Texas Auto Accident Facts

1. Whether you are in San Antonio, Houston, Lubbock, or anywhere else in the state of Texas, there are many factors that affect the severity of auto accidents, including:

Weight—in Texas auto accidents between heavier and lighter vehicles, the heavier auto typically causes more damage to the lighter auto.

Speed—speed also plays a role in determining damages, as the car traveling at the faster speed usually causes greater damage to the slower traveling auto.

Location—the location of the impact is also important. For example, the hard steel front bumper of a heavy SUV or truck can easily crash through the side of a car in a T-bone (side impact) wreck and cause severe injury to the driver of the car. In rear-end or frontal crashes, if the higher bumper of an SUV or truck does not meet evenly with a smaller auto's bumper, then the SUV or truck frequently comes over the trunk or hood of the car, causing severe injury. Even in cases when the bumpers do match up, major injury can still occur due to the force of impact of the collision.

2. Types of Automobile Accidents

In general, there are five types of Texas Auto Accidents:

Rear End Auto Accidents—by far the most common type of car accident, victims of rear end collisions may experience severe head, back, neck, and knee injuries.

Side Impact Auto Accidents—also known as T-Bone collisions, these car wrecks occur most frequently at intersections. Driver distraction is one of the leading causes of these auto accidents and can lead to serious traumatic brain injuries, soft tissue injuries, and spinal cord injuries.

Head-On Automobile Accident—also known as frontal collisions, these are the most deadly car wrecks and occur most frequently when one driver crosses over the center line into oncoming traffic. Texting while driving and using a cell phone are unfortunately increasing the likelihood of these deadly accidents.

Rollover Accidents—these accidents commonly occur to trucks and SUV’s with a higher center of gravity. Defective tires, overloading truck beds, and excessive speed can all contribute to these serious and often fatal car wrecks.

Single Car Crashes—these car crashes can occur for many reasons, including driver distraction, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, severe weather, improper roadway maintenance, and defective tires or parts.

3. As of 2006, Texas resident’s average insurance premium was approximately $820, the 20th most expensive in the nation. This was down 4.3% from the previous year. The national average was $817.

4. The state of Texas follows a Tort System, meaning, if you are in a car accident, someone must be found to be at fault for the accident. The person at fault is responsible for all damages. Because Texas is a tort state, most insurance companies recommend that drivers consider carrying higher coverages than the state minimums.

Texas

Texas Auto Accident Facts

Related Topics: