How a Car Crash Can Cost You Money (Even if You Aren’t Involved)

After a car crash, it should come as no surprise that there are expenses to be paid. But did you know that car crashes you aren’t even a part of are costing you money? This is especially true in Texas where driving is a much bigger part of our lives than in other states. We have the fastest average speed limits and when you combine these speeds with human error and the average weight of a car coming in around 4,100 pounds, one wrong move can have devastating consequences resulting in a car crash. Obviously, every driver is working to avoid such incidents, but they are still a major factor in how we operate vehicles and how much we pay on car insurance premiums. Learn more about how car crashes affect your rates in the Lone Star State and what you can do about it, all while being a better driver.

How Many Car Crashes a Year in Texas?

There are around half a million car crashes per year in Texas. This is unfortunately not surprising considering there are more drivers in Texas than nearly any other state as Texas is home to the second-largest population in the nation. Offering more roadways with over 683,000 lane miles, Texans have a lot of drivers and a lot of driving to do, resulting in more car crashes.

The increase in both the number of drivers on the road and speed limits set in our state means you’re going to spend more on auto insurance for your car. Auto insurance companies are always looking to mitigate risks and insuring drivers living in a state with elevated risks works against those interests, meaning higher premiums.

How Many People Die in Car Crashes Each Year in Texas?

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), pre-pandemic levels of fatal crashes show that 3,623 fatalities occurred in 2019, and 3,896 deaths occurred in 2020. However, things skyrocketed in 2021, when the Lone Star State would record 4,489 fatalities from automobile accidents. These shocking numbers identify the risks drivers are at while on the road. A Texas car crash can lead to deadly consequences, as well as financial obstacles for drivers.

The reason that Texas law requires all drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability coverage is that these policies pay to restore losses for the party that isn’t at fault in an accident involving both property damage and bodily injury. These costs can rapidly multiply when a death is involved.

On top of ordinary property loss and medical expenses usually being more expensive due to a more severe level of damage, there are additional costs to consider:

• Funeral expenses.
• Lost wages.
• Potential legal expenses stemming from lawsuits.

This means that a car crash in Texas resulting in a fatality can cost you, and your insurance company, much more when it’s time to make a claim. These costs are also passed down to drivers as car insurance companies look to mitigate their expenses.

What Are the Odds of Dying in a Car Crash?

How a car crash kills you may have many different factors involved, but the National Safety Council has collected such data points to deliver the odds of dying in a car crash. Texans have a 1 in 101 chance of dying in a motor-vehicle crash throughout their lifetime. For a few other reference points, you have a 1 in 7 chance of dying from cancer and a 1 in 2,745 chance of dying from choking on your food. Thankfully, crashing cars don’t always result in such extreme results with many newer models coming chocked full of safety features including sensors, automatic emergency braking, and backup cameras.

How To Survive a Car Crash and Save Money

Increasing your chances of surviving a car crash align with the ways you can save money on car insurance. There isn’t a magic formula, to avoid being a victim in a crashed car or causing an accident yourself, the key is to practice safe driving:

• Avoid speeding.
• Don’t text, eat, apply makeup, talk, or do anything else that could distract you on the road.
• Never drive while under the influence of any substance.
• Practice defensive driving techniques.
• Drive a vehicle that uses safety features to keep you safer.
• Avoid driving in dangerous conditions.
• Wearing your seatbelt is a must.
• Take your time to look for pedestrians, motorcycle drivers, and other motorists on the road.
• Declutter your vehicle from items that could potentially fly around and cause serious bodily harm.

Doing these things can help you reduce your chance of an accident and save you money. Sure, driving safely keeps you and others collectively safer and paying less for coverage, but there are many practical ways to save on an individual level. Here are important auto insurance considerations that can help you save on your monthly premiums:

• Safe driving discounts may vary, but many car insurance companies offer these to drivers as a way to save money.
• Telematics discounts are also available, which allows your insurance provider to monitor your driving through a device or app. Drivers who practice good driving can also receive lower rates.
• Avoiding car accidents will keep your rates low through various discounts as well as not having your premiums raised due to filing claims.
• The same goes for moving violations. Moving violations for speeding or driving while under the influence will cause your rates to increase. Too many violations may cause you to be dropped by your insurance provider altogether.

Here at Freedom Insurance Group, we help our clients save on car insurance, even if they’ve been in a car crash. Since 2005, we’ve worked with more than 25 of the best auto insurance brands available to drivers in Texas. This allows us to better compare your coverage to identify the best protection, greatest discounts, and overall, the lowest rate for our clients. It’s also why we save our clients an average of 40% on premiums. Get a free auto insurance quote or contact one of our agents today to save more on your coverage.