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Texas Truck Accident Statistics

Updated June 2026. Texas remains one of the most dangerous states in the country for crashes involving 18-wheelers, semi-trucks, and other commercial motor vehicles. According to official Texas commercial motor vehicle crash data, there were 39,393 commercial motor vehicle crashes in Texas in 2024. Those crashes caused 608 deaths and 1,601 suspected serious injuries.

For families in Houston, the numbers are more than statistics. Harris County had 6,313 commercial motor vehicle crashes in 2024, including 41 fatal crashes, 41 deaths, and 112 suspected serious injuries. Many of these wrecks happen on highways drivers use every day, including I-45, I-10, US 290, Beltway 8, and Loop 610.

If you or someone you love was hurt in a serious truck crash, the statistics help explain why these cases are different. Large trucks are heavier, harder to stop, and often controlled by trucking companies with powerful insurance carriers. Evidence can disappear quickly. A fast investigation can make the difference between a denied claim and a strong case.

Need help after an 18-wheeler crash in Houston? Call Baumgartner Law Firm at (281) 587-1111 for a free consultation. You pay no attorney fee unless we recover money for you.

Quick Answer: Texas Truck Accident Statistics

The latest complete TxDOT commercial motor vehicle data shows that Texas had 39,393 CMV-involved crashes in 2024. Those crashes included 546 fatal crashes, 608 deaths, 1,261 suspected serious injury crashes, and 1,601 suspected serious injuries. Harris County led Texas with 6,313 CMV crashes.

Texas 2024 CMV Crash Measure	Verified Number
Total commercial motor vehicle crashes	39,393
Fatal CMV crashes	546
People killed	608
Suspected serious injury crashes	1,261
Suspected serious injuries	1,601
Harris County CMV crashes	6,313
Harris County fatal CMV crashes	41
Harris County deaths	41
Harris County suspected serious injuries	112

Source: TxDOT Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Involved Crashes and Injuries by County, 2024.

What the National Truck Crash Numbers Show

National data tells the same story. NHTSA reported 5,340 people killed in crashes involving large trucks in 2024. Most of those killed were not inside the large truck. NHTSA counted 3,753 deaths among occupants of other vehicles and 667 deaths among pedestrians, bicyclists, and other nonoccupants in crashes involving large trucks.

That matters because an 80,000-pound tractor-trailer can cause catastrophic harm to people in smaller vehicles. When a semi-truck hits a passenger car, SUV, motorcycle, or pedestrian, the person outside the truck usually faces the greatest risk.

Source: NHTSA overview of motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2024.

Why Texas Has So Many Truck Accidents

Texas has a large trucking problem because Texas has a large trucking footprint. Freight moves through the state every day on interstates, ports, energy roads, construction routes, and city freeways. Houston adds even more risk because it combines heavy freight traffic, dense commuter traffic, industrial corridors, and fast highway speeds.

Common reasons Texas sees so many serious truck crashes include:

Long freight routes across I-10, I-35, I-45, US 59/I-69, and US 290.
Heavy port, petrochemical, construction, and oilfield traffic.
Fast freeway speeds and sudden congestion in urban areas.
Driver fatigue and pressure to meet delivery schedules.
Distracted driving by truck drivers or passenger vehicle drivers.
Poor maintenance, worn tires, brake problems, and unsafe trailers.
Unsafe lane changes, wide turns, jackknifes, and underride crashes.

These risk factors are why a serious truck crash should not be handled like a simple car accident. A Houston truck accident lawyer should look at the driver, the motor carrier, the truck, the trailer, the route, the load, the maintenance records, and the electronic data.

Houston and Harris County Truck Accident Statistics

Harris County had more commercial motor vehicle crashes than any other Texas county in 2024. TxDOT reported 6,313 CMV crashes in Harris County, including 41 fatal crashes and 41 deaths. The county also reported 98 suspected serious injury crashes and 112 suspected serious injuries involving commercial motor vehicles.

For Houston drivers, those numbers are not surprising. Tractor-trailers and commercial vehicles move across the Houston area all day on I-45, I-10, the 610 Loop, Beltway 8, US 290, Highway 225, Highway 288, and I-69. A crash on one of these corridors can shut down traffic and leave families dealing with serious injuries, lost wages, and long-term medical care.

Houston takeaway: The high number of Harris County truck crashes means evidence must be preserved quickly. After a serious wreck, the trucking company may have access to the truck, the driver, electronic logs, inspection records, dash cameras, and maintenance documents before the injured person even knows what evidence exists.

Top Texas Counties for Commercial Vehicle Crashes

The counties with the highest number of commercial motor vehicle crashes reflect where freight, commuter traffic, and population growth overlap. Harris County led the state by a wide margin in 2024.

County	Total CMV Crashes	Fatal Crashes	Deaths	Suspected Serious Injuries
Harris	6,313	41	41	112
Dallas	3,857	27	29	124
Bexar	2,684	18	18	46
Tarrant	1,716	19	19	63

The county data supports the local relevance of a Houston-focused truck accident statistics page. It also helps the page support the main Houston truck accident attorney page because Harris County is the state leader for commercial vehicle crashes.

Common Causes Behind Texas Truck Accidents

Statistics show how often commercial vehicle crashes happen. A legal investigation explains why they happened. In serious truck accident cases, the cause is often found in records that are not available from a basic police report.

Driver Fatigue and Hours-of-Service Violations

Federal hours-of-service rules limit how long many property-carrying truck drivers can drive. FMCSA summarizes the rule as an 11-hour driving limit after 10 consecutive hours off duty and a 14-hour driving window after coming on duty. Drivers also must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without a qualifying break.

When a driver is tired, reaction time slows. A tired driver may miss stopped traffic, drift out of a lane, or make a late evasive move. In a lawsuit, the driver’s electronic logs, dispatch records, GPS data, toll records, fuel receipts, and phone records may help show whether fatigue played a role. Learn more about how tired 18-wheeler drivers cause accidents.

Source: FMCSA hours-of-service summary.

Distracted Driving by Commercial Drivers

FMCSA prohibits interstate CMV drivers from texting while driving and restricts hand-held mobile phone use. The agency explains that CMV drivers may not reach for or hold a mobile phone to conduct a voice call, and dialing must not require pressing more than one button.

Distraction can be devastating in a semi-truck. At highway speed, a few seconds of inattention can move a truck the length of a football field. Phone records, in-cab camera footage, dash camera video, and telematics data may help prove whether a driver was distracted.

Source: FMCSA distracted driving rules for CMV drivers.

Unsafe Maintenance, Brakes, Tires, and Mechanical Problems

Truck crash statistics do not always show the full maintenance story. Brake problems, worn tires, lighting violations, steering issues, and ignored inspection reports can turn a preventable problem into a fatal crash. A complete investigation may include driver vehicle inspection reports, repair orders, annual inspection documents, out-of-service history, and maintenance company records.

Improper Loading and Cargo Securement Problems

Improperly loaded or unsecured cargo can shift, spill, fall from the trailer, or cause a rollover. FMCSA cargo securement rules are designed to prevent cargo from shifting on or within a commercial motor vehicle or falling from the vehicle. When cargo movement contributes to a crash, the shipper, loader, broker, or trucking company may need to be investigated.

Source: FMCSA cargo securement rules.

Unsafe Lane Changes, Blind Spots, and Wide Turns

Tractor-trailers have large blind spots and need more room to turn. Many Houston truck crashes happen when a driver changes lanes without seeing a smaller vehicle, swings wide for a turn, or fails to keep a proper lookout in traffic. These facts may be proven with video, witness statements, vehicle damage, electronic data, and accident reconstruction.

Why Statistics Matter After a Truck Crash

Truck accident statistics help show the public safety problem, but they do not prove a single case by themselves. To recover compensation after a serious 18-wheeler crash, the injured person must prove how the crash happened, who was responsible, and how the injuries changed life.

Important evidence may include:

The police crash report and any supplemental investigation.
Photos, videos, skid marks, debris patterns, and roadway evidence.
The truck’s electronic control module or black box data.
Electronic logging device data and hours-of-service records.
Driver qualification files, training records, and safety history.
Inspection, repair, and maintenance records.
Bills of lading, dispatch messages, GPS data, and route information.
Company safety policies and prior violations.
Medical records, wage loss proof, and future care evidence.

If you were hurt in a truck crash, read our guide on what to do after an 18-wheeler accident in Texas. Evidence can disappear quickly, and trucking companies often send investigators to the scene right away.

Why Truck Accident Cases Are Different From Car Accident Cases

A truck accident case is often more complicated than a typical Houston car accident claim because there may be more defendants, more insurance coverage, and more technical evidence. The truck driver may be responsible, but the trucking company, broker, maintenance contractor, loading company, or another party may also share fault.

The injuries are also often more severe. Truck crashes can cause traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputations, burns, internal injuries, and wrongful death. When a loved one dies in a truck crash, the family may need help with a Houston wrongful death claim as well as the crash investigation.

Insurance also matters. Commercial trucks may have higher insurance limits than private passenger vehicles, but the insurance company may fight harder because the potential exposure is greater. Our guide to insurance requirements for 18-wheelers in Texas explains why identifying all available coverage is important.

How Baumgartner Law Firm Helps After a Serious Truck Accident

Baumgartner Law Firm has handled serious injury and fatal truck accident cases in Texas since 1985. These cases require fast action, technical knowledge, and trial preparation. We do not treat an 18-wheeler crash like a routine claim.

When we accept a serious truck accident case, we may:

Preserve the truck, trailer, black box data, dash camera footage, logs, and maintenance records.
Investigate the driver’s hours, qualifications, training, and safety history.
Review the motor carrier’s policies, supervision, maintenance practices, and prior violations.
Identify all responsible companies and all available insurance coverage.
Work with accident reconstruction, trucking safety, medical, and life-care experts when needed.
Build the damages proof for medical care, lost income, pain, impairment, and wrongful death damages.
Prepare the case for trial so the insurer understands the risk of undervaluing the claim.

Our truck accident case results include multimillion-dollar recoveries for fatal and catastrophic commercial vehicle cases. See our serious injury and wrongful death case results for examples.

Free consultation after a Texas truck crash. If a commercial truck injured you or killed a loved one, call Baumgartner Law Firm at (281) 587-1111. We handle serious truck accident cases on a contingency fee. No fee unless we win.

FAQs About Texas Truck Accident Statistics

How many commercial motor vehicle crashes happened in Texas in 2024?

Texas had 39,393 commercial motor vehicle crashes in 2024, according to TxDOT. Those crashes included 546 fatal crashes and 608 deaths.

Which Texas county had the most commercial vehicle crashes?

Harris County had the most commercial vehicle crashes in Texas in 2024. TxDOT reported 6,313 CMV crashes in Harris County, including 41 fatal crashes and 41 deaths.

Does Texas have a serious truck accident problem?

Yes. Texas has a serious truck accident problem because it has heavy freight traffic, major interstate routes, port traffic, oilfield traffic, and large urban areas where commercial trucks mix with passenger vehicles.

Why are truck crashes often worse than car crashes?

Truck crashes are often worse because tractor-trailers are much heavier than passenger vehicles and require more distance to stop. The force of impact can cause catastrophic injuries or death, especially to people in smaller vehicles.

What causes many Texas 18-wheeler accidents?

Common causes include driver fatigue, distraction, speeding, unsafe lane changes, poor maintenance, brake or tire problems, cargo securement issues, and trucking company safety failures.

What evidence is important after a truck accident?

Important evidence may include black box data, electronic logging records, driver qualification files, maintenance records, dispatch records, dash camera footage, photos, witness statements, and the police crash report.

When should I call a lawyer after a Houston truck crash?

You should call a lawyer as soon as possible after a serious truck crash. Trucking companies often move quickly to control evidence, inspect the truck, and protect themselves from liability.