Every year, The Benton Law Firm deals with numerous cases involving injuries from auto accidents on the highways of Dallas and surrounding cities. There are over 80,000 collisions in Dallas and Tarrant counties every year, a statistic only exacerbated by the high growth in the metroplex in recent years. In 2017, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave Texas an overall grade of C- on its annual infrastructure report card. Highways and roads only scored a D. There is much room for improvement on Texas roads, but knowing which highways are most dangerous around Dallas can help you avoid injury or death on the road.
The Most Dangerous Highways in Dallas
In Dallas, Tarrant, and Denton counties, the most dangerous highways (according to the North Central Texas Council of Governments in 2015) are as follows:
- Central Expressway from LBJ Freeway to I-30: 1230 crashes
- State Highway 360 from I-30 to I-20: 533 crashes
- I-35E from Garden Ridge Boulevard and State Highway 121: 530 crashes
- LBJ Freeway from I-35E to Dallas North Tollway: 530 crashes
- I-35W from Loop 820 to I-30: 491 crashes
- LBJ Freeway from Dallas North Tollway to Central Expressway: 479 crashes
- I-30 from I-35W west to Loop 820: 411 crashes
- East Loop 820 from I-30 to I-20: 295 crashes
- Woodall Rodgers Freeway from Stemmons to Central Expressway: 161 crashes
- I-45 from I-30 to Lamar: 117 crashes
Alcohol Factors
Despite weekly news stories about car crashes and fatalities involving drunk driving, it still remains a significant issue on Dallas roads and a leading cause of death among all auto collisions. According to statistics from the Texas Department of Transportation:
- More than 90,000 drivers in Texas are arrested for DWI or DUI charges every year
- The vast majority of drivers involved in fatal DUI crashes were repeating DUI offenders
- Most DUI crashes happen between 6 pm and 4 am, and most occur on weekends
- Injuries to people involved in collisions happen in over half of all Texas DUI crashes
- In 2017, there were 2,263 DUI crashes in Dallas County, the second-highest rate of any county in Texas
- In 2017, 95 people were killed in Dallas County because of DUI incidents, also the second highest rate of any county in Texas
Car crashes are more dangerous on highways and interstates because of the high-speed limit and number of cars on the road. Adding drunk drivers into the mix only raises the risk to innocent drivers who lose their lives daily due to others’ recklessness.
Highway Construction
If one thing can be guaranteed on Dallas highways, it’s construction. This inevitable nuisance comes with the promise that, eventually, roads will be safer and less congested. But these projects often take several years or longer to complete, and it’s very common for multiple highways to have overlapping construction projects. While this is happening, roads continue to change weekly, and construction causes daily headaches and dangerous situations for commuters. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, there were 2,953 crashes in Dallas County work zones in 2017 and 2,721 in Tarrant County work zones. These two counties, which comprise most of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, have the second and third most dangerous work zones of all counties in Texas.
What Makes Highway Crashes More Likely?
When a road or highway is under construction, has not been adequately maintained, or was poorly designed, many factors can make those roads dangerous for drivers. Some of these factors include:
- Blind curves
- Excessive hills
- Potholes
- Confusing or constantly-changing intersections
- Narrow lanes
- Uneven pavement
- Debris or standing water
- Small shoulder lanes or none at all
- Signs with poor visibility
- Insufficient or malfunctioning lights and signals
- Poorly designed bridges
These structural or design flaws on Dallas roads can become even more dangerous during rush hour when many drivers are on the road simultaneously. Even with the most careful driving, motorists can be injured in crashes caused by these road problems.
What should I do if I am injured in an auto collision?
If you were injured on a Dallas road or highway, contact The Benton Law Firm to discuss your legal options today. If you were not liable for the crash, another driver, construction company, or city should be held accountable. The Benton Law Firm can help you earn financial compensation for any injuries and suffering you have experienced due to an auto accident. To learn more about what we can do for you, contact our car crash attorneys at (214) 777-7777 for a free consultation.