Harris County has seen more commercial vehicle crashes in 2022 than any other county in Texas, according to data from the Texas Department of Transportation (TX DOT).
As reported by the Houston Chronicle, the findings come as the state, which saw a brief dip in commercial vehicle crashes in 2020, has seen crash rates steadily climb beyond their pre-pandemic norms. Should 2022 continue at its current pace, it would exceed the number of commercial vehicle wrecks recorded in 2021 with just under 7,000 crashes.
Harris County Areas with The Most Commercial Vehicle Crashes
Using data made available by TxDOT’s Crash Records Information System, or C.R.I.S., the Houston Chronicle mapped out the parts of Harris County where accidents involving commercial vehicles – which include trucks, tractor-trailers, vans, and other cargo-carrying automobiles – are most likely to occur. Here’s what they found:
- Interstate 10 is Houston’s most dangerous highway for commercial vehicle vehicles, recording more than 3,530 crashes since 2017. The I-10 / Beltway 8 interchange in Spring Branch is one of the most risk-prone parts of the interstate, with 101 commercial vehicle crashes in the past 5 years alone.
- Sam Houston Parkway, Beltway 8 saw the second-highest number of commercial vehicle crashes – 3,185 in total when accounting for frontage roads, tollways, and HOV lanes.
- Interstate 610 has two particularly troublesome areas prone to commercial vehicle wrecks that have seen over 100 crashes since 2017. Both are located near intersections with the I-45.
TxDot data provides additional insights about commercial vehicle crashes in Harris County, including the types of injuries involved and which days are most dangerous.
- High injury rates on highways. The injury rate for commercial vehicle accidents that occurred on interstate highways was just under 40%, meaning that roughly 2 in every 5 crashes resulted in injuries. The injury rate for Beltway 8 was just above 25%.
- Farm to Market Roads. Smaller FM roads experienced varying injury rates, usually around 20%. Some routes, such as FM 525 and FM 521, however, had injury rates as high as 50%.
- Weekdays over weekends. Commercial vehicle accidents occurred far more often on weekdays than on weekends, with Tuesdays and Wednesdays recording the most crashes.
Vehicle Crash Trends in Harris County
An uptick in commercial vehicle accidents isn’t the only alarming trend to rear its head as the country returns to normal routines following the pandemic. According to the data, fatal accidents are up across the board – both in Houston and Harris County. Here are a few key findings:
- In 2021, there were 577 motor vehicle accident fatalities in Harris County, a 37% increase from the 422 fatalities recorded before the pandemic in 2019.
- Vehicle deaths in Houston rose from 266 in 2019 to 331 in 2021, a 24% increase.
- Between 2019 and 2021, speed-related fatal crashes increased by 54% in Harris County. Crashes involving drugs and alcohol also increased by 47% during that time.
Proven Attorneys for Motor Vehicle Accident Victims
As a firm that’s fought for victims across Texas, our team knows that truck accidents and other crashes involving large commercial vehicles have an overwhelming potential to result in serious injuries and death. Given these alarming trends, we encourage everyone to exercise caution when behind the wheel. Unfortunately, we know not every motorist or trucking company upholds their obligations to ensure safety.
At The Shellist Law Firm, PLLC, we’ve recovered millions of dollars in compensation for victims of car accidents and have earned a reputation for helping clients secure justice in even the most challenging cases. If you or someone you love has been injured in a crash involving a commercial vehicle, we have the resources and experience to help. We serve clients across Harris County and beyond and offer FREE consultations. Call (713) 999-6855 or contact us online to speak with a lawyer.