A new study reveals that Texas ranks ninth in the nation for nighttime multi-vehicle crashes between 8:00 PM and 5:00 AM.
The research conducted by the Missouri-based personal injury law firm Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, analyzed fatal multi-vehicle crashes at night across all 50 states from 2019 to 2023. Rates were calculated per million residents using five-year averages to identify the states where drivers are most at risk after dark.
Texas ranks ninth with an annual average of 4.64 fatal nighttime multi-vehicle crashes per million residents, 72% higher than the national average of 2.7. The state averaged 137.6 crashes annually, with a low of 121 in 2019 and a high of 155 in 2023.
Looking at the study, a spokesperson from Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers commented,
“The results show a worrying reality for states like Texas, where too many fatal multi-vehicle crashes are occurring after dark.
“Nighttime driving brings together risk factors like fatigue, impaired driving, and reduced visibility, which can turn one mistake into a multi-car pileup.
“This affects not just drivers, but also passengers, families, and entire communities. Making roads safer after 8:00 PM through targeted enforcement, better lighting, and prevention programs is an important step to reduce these tragedies.”
Table for Extended Results:
Top 10 U.S. States With the Highest Rate of Fatal Multi-Vehicle Night Crashes
State
Average Fatal Multi-Vehicle Crashes at Night per Million residents
Rank
New Mexico
6.82
1
Florida
5.60
2
Louisiana
5.54
3
Alabama
5.01
4
Arizona
4.98
5
South Carolina
4.98
6
Tennessee
4.96
7
Georgia
4.92
8
Texas
4.64
9
Oklahoma
4.45
10
The study was conducted by Beck & Beck Missouri Car Accident Lawyers, an experienced law firm specializing in vehicle accident representation, handling everything from initial claim evaluation and medical care coordination to aggressive negotiations with insurance companies.