Texas Ranks Eighth Nationwide for July Hit-and-Run Crash Rate, Study Finds

TEXAS (TXAN 24) — As the month of July is upon us, a recent study says that Texas driver should be on extra alert for crashes.

According to an analysis by Steve Gimblin Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, Texas recorded 135 hit-and-run crashes during the month of July between 2020 and 2024, the second-highest total of any state.

The study found Texas averaged 27 July hit-and-run crashes per year over the five-year period. When adjusted for the number of licensed drivers, Texas ranked eighth nationally with 14.45 July hit-and-run crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers.

Louisiana topped the list with 18.15 crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers, followed by Arkansas and New Mexico. California recorded the nation’s highest raw total with 206 July hit-and-run crashes, while Texas ranked second in overall volume.

Researchers analyzed data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Crash Data Analysis Network (CDAN) and the Federal Highway Administration’s licensed driver statistics covering 2020 through 2024.

The report notes Texas’ per-capita rate is nearly eight times higher than Maine’s, which posted the nation’s lowest rate at 1.88 July hit-and-run crashes per 100,000 licensed drivers.

The top 10 states by July hit-and-run crash rate were Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, Tennessee, California, Missouri, Mississippi, Texas, Illinois and Kentucky.

The findings highlight the continued risk of hit-and-run crashes during one of the busiest travel months of the year as millions of Americans take summer road trips and attend Independence Day celebrations.