to be careful, alert, and not distracted.
However, there are certain cities and areas where car accidents are more common. Texas is an example of this. Two cities rank in the top 10 for having the most car crashes in the nation. Dallas is tied for first place with Atlanta, with Houston coming in at #8 on the list.
Dallas has a fatality rate of 16.5 per 100,000 people, with a 46.5% likelihood of collision. Houston’s rates were a little lower, with a fatality rate of 11.5 per 100,000 people and a 38.1% likelihood of collision. In terms of fatality rates, Dallas ranks at #8. Dallas is also on the list for having very few years between crashes. It is #10 on the list at 7.2, meaning the number of years the average driver in the city goes between accidents. However, the highest likelihood of getting into a crash goes to Baltimore, with a whopping 153% likelihood.
Dallas and Houston tend to be car-dependent cities, so it’s no surprise there are bound to be some traffic crashes. According to the study, the top cities for traffic accidents are mainly in metropolitan areas with large populations and limited public transportation systems. Many cities with high accident rates are also concentrated along the coast.
The study was done by Forbes, which used data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and AllState Insurance showing crash locations across the United States.
Reasons for High Car Accident Rates
What makes Texas so bad for car accidents? Here are some possible reasons:
- Distracted driving. Many people don’t pay attention while driving. They may send texts, take videos and selfies while driving, use in-car entertainment, adjust GPS settings, or focus on conversations with passengers. These distractions can lead to serious accidents.
- Drinking and driving is clearly illegal, but some people don’t care. They will attempt to drive anyway after drinking alcohol. Drunk drivers are especially common in Texas, causing 30% of all fatal car crashes in the country.
- People like to go fast, and Texas drivers are no exception. One quarter of fatal car accidents in Texas are caused by drivers who ignore the speed limits, causing them to lose control and crash.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Car accident occurrences are high in Houston and Dallas. Motorists, pedestrians, and others who use the roadways need to be careful and alert at all times.
It’s likely you might be involved in a car accident at some point. Be prepared by contacting a Houston car accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC for help with your case. Call 281-347-3247 or fill out the online form to schedule a free consultation.
Source:
houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/car-accident-likeliness-houston-18284613.php
