What Do the Speeding Statistics in Texas Say?

Speeding kills or severely injures many people throughout Texas, including those in passenger vehicles, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists. People speed for various reasons, whether because they are upset, in a hurry, driving under the influence, or driving while distracted. Regardless of the reason, speed still kills, and it is not particular about who it targets in a speed-related accident.

Speeding Stats in Texas

According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in one recent year, Texas saw 26,480 wrecks with 39,638 vehicles and 50,169 people that involved speeding.

Austin Crash Stats

In a recent year in Austin, 487 wrecks involving 847 vehicles and 1,029 people resulted from speeding. Of the total 15,605 wrecks in the city, 89 were fatal crashes with 91 fatalities, and 539 crashes involved suspected serious injuries. The Texas Department of Transportation does not break down the number of fatalities and serious injuries based on crashes caused by speeding only.

Dallas Crash Stats

In a recent year, 1,736 crashes involving 3,169 vehicles and 4,092 people were the result of speeding. Of the total 36,862 wrecks in the city, 173 were fatal crashes with 185 fatalities and 908 crashes involved suspected serious injuries. The Texas Department of Transportation does not break down the number of fatalities and serious injuries based on crashes caused by speeding.

San Antonio Crash Stats

In a recent year, 1,799 crashes involving 3,439 vehicles and 4,359 people were the result of speeding. Of the total 42,786 wrecks in the city, 144 were fatal crashes with 145 fatalities and 540 crashes involved suspected serious injuries. As with Austin and Dallas, the Texas Department of Transportation does not break down the number of fatalities, and serious injuries based on crashes caused by speeding.

Injuries Caused by Speeding Wrecks

In addition to the minor injuries you might suffer after a speeding wreck, you could suffer from serious or catastrophic injuries. A catastrophic injury is one that doctors expect to leave you permanently disabled or disabled for more than 12 months.

Traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries are two common types of injuries suffered by speeding accident victims. Those who suffer from these injuries might require physical therapy and/or cognitive therapy during and after recovery.

Because these types of injuries often lead to long-term or permanent disabilities, those involved sometimes suffer from anxiety or depression because they cannot see a way to continue providing for their families. In some cases, if the accident left a big impression on a victim’s psyche, he or she might need psychological therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in addition to physical and/or cognitive therapies.

Recoverable Damages

Texas offers three types of potential damages for victims of speeding accidents, including families of those killed in speeding accidents. Economic damages and non-economic damages are compensatory damages the court orders the defendant to pay in an attempt to make the victim financially whole again. Economic damages have a monetary value while non-economic damages do not.

The court might order a defendant to pay punitive damages if the defendant’s actions were grossly negligent. It orders the defendant to pay this damage as a punishment—punitive damages do not reimburse the plaintiff for financial or other losses.

Economic Damages

Special damages, usually referred to as economic damages, may include:

• Past medical expenses for those incurred during the accident and that continue up until the plaintiff reaches a settlement or receives a trial award.
• Future medical expenses for those incurred during the accident and that continue after a settlement or a trial award.
• Past lost wages for those lost because of accident injuries and the time the plaintiff could not work up until a settlement or trial award.
• Future lost wages for those lost because of accident injuries and the time the plaintiff will not have the ability to work after a settlement or trial award. If the plaintiff returns to work, but cannot work in the same job and make the same amount of money, they could receive partial lost wages.
• Replacement or repair of personal property that suffered destruction or damage in the accident, including the vehicle and anything in it or on the plaintiff’s person when the defendant hit them.
• Burial, funeral, and/or cremation expenses if the plaintiff lost a loved one because of a speeding accident.

Non-Economic Damages

General damages, usually referred to as non-economic damages, may include:

• Pain and suffering, including emotional distress if the plaintiff suffered injuries in a speeding accident.
• Emotional distress if the plaintiff lost a loved one because of a speeding accident.
• Loss of companionship.
• Loss of consortium if the plaintiff can no longer have a physical relationship with their spouse.
• Loss of quality of life.
• Loss of use of a body part, such as a finger, hand, or foot.
• Loss of use of a bodily function, such as eyesight.
• Amputation.
• Scarring.
• Disfigurement.
• Inconvenience, if the plaintiff has to hire someone to do chores they usually do such as shopping, cleaning, lawn maintenance, and home maintenance.

Working With Insurance Companies and Attorneys

If you suffered injuries or lost a loved one because of a speeding accident, never give

the insurance company information other than your contact information, the location and date of the wreck, and your attorney’s contact information. Insurance companies are in business to make money, and paying claims cuts into their bottom lines.

The insurance companies, even your own, may twist what you tell them in an attempt to deny your claim or justify a low-ball offer that might not cover all of your medical expenses, never mind other damages.

Contact a car accident attorney to schedule a free case evaluation if you suffered injuries or lost a loved one in a speeding accident, even if you are still in the hospital recovering. An attorney can come to you or arrange a video call if you cannot come to them.