Car Accidents: The Leading Cause of Injury and Death in Dallas

According to the Accident Data Center, a resource for locating up-to-date information on major traffic accidents across the country, car accidents in Dallas are the leading cause of injury and death for residents. The Center reports that in 2016:

• 55,797 accidents occurred on Texas roadways
• 3,773 people lost their lives in those accidents
• 2 fatal crashes happened in rural Dallas County
• 313 fatal crashes occurred in the city
• Of a total 8, 921 incapacitating injuries, 1,447 resulted from vehicle accidents

What do these numbers indicate? Among other things, that drivers and passengers face greater danger when traveling in densely populated areas where there is more traffic congestion.

Where Do Accidents Happen in Dallas?

From 2012, the Dallas Observer reports that the following highways are among the most dangerous in Dallas:

• LBJ between I-35 and the Dallas North Tollway
• Central Expressway between LBJ and I-30
• I-45 from I-30 to Lamar
• LBJ Freeway between the Tollway and Central
• Woodall Rogers from Stemmons to Central

Why are There So Many Car Accidents in Dallas?

As mentioned above, population density and traffic congestion increase the odds. However, there are a few things drivers can do to decrease those odds.

First, don’t drive drunk. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles reports that 2,410 accidents were related to drunk driving in Dallas in 2016.

Designate a driver, use a smartphone app to summon an Uber or Lyft driver, call a friend—call your mom—whatever it takes to keep you, your passengers and others on the road safe.

Similarly, 7,081 accidents were related to distracted driving in Dallas. What constitutes distracted driving? Anything that takes your eyes off the road and distracts your brain from the task of safe driving.

Most people immediately think of texting and driving, which by the way is now illegal in the State of Texas and can earn you a hefty fine. But there are other things, too, such as eating and drinking, changing the music selection, adjusting a navigational system and talking on the phone or to passengers in the car.

Talking on the phone is far worse than having a conversation with a passenger. The reason is fairly straightforward: the person at the other end of a phone call cannot see the traffic around you. Studies show that when a driver and passenger are talking, their conversation tends to ease off as traffic picks up. That doesn’t happen during a phone call.

The best thing you can do to keep yourself and others safe while driving is just drive. When you keep your eyes and your brain on the road, you are better able to react in order to avoid an accident.

Meet the Doctor

Dr. Zinovy Chukhman is a chiropractor in Dallas who specializes in treating patients who have an injury that is the result of a motor vehicle accident. He offers chiropractic care, rehabilitation, nutritional counseling and pain management.