Traffic accidents remain a major safety concern in San Antonio and throughout Bexar County.
As San Antonio’s population continues to grow, roadway congestion, distracted driving, speeding, and drunk driving continue contributing to thousands of serious crashes every year. Recent data from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) shows that fatal accidents and injury crashes remain a persistent problem across South Texas.
Understanding the leading causes of accidents can help drivers stay safer on Texas roads.
San Antonio Traffic Deaths and Fatal Car Accident Statistics
San Antonio remains one of the largest and fastest-growing cities in Texas. Unfortunately, increased traffic volume has also contributed to more crashes and roadway fatalities.
According to recent TxDOT crash data:
- More than 47,000 crashes occur annually in San Antonio
- Bexar County consistently reports over 180 traffic fatalities per year
- Distracted driving, speeding, and impaired driving remain among the top causes of fatal crashes
- Texas continues to average one traffic death approximately every two hours (txdot.gov)
Recent preliminary traffic reports show:
- Over 190 fatal crashes were reported in Bexar County during 2025
- Hundreds of serious injury crashes occur every month across the San Antonio metro area
- Pedestrian and motorcycle fatalities have continued increasing in recent years
Population growth throughout the San Antonio area has significantly increased traffic congestion on:
- Interstate 35
- Loop 1604
- Interstate 10
- Highway 281
- Loop 410
As more drivers travel throughout the region daily, crash risks continue rising.
Distracted Driving Continues To Cause Serious Crashes
Distracted driving remains one of the leading causes of car accidents in Texas.
The Texas Department of Transportation defines distracted driving as any activity that takes attention away from driving, including:
- Texting while driving
- Talking on a cell phone
- Using navigation systems
- Eating or drinking
- Adjusting music or vehicle controls
- Watching videos
- Using social media apps
According to TxDOT:
- Texas drivers are involved in thousands of distracted driving crashes every year
- Distracted driving contributes to hundreds of fatalities annually statewide
- Sending or reading a text can take a driver’s eyes off the road for approximately five seconds — enough time to travel the length of a football field at highway speeds (txdot.gov)
San Antonio officials have repeatedly cited distracted driving as a major factor in local crashes.
Modern vehicles now include:
- Large infotainment screens
- GPS systems
- Smartphone connectivity
- Touchscreen controls
While these technologies offer convenience, they can also create dangerous distractions behind the wheel.
Leading Causes of Fatal Car Accidents in Texas
According to statewide TxDOT crash data, the most common causes of fatal accidents in Texas include:
1. Speeding
Speed-related crashes remain one of the deadliest categories of accidents statewide.
Speeding contributes to:
- Reduced reaction time
- Increased stopping distance
- More severe crash impacts
- Higher risk of fatal injuries
Texas continues to report more than 1,000 fatal speed-related crashes annually.
2. Drunk Driving and Alcohol-Related Crashes
Drunk driving continues to be a major cause of fatal crashes in Texas.
Recent TxDOT and NHTSA data show:
- More than 1,000 people die annually in alcohol-related crashes in Texas
- A DUI-related crash occurs approximately every 20 minutes in Texas
- Holiday weekends often see spikes in impaired driving accidents
Alcohol impairs:
- Reaction time
- Judgment
- Coordination
- Vision
- Decision-making ability
3. Driver Inattention
Driver inattention includes:
- Daydreaming
- Looking away from the roadway
- Failing to observe traffic conditions
- Cognitive distractions
Even a brief lapse in attention can lead to catastrophic accidents.
4. Failure To Stay in a Single Lane
Unsafe lane changes and drifting between lanes continue causing serious collisions throughout Texas highways.
These crashes are often linked to:
- Distracted driving
- Fatigue
- Intoxication
- Speeding
5. Fatigued Driving
Drowsy driving can impair drivers similarly to alcohol impairment.
Fatigue-related crashes are especially common:
- Late at night
- Early morning hours
- During long-distance travel
- Among commercial truck drivers
6. Drug-Impaired Driving
Drug-related crashes have also increased in recent years.
Both illegal drugs and prescription medications can impair:
- Coordination
- Judgment
- Reaction time
- Awareness
San Antonio Population Growth and Traffic Congestion
San Antonio’s rapid growth continues impacting roadway safety.
According to recent Census estimates:
- San Antonio’s population now exceeds 1.5 million residents
- The San Antonio-New Braunfels metro area exceeds 2.7 million residents
- Bexar County continues to rank among the fastest-growing counties in Texas
More residents mean:
- More commuters
- More construction zones
- More congestion
- More distracted drivers
- Increased accident risks
Infrastructure improvements continue across the region, but traffic volume remains a major challenge.
How To Stay Safe on San Antonio Roads
Drivers can reduce accident risks by:
- Avoiding cellphone use while driving
- Never drinking and driving
- Obeying speed limits
- Leaving extra following distance
- Avoiding aggressive driving
- Remaining alert in heavy traffic
- Avoiding driving while fatigued
Defensive driving is especially important on busy San Antonio highways and intersections.
What To Do After a Car Accident in San Antonio
If you are involved in a car accident in San Antonio:
- Call 911
- Seek medical attention immediately
- Report the accident
- Take photographs of the scene
- Gather witness information
- Avoid discussing fault
- Contact an experienced car accident attorney
Even minor crashes can result in serious injuries that appear days later.
How Can a Car Accident Attorney Help Me in San Antonio, TX?
If you have lost a loved one in a car accident that someone else caused, you have a right to legally address the anguish and stress that the loss of a family member can cause. Your family may be facing large hospitals bills, funeral expenses and the prospect of maintaining your household without the financial support of your lost loved one.
Texas grants the immediate family of a person who is killed as a result of someone else’s negligence the legal right to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover compensation for the losses. Texas law says a spouse, child or parent may file a wrongful death lawsuit after a fatal car accident.
If Herrman & Herrman represents you and/or your family in a fatal car accident case, our San Antonio accident attorneys will explore all options to pursue compensation for you and ensure your family’s future is financially secure. We will take all the necessary actions to get your case resolved as quickly as possible. If we cannot reach a satisfactory settlement of the case through negotiations with the insurance company, we will consult with you about whether to proceed to court to seek justice.
A wrongful death claim following a fatal car accident may demand compensation for:
- Medical expenses and funeral costs
- Loss of the deceased’s earning capacity, services and household support
- Loss of parental guidance, counsel and instruction that a parent would have provided a child
- Pain and suffering.
In any substantial personal injury or wrongful death claim, you can expect the insurance company to try to pay out the least amount possible so that the payment does not cut into company profits.
When the stakes are high, you need an experienced attorney representing you and advocating for you against the insurance company’s low-ball settlement offers. We will calculate all that you are due and push hard for compensation that helps your family pay all outstanding bills and reestablish financial security.
Contact Herrman & Herrman Personal Injury Lawyers
At Herrman & Herrman Personal Injury Lawyers, we help accident victims throughout Texas, including clients in San Antonio and across Bexar County.
We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
