Car Accidents in Houston
Most Houston car wrecks we handle involve the same handful of corridors: I-10 (Katy Freeway), I-45 (Gulf/North Freeway), US-59/I-69 (Southwest/Eastex), 610 Loop, Beltway 8, Grand Parkway (TX 99). Rush-hour congestion, distracted drivers, and the volume of commercial truck traffic combine to make even routine commutes risky.
Texas law that governs car accident cases
Where car crashes happen in Houston
Houston recorded 301 traffic fatalities in 2024, a new city record, up from 271 in 2023, while Harris County as a whole saw 579 traffic deaths and 115,173 total reportable crashes, the highest of any Texas county by a factor of two. I-45 (Gulf/North Freeway) is consistently ranked among the most dangerous highways in the United States, with the Houston segment alone accounting for roughly 39% of city-wide traffic deaths in 2023, 97 fatal crashes and 105 deaths on that corridor in a single year. Over the five years 2020–2024, I-45 recorded tens of thousands of crashes and hundreds of deaths in Harris County.
Beyond I-45, I-10 (Katy/East Freeway) is another of the metro's deadliest corridors, with Loop 610 and Beltway 8 adding thousands more crashes a year. In 2023, the six-county Houston area recorded 4,665 DUI-alcohol crashes, killing 223 people and seriously injuring 345. At the intersection level, I-45 & Fuqua Street and Bissonnet Street & Winchester Avenue are among the most documented fatal crash sites in the city.
Where you're treated and where your case is filed both matter. Houston has two Level I adult trauma centers, Memorial Hermann–Texas Medical Center / Red Duke Trauma Institute (6411 Fannin St) and Ben Taub Hospital (Harris Health System, 1504 Taub Loop), both in the Texas Medical Center complex. The TMC is the largest medical complex in the world, handling over 10 million patient encounters a year. Houston-area cases are filed in Harris County's civil courts at 201 Caroline Street, Houston, TX 77002. Harris County is the most litigated personal injury venue in Texas, with 115,173 reportable crashes and 579 traffic deaths recorded in 2024 alone, more crashes than any other county in the state by a factor of two.
What we investigate in a Houston car accident case
- I-45 (Gulf/North Freeway), one of the most dangerous US highways; ~40,000+ crashes and ~250+ deaths in Harris County, 2020–2024
- I-10 (Katy/East Freeway), one of the metro's deadliest freight-and-commuter corridors; Energy Corridor commuter load
- Harris County 2024: 579 traffic deaths, 115,173 total crashes, highest in Texas
- DUI crashes: 4,665 alcohol-impaired crashes in the 6-county Houston area in 2023 (223 fatalities)
Common injuries we see in Houston
- Whiplash and cervical strain
- Herniated and bulging discs
- Concussions / traumatic brain injuries
- Shoulder, wrist, and rotator cuff injuries
- Broken bones and fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Soft-tissue back injuries
- PTSD and emotional trauma
Compensation we pursue
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Property damage (vehicle, contents)
- Loss of consortium
- Disfigurement and disability
- Punitive damages in DUI / gross negligence cases
Frequently asked questions for Houston clients
How long do I have to file a Houston car accident claim?
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 gives you two years from the date of the crash for most car accident claims. Wrongful death claims also generally carry a two-year deadline. Don't wait, evidence and witnesses scatter fast.
The insurance company says I was partly at fault. Can I still recover?
Probably yes. Texas follows modified comparative fault under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001. You can recover as long as you're 50% or less at fault, your recovery is just reduced by your share. Push past 51% and you collect nothing, which is why the carrier will work hard to push you over that line.
What if the at-fault driver was uninsured?
If you carry Uninsured / Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage on your own policy, that's the policy we pursue. Texas insurers must offer UM/UIM in writing; if you weren't expressly offered it and didn't reject in writing, you may have coverage even if you don't remember buying it.
Why is I-45 so dangerous in Houston?
I-45 through Houston carries among the highest volumes of mixed traffic, commuters, 18-wheelers, and port-bound freight, at freeway speeds with frequent lane changes and on- and off-ramp conflicts. The Houston segment has been ranked among the most dangerous highways in the United States in multiple national studies, accounting for roughly 39% of the city's traffic deaths in 2023 alone. Speed, volume, and limited safe-merge geometry combine for a consistently deadly outcome.
How much does the Texas minimum-insurance law affect a Houston car crash case?
Significantly. Texas only requires $30,000 per person, which rarely covers a serious hospital stay, let alone lost income or long-term care. In Harris County, where crashes are more frequent than anywhere else in Texas, we routinely look beyond the at-fault driver's policy to your own UM/UIM coverage, umbrella policies, and third-party liability (such as an employer if the driver was on the job).
Court venue for Houston cases
Personal injury cases arising in Houston are typically filed in Harris County (county seat: Houston), in the District Courts or County Courts at Law. We're familiar with the local procedures and carrier tendencies in this venue.
Getting from Houston to our Houston office
Our Galleria-area office is in the heart of Houston at 2401 Fountain View Dr, Suite 830, minutes from downtown, the Medical Center, and the 610 Loop.
Newman Injury Law
2401 Fountain View Dr, Suite 830
Houston, TX 77057
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