7 Things you Should Know About Car Accidents in Texas
Thanks to technology, exceptional design, and safety features, today’s cars are safer than ever. Despite this advanced technology, there are still more than six million car crashes in the country every year. Studies show that an average driver is likely to be involved in 3 to 4 car accidents in their lifetime.
Texas State has its fair share of traffic accidents. More than 230,000 people sustain injuries on the Texas roadways annually. That means more than 600 people are involved in a collision every day. Here are seven things you should know about car accidents in Texas.
1. Loss of speed control causes over 100,000 fatalities
To be exact, 108,000 accidents are associated with loss of control while driving. Why? The system that is supposed to control car speeds could be faulty. Speed governors can keep your car under speed limits. Loss of speed control happens frequently when drivers over-speed. To reduce this probability, use a speed governor.
2. Driving under the influence of drugs is dangerous
Alcoholism causes at least 15,000 car fatalities in Texas. This means drunk driving is dangerous too. As a rule of thumb, people shouldn’t operate machineries when under the influence of drugs. Alcohol is one of these drugs. And cars are part of machineries. Usually, drivers get illusions and can’t judge distances and objects appropriately. Drunk driving caused as many as 15,113 collisions in a single year.
3. The National Safety Council says speeding caused 30% of Texas car accidents
Violating traffic laws can have severe consequences. Speeding is one of these violations. The National Security council explains that over 10,000 people are dying every year in speed-related crashes, and this is something that could be avoided. Simple things such as obeying traffic signs with speed limits can help reduce this number.
4. Single-car runoffs account for 1/3rd of car accidents in Texas
It’s usual to see vehicles go off their track. They could be overtaking, making a U-turn, or negotiating corners. Sometimes, this doesn’t end very well. In 2016, vehicles running off the road accounted for over 30% of car accidents in Texas.
5. Texas state spends millions of dollars to control car accidents
The Texas Department of transport has research programs across different universities. These programs aim to benefit drivers and all road users. The research focuses on ways of planning and constructing safe roads, ways of innovating road technology, and so on. In 2016, Texas funded $26 million for road research.
6. If you ever get involved in accident, seek medical attention immediately
What should you do when you’re involved in a car accident within Texas? You should call 911 or visit the nearest hospital. This happens because you may have serious internal bleeding but never realize it. You see, our bodies produce adrenaline, which could prevent you from feeling seriously ill immediately at the time of the accident. It’s equally important to get medical attention.
7. Pay attention to minor events
Many road users think they’re safe because of insurance. However, you should understand car insurance doesn’t cover everything. Minor situations like scrambling for a parking lot could cause a car accident. Some insurance plans cannot compensate you for these damages.
In addition, pay attention to vehicle fires, unsafe reversing, and wide loads. These are also minor causes of Texas car accidents.
Accidents happen every day. Some of them result in no injuries while others cause minor injuries, severe ones, or even deaths. If you were involved in a car accident and sustained injuries, contact an experienced lawyer to help you file a personal injury claim.
