Independent Texas crash-data analysis
2026 Texas DWI Crash Report
Analysis of TxDOT’s latest available 2025 DUI (Alcohol) crash data
Texas recorded 22,194 crashes in TxDOT’s “DUI (Alcohol)” dataset during 2025. Those crashes killed 906 people and caused 2,133 suspected serious injuries. This report translates the official tables into statewide, county and time-of-week findings for victims, families, reporters and safety researchers.
Terminology note: this site uses the familiar Texas term “DWI.” TxDOT labels the underlying statistical category “DUI (Alcohol).” We retain TxDOT’s label when describing the dataset and do not broaden it to drug-involved crashes.
22,194
alcohol-involved crashes
Texas, 2025
906
people killed
in 809 fatal crashes
2,133
suspected serious injuries
in 1,547 serious-injury crashes
2:00 a.m.
highest-volume hour
2,441 crashes from 2:00–2:59 a.m.
Source: TxDOT 2025 DUI (Alcohol) crash tables. Counts are crashes, fatalities or injuries as labeled—not estimates of unique claims.
Executive summary
Five findings from the latest Texas data
- The toll remained severe: 906 people died and 2,133 suffered suspected serious injuries.
- Fatalities improved year over year: 2025’s 906 alcohol-involved fatalities were 147 fewer than the 1,053 reported for 2024—a decline of about 14.0%.
- Harris County led the state: its 3,090 crashes represented about 13.9% of the statewide total.
- Weekends dominated: Saturday recorded 5,390 crashes and Sunday 5,242; together they accounted for nearly half of the statewide total.
- The 2 a.m. hour stood out: 2:00–2:59 a.m. produced 2,441 crashes and 108 fatal crashes, the highest totals of any hour.
Year-over-year comparison
Alcohol-involved fatalities declined in 2025
2024 fatalities
1,053
2025 fatalities
906
Change
-14.0%
147 fewer deaths
This comparison uses the same TxDOT DUI-alcohol fatality measure for both years. We do not infer a trend for other measures unless a directly comparable prior-year total is available.
Texas counties with the most alcohol-involved crashes
The ranking below uses total crashes in TxDOT’s county table. Fatal-crash, fatality and suspected-serious-injury columns are shown separately because a single crash can involve multiple people.
| Rank / county | Total crashes | Fatal crashes | Fatalities | Serious crashes | Serious injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Harris | 3,090 | 126 | 138 | 163 | 224 |
| 2. Dallas | 1,986 | 71 | 79 | 122 | 174 |
| 3. Bexar | 1,621 | 44 | 46 | 67 | 99 |
| 4. Tarrant | 1,449 | 31 | 31 | 91 | 122 |
| 5. Travis | 1,140 | 33 | 34 | 30 | 38 |
| 6. Hidalgo | 675 | 15 | 16 | 42 | 68 |
| 7. El Paso | 648 | 21 | 22 | 35 | 44 |
| 8. Collin | 629 | 20 | 25 | 31 | 39 |
| 9. Denton | 553 | 10 | 10 | 28 | 33 |
| 10. Montgomery | 426 | 13 | 14 | 27 | 46 |
Selected city ranking
Alcohol-involved crashes in major Texas cities
These are official city totals from TxDOT, ranked among the selected cities shown. They are not metropolitan-area totals and should not be added to county figures.
| Rank / city | Crashes | Fatal crashes | Fatalities | Serious injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Houston | 1,860 | 75 | 86 | 125 |
| 2. San Antonio | 1,347 | 38 | 40 | 75 |
| 3. Austin | 879 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
| 4. Dallas | 875 | 40 | 42 | 94 |
| 5. El Paso | 486 | 16 | 17 | 28 |
| 6. Corpus Christi | 295 | 8 | 9 | 22 |
| 7. Amarillo | 246 | 4 | 4 | 33 |
| 8. Lubbock | 241 | 3 | 4 | 15 |
| 9. Odessa | 194 | 5 | 5 | 9 |
| 10. Brownsville | 141 | 1 | 1 | 16 |
| 11. McAllen | 137 | 4 | 4 | 20 |
| 12. Midland | 134 | 5 | 5 | 12 |
| 13. Laredo | 126 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Selected-county analysis
Texas market groupings
We calculated these totals by adding the listed TxDOT county totals. The boundaries are editorial groupings used for consistent market analysis; they are not official TxDOT metro definitions.
| Market | Counties included | Calculated crashes |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas, Tarrant, Collin, Denton | 4,617 |
| Houston area | Harris, Montgomery, Fort Bend | 3,809 |
| San Antonio area | Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe | 1,912 |
| Austin corridor | Travis, Williamson, Hays | 1,756 |
| Rio Grande Valley | Hidalgo, Cameron | 1,066 |
| El Paso | El Paso | 648 |
| Corpus Christi | Nueces | 350 |
| Permian Basin | Ector, Midland | 514 |
| Amarillo area | Potter, Randall | 318 |
| Lubbock | Lubbock | 302 |
| Laredo | Webb | 134 |
When Texas alcohol-involved crashes happen
Saturday
5,390 total crashes · 214 fatal crashes
Sunday
5,242 total crashes · 194 fatal crashes
Friday
3,462 total crashes · 118 fatal crashes
2:00–2:59 a.m.
2,441 total crashes · 108 fatal crashes
12:00–12:59 a.m.
1,875 total crashes · 55 fatal crashes
11:00–11:59 p.m.
1,853 total crashes · 71 fatal crashes
Day totals and hourly totals are separate views of the same statewide dataset and should not be added together.
What the numbers mean for an injured person
A statistical classification does not prove fault or determine claim value. A civil case turns on evidence about the driver, causation, injuries, insurance and any additional responsible party. Police body-camera footage, blood or breath testing, dispatch records, receipts and witness information can disappear under different retention schedules, so preservation should begin promptly.
Evidence checklist
- Police crash report and case number
- Blood or breath test records
- Body-camera and dash-camera video
- 911 audio and dispatch logs
- Photos, vehicle data and witness contacts
- Bar receipts and surveillance, when relevant
- Medical records and bills
- Insurance declarations and UM/UIM coverage
Texas legal and victim resources
Exemplary damages: Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §41.003 requires clear and convincing evidence of fraud, malice or gross negligence. Intoxication does not make an award automatic.
Dram-shop claims: Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code §2.02 creates a potential claim against a provider only when the statute’s specific conditions are satisfied. It is not available in every DWI crash.
Crime Victims’ Compensation: eligible victims may seek help with certain crime-related costs through the Texas Attorney General’s program; compensation is not guaranteed.
Methodology and limitations
How this report was prepared
We transcribed published totals from TxDOT’s 2025 statewide comparison, county, city, and hour/day tables, processed April 7, 2026. County and selected-city rankings use total crashes. Selected-county market totals are calculated sums of the counties expressly listed; they are not official TxDOT metro definitions. Calculated percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
TxDOT crash data is administrative data and may be revised. “Suspected serious injury” is the severity label used in the source tables. Counts describe reported crashes and people; they do not establish civil liability, insurance coverage, compensation eligibility or settlement value.
The year-over-year fatality comparison uses TxDOT’s 2024 DUI-alcohol fatality total of 1,053 and the comparable 2025 total of 906. We did not combine that measure with TxDOT’s broader drug-or-alcohol statistics.
Independent-publication disclosure: This independent report is not affiliated with, sponsored by, approved by, or endorsed by the Texas Department of Transportation or any other Texas governmental agency. TxDOT is identified solely as the source of the underlying public data.
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Editorial transparency
Research, corrections and press use
Research standard
Every published figure is transcribed from a cited TxDOT table or clearly labeled as a calculation. City, county and selected-county figures remain separate to avoid false comparisons.
Corrections
To report a possible data or transcription error, email privacy@texassettlementcalculator.com. Substantiated corrections will be documented with a revised review date.
Ready-to-cite findings
Texas recorded 22,194 alcohol-involved crashes in 2025 - about 61 per day.
Harris County accounted for approximately 13.9% of Texas alcohol-involved crashes in 2025.
Saturday and Sunday together accounted for approximately 47.9% of the statewide total.
Houston recorded 1,860 alcohol-involved crashes in 2025, the highest total among the selected Texas cities analyzed.
Press and data inquiries: contact@texassettlementcalculator.com. Please cite the report title and link to the live publication.
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Personal Injury Attorney
Practice areas: Personal Injury
Raymon King is a Texas-licensed personal injury attorney with 35 years of experience representing injured Texans. He founded King Law Firm to advocate for accident victims and has spent decades evaluating and litigating personal injury claims across the state.
This article is for general information only and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Verify this attorney's license with the State Bar of Texas.
This tool produces a preliminary, non-binding estimate based on the information you provide and general personal-injury valuation methods. It is not legal advice, not a guarantee of any outcome, and not a substitute for review by a licensed attorney. Actual settlements and verdicts vary widely based on evidence, jurisdiction, insurance coverage, and many other factors. Texas Settlement Calculator is not a law firm and does not practice law; use of this tool does not create an attorney-client relationship.