Texas Accident & Injury News
Speeding claims thousands of lives every year.
High-Speed Crash on the West Side Leaves One Driver Dead, Another Injured
According to a News4SanAntonio report, a man is dead after a tragic accident on the West Side.¹
Police reported the accident happened at around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 8th, off Culebra Road near Stillwater Parkway.
Investigators say a 39-year-old driver was speeding when he rear-ended another vehicle. After the initial collision, his vehicle continued forward, crashed through a fence, and slammed into a concrete wall.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity has not been released.
The driver of the other vehicle was treated at the scene. Culebra Road between Stillwater Parkway and Gas Road remained closed for several hours while crews cleared the wreckage.
Did You Know?
131,978 crashes across Texas in 2024 were caused by drivers failing to control their speed, according to TxDOT data.²
Why Drivers Ignore the Speed Limit (And Where It All Goes Wrong)
Most people don’t think of themselves as reckless drivers. In fact, many drivers who regularly exceed the speed limit would describe themselves as careful, experienced, and in complete control.
That’s what makes speeding so dangerous.
The decision to speed is rarely about believing you’re a bad driver. More often, it’s about believing you’re skilled enough to handle whatever happens next. Unfortunately, traffic doesn’t always give you that opportunity.
“I’m in Control.”
One of the biggest reasons people speed is overconfidence.
After driving the same roads every day without incident, it’s easy to believe you can safely drive a little faster than everyone else.
Drivers often think:
- “I know this road.”
- “There isn’t much traffic.”
- “I’m paying attention.”
- “I’ll slow down if I need to.”
The problem is that serious crashes are usually caused by something unexpected. A vehicle brakes suddenly. Another driver changes lanes without looking. Debris appears in the roadway. A pedestrian steps into traffic.
When that happens, experience can’t create more time to react.
Speed Affects More Than Stopping Distance
Most people understand that speeding makes it harder to stop before a collision. What many don’t realize is that it affects nearly every part of driving.
Higher speeds make it harder to:
- Judge the distance between vehicles
- Safely change lanes
- Navigate curves and exit ramps
- Maintain control during emergency maneuvers
- Avoid secondary collisions after an initial impact
The faster you’re traveling, the smaller your margin for error becomes.
It Doesn’t Take Extreme Speed
Many fatal crashes don’t involve drivers traveling 100 miles per hour.
Usually the difference between avoiding a collision and causing one is only 10 or 15 miles per hour.
That extra speed increases stopping distance, reduces reaction time, and greatly increases the force of impact. A crash that might have resulted in minor injuries at one speed can become life-threatening at another.
Texas Law Requires Drivers to Control Their Speed
Many drivers believe they are only breaking the law if they exceed the posted speed limit.
Texas law goes further than that.
Drivers are required to travel at a speed that is reasonable and prudent for existing conditions. Heavy traffic, rain, construction zones, poor visibility, and sharp curves may all require motorists to slow down, even when they’re already below the posted limit.
When a driver fails to control their speed and causes a crash, they may be held financially responsible for the injuries and losses that follow.
Slowing Down Gives You Something You Can’t Replace
The greatest benefit of slowing down isn’t simply obeying the law—it’s giving yourself more time.
More time to recognize a hazard.
More time to brake safely.
More time to make a controlled decision instead of a desperate one.
Those few extra seconds are often the difference between a close call and a life-changing accident.
Injured by a Speeding Driver? Call Shaw.
Speeding accidents often involve severe injuries and significant damages. Insurance companies may try to argue that a crash was unavoidable or that someone else shares the blame.
An experienced attorney can investigate the collision, preserve important evidence, and help protect your right to full compensation.
If you were injured because another driver was speeding or traveling too fast for conditions, you could be entitled to compensation for things like:
- Medical Bills
- Emergency Treatment
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
- Future Medical Care
- Permanent Disability
- And More
We’ll help you find out for free.
Call Shaw at 800-862-1260 today or use our live chat to schedule your free consultation with one of our experienced car accident attorneys. No fees, no obligations, just straightforward legal guidance from a firm that puts clients first.
We look forward to serving you.