Texas is a central hub for the commercial trucking industry due to its vast geographic footprint, extensive highway system, and economic reliance on freight transportation. However, with this high volume of commercial vehicle traffic comes an increased level of accident risk, particularly on certain highways and corridors known as major Texas truck accident hotspots.
The Unique Risks of Trucking in Texas
Texas has more miles of public roads than any other state, making it a crucial crossroads for commercial transport. The combination of long-haul freight, oilfield equipment, agricultural deliveries, and cross-border trade leads to heavy commercial truck volumes across the state’s highways.
However, this infrastructure also creates high-risk conditions for truck accidents. Key contributing factors include:
- High speeds on interstates and rural highways
- Fatigue and long driving hours
- Distracted or impaired driving
- Congested urban corridors
- Remote locations with limited emergency response times
- Roadway designs with merging or sharp turns
These risks have resulted in some of the worst car accidents in Texas history as well as some of the deadliest truck accidents, which continue to occur year after year.
Interstates with High Truck Accident Rates in Texas
Interstate 35 (I-35)
I-35 is one of the most heavily traveled freight corridors in Texas, stretching from Laredo at the Mexico border through San Antonio, Austin, Waco, and Dallas-Fort Worth, then north toward Oklahoma. This interstate carries substantial volumes of commercial traffic, especially from international trade and long-haul shipments.
Several areas along I-35, including the urban stretches through San Antonio and Austin, are known for frequent truck crashes due to:
- Narrow lanes and heavy congestion
- Complex interchanges
- Frequent construction zones
- High-speed merging
The stretch between San Antonio and Dallas is notorious for rear-end collisions and multi-vehicle pile-ups involving trucks.
Interstate 10 (I-10)
I-10 spans from El Paso to the Louisiana border, cutting across major cities such as Houston and San Antonio. This interstate is vital for cross-country trucking routes but poses several risks:
- High-speed traffic through remote areas
- Long stretches of driver fatigue zones
- Frequent weather-related hazards in West Texas
- Heavy congestion and hazardous merges in Houston
Urban segments of I-10, particularly in the Houston metropolitan area, generally experience severe crashes involving tractor-trailers during peak commuting hours.
Interstate 20 (I-20)
I-20 is a key east-west trucking corridor running from the Dallas-Fort Worth area through Midland-Odessa and into West Texas. The region between Abilene and Midland is particularly hazardous for commercial trucks due to:
- Oilfield traffic and oversized loads
- Limited roadway lighting and signage
- Driver fatigue on long, isolated stretches
- High-speed limits and minimal enforcement in rural zones
Interstate 45 (I-45)
Connecting Dallas and Houston, I-45 is one of the high-risk Texas highways for trucks. The corridor frequently sees:
- Speed-related crashes
- Congestion-related rear-end accidents
- Distracted driving incidents involving large trucks
This route ranks among the most dangerous in the United States for all motorists, with commercial trucks comprising a significant share of the traffic.
Other High-Risk Highways and Roads in Texas
U.S. Highway 59 (U.S. 59)
This major freight route stretches from Laredo through Houston toward East Texas and beyond. U.S. 59 is often used by commercial trucks as an alternative to I-35 and I-45 but remains highly dangerous due to:
- Rural segments with limited passing lanes
- Frequent intersections in smaller towns
- Heavy cross-border commercial truck activity
U.S. Highway 285 (U.S. 285)
Often dubbed “Death Highway,” U.S. 285 connects West Texas oilfield regions such as Pecos and Carlsbad, New Mexico. This route is considered one of the most dangerous Texas roads for truckers due to:
- Overloaded trucks hauling oilfield equipment
- Narrow two-lane roads with no shoulders
- Driver fatigue from long-haul oilfield shifts
- High incidence of speeding and unsafe passing
Texas State Highway 130 (SH 130)
While designed as a high-speed toll alternative to I-35 through the Austin area, SH 130 presents unique risks to truck drivers, including:
- Speed limits as high as 85 mph
- Limited roadside services and emergency access
- Potential for blowouts and mechanical failures at high speeds
Get High-Powered Legal Representation from Our Texas Truck Accident Lawyers
Large trucking companies and their insurers are known for unfair tactics when it comes to personal injury settlements for accident victims. At Amanda Demanda Injury Lawyers, our Texas truck accident attorneys are prepared to take on these powerful entities in complex cases involving catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths. Our founding attorney Amanda Demanda has built a reputation as a fierce advocate in the courtroom and during negotiations, earning our firm recognition as one of Texas’s premier truck accident law firms. To schedule your free consultation, call us 24/7 at 1-844-DEMANDA or contact us online.
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