Unfortunately, car accidents are common in the state of Texas. In 2018, Texas experienced 112,077 total crashes. Out of those total crashes, 16,819 were DUI accidents. Drunk driving accidents are some of the worst types of accidents, as most of them could have been avoided had the at-fault driver been sober at the time. Here are the latest Drunk Driving Statistics for the State of Texas and DFW as reported by the Texas Department of Transportation:
Drunk Driving Accidents in The State of Texas
- Out of the 3,303 fatal accidents in the state of Texas (0.61% of total accidents), 850 of those accidents were caused by a drunk driver. (This accounts for 3.51% of all DUI accidents.)
- Out of the 12,161 serious injury crashes (2.24% of total accidents), 1,598 of them a result of DUI. (This accounts for 6.60% of DUI accidents.)
- Out of the 54,142 non-incapacitating car accidents (9.96%), 3,808 of those were caused by DUI accidents. (This accounts for 15.73% of total DUI accidents.)
- Out of the 101,363 crashes (18.65%) that resulted in minor or no injuries, 3,808 of those were due to drunk driving. (This accounts for 15.73% of DUI Accidents.)
Fatal DUI Accidents for the State of Texas By Age of Drivers
- There were 58 under the age of 21 who were involved in fatal DUI accidents in 2018 (6.67%).
- There were 190 drivers between the age of 21-25 who were involved in fatal DUI accidents in 2018 (21.84%).
- There were 143 drivers between the ages of 26-30 who were involved in fatal DUI accidents in 2018 (16.44%).
- There were 111 drivers between the ages of 31-35 who were involved in fatal DUI accidents in 2018 (12.76%).
- There were 88 drivers between the ages of 36-40 who were involved in fatal DUI accidents in 2018 (10.11%).
- There were 62 drivers between the ages of 41-45 who were involved in fatal DUI accidents in 2018 (7.13%).
- There were 69 drivers between the ages of 46-50 who were involved in fatal DUI accidents (7.93%).
- There were 45 drivers between the ages of 51-55 who were involved in fatal DUI accidents (4.60%).
- There were 40 drivers between the ages of 56-60 who were involved in fatal DUI accidents (4.60%).
- There were 36 drivers between the ages of 61-65 who were involved in fatal DUI accidents (4.14%).
- There were 13 drivers between the ages of 66-70 who were involved in fatal DUI accidents (1.49%).
- There were 6 drivers between the ages of 71-74 who were involved in fatal DUI accidents (0.69%).
- There were 6 drivers who were 75 and older who were involved in fatal DUI accidents (0.69%).
DFW 2018 Drunk Driving Statistics
Dallas DUI Accident Statistics
Out of a total 1,239 DUI accidents in the city of Dallas the following occurred:
- 51 fatal DUI crashes occurred resulting in 57 casualties.
- 111 DUI crashes resulted in 291 serious injuries.
- 196 DUI accidents resulted in 291 non-incapacitating injuries.
- 270 DUI accidents resulted in 559 minor injuries.
- 575 DUI accidents resulted in 1,652 individuals reported that they were not harmed in the accident.
- Crashes of unknown severity were 36.
Fort Worth DUI Accident Statistics
Out of 23 DUI crashes that occurred in Fort Worth in 2018 the following occurred:
- 17 fatal DUI accidents resulted in 20 fatalities.
- 27 DUI accidents resulted in 38 serious injuries.
- 3 DUI accidents resulted in 3 non-incapacitating injuries in 2018.
- 2 DUI accidents resulted in 2 minor injuries.
- 14 DUI accidents resulted in 32 individuals reporting they were unharmed during the accident.
- Crashes of unknown severity were 23.
Arlington DUI Accident Statistics
Out of 470 DUI accidents that occurred in the City of Arlington in 2018, the following occurred:
- 7 fatal DUI accidents resulted in 7 fatalities.
- 22 DUI accidents resulted in 24 serious injuries.
- 82 DUI accidents resulted in 110 non-incapacitating injuries.
- 97 DUI accidents resulted in 143 minor injuries.
- 247 DUI accidents resulted in 695 individuals reporting that they were not harmed during the accident.
- Crashes of unknown severity were 46.
What To Do If You Were Involved in a Drunk Driving Incident
The moments after an accident can be a blur. It is important to know how to respond to make sure that you, your passengers, and any other parties are taken care of. Here are the steps you should take if you have been involved in a drunk driving accident.
Assess the Situation and Remain at the Scene of the Accident
Once your vehicle has come to a complete stop after the accident, take a couple of deep breaths to calm yourself down. It is important to remain calm and assess the situation. Are you hurt? Are any of your passengers hurt? Are the other occupants and driver of the other vehicle okay? If the answer is no to any of these, you will want to call an ambulance right away. If an individual is too injured to move, do not try to move him or her (unless they are in danger).
If you are in the middle of the road and you are able, try to get your car to the shoulder of the road, so you are not in danger of getting hit by oncoming traffic. If you cannot move your vehicle, get yourself and any passengers to the side of the road to avoid getting hit by oncoming traffic.
Once the situation has been assessed, call 911 and an ambulance for those who are injured. The police will be able to file a report of the accident, allowing you to later seek compensation in court and to file for an auto insurance claim.
Photograph the Scene of the Accident
It’s true when they say that a picture is worth a thousand words, especially in a civil case. Make sure you take pictures that handle or answer the following questions:
- What damage was done to both vehicles?
- Where did the collision happen? (Layout of the road or intersection)
- Were there any obstructions that could possibly affect visibility? (This includes inclement weather such as fog)
- Were there any hazardous weather conditions? Snow, heavy rain, ice?
Photos can help reconstruct the accident and go along with your testimony, and expert witness testimonies if needed. This helps strengthen your case for getting the compensation you deserve after your accident. Also, make sure you take photos of any injuries, as these are also valuable in your claim.
Exchange Information
You will want to exchange information with the driver of the other vehicle. This information should include the following:
- Name
- Phone number
- Address
- Insurance information
- License plate number
- Vehicle’s make and model
You will also want to gather information from any witnesses that saw the accident. This information includes:
- Name
- Phone number
- Address
- Any videos or pictures they may have gotten of the accident
Contact a Professional Car Accident Attorney
The team at Branch & Dhillon, P.C. can help you claim the compensation you deserve! As one of the leading law firms in the DFW area for car accidents and personal injury lawsuits, we have a strong track record that you can trust. Our team always puts our clients first, which is why we work by a no-win, no-fee policy. Contact Branch & Dhillon, P.C. today for more information on our services or to schedule a free no-obligation consultation. We will help get your family back on the road to a successful recovery and a bright future.