Dallas County Car and Truck Wrecks Through September 2026: Injuries Rise 4% Despite Nearly Flat Crash Totals

Dallas County Car and Truck Wrecks Through September 2026: Injuries Rise 4% Despite Nearly Flat Crash Totals

Dallas County recorded 35,975 reported crashes, 17,887 injured people, and 212 traffic deaths from January 1 through September 30, 2026, according to our analysis of Texas Department of Transportation CRIS data.

Compared with the same nine months in 2025, the number of crashes increased by just 0.2%, but the number of people injured increased by approximately 4%. Dallas County had 685 more injured people even though it recorded only 70 additional crashes.

The third quarter brought fewer crashes than the second quarter of 2026. However, July through September still recorded more crashes, injuries, suspected serious injuries, and deaths than January through March.

This article follows our earlier report on Dallas County car and truck wrecks during the first half of 2026, using updated records and adding the third quarter.

For someone injured in a Dallas car or truck wreck, these numbers represent real consequences: medical treatment, missed work, pain, vehicle damage, and uncertainty about an insurance claim. The Wooley Law Firm helps injured people throughout Dallas County understand their options after a serious collision.

Dallas County Crash Statistics: January–September 2026 Compared With 2025

The Dallas County-filtered CRIS records show the following changes between January 1 and September 30 of each year:

• Reported crashes: Increased from 35,905 in 2025 to 35,975 in 2026—70 additional crashes, or approximately 0.2%.

• People injured: Increased from 17,202 to 17,887—685 additional injured people, or approximately 4%.

• Suspected serious injuries: Decreased from 1,246 to 1,204—a reduction of 42, or approximately 3.4%.

• Traffic deaths: Increased from 211 to 212—one additional death.

Suspected serious injuries are included within the overall injury total. They should not be added to that total again.

During the first 273 days of 2026, Dallas County averaged approximately 132 reported crashes and 66 injured people per day.

The central finding is that the overall crash count changed very little, while hundreds more people were reported injured. At the same time, suspected serious injuries declined and deaths remained nearly unchanged. These measures describe different aspects of the county’s crash experience and should be considered together.

How Did Third-Quarter 2026 Wrecks Compare With the First and Second Quarters?

The updated 2026 file allows us to compare three separate periods:

• First quarter: January 1–March 31.

• Second quarter: April 1–June 30.

• Third quarter: July 1–September 30.

First Quarter: 11,565 Crashes and 5,469 Injured People

From January through March, Dallas County recorded:

• 11,565 crashes

• 5,469 injured people

• 377 suspected serious injuries

• 64 deaths

The first quarter had the lowest totals of the three quarters for each of these measures.

Second Quarter: The Highest Crash and Injury Totals

From April through June, Dallas County recorded:

• 12,453 crashes

• 6,288 injured people

• 416 suspected serious injuries

• 75 deaths

The second quarter had the highest crash, injury, suspected serious injury, and death totals of the first nine months.

Third Quarter: Fewer Crashes Than the Second Quarter, but More Than the First

From July through September, Dallas County recorded:

• 11,957 crashes

• 6,130 injured people

• 411 suspected serious injuries

• 73 deaths

Compared with the second quarter, the third quarter had:

• 496 fewer crashes, a decrease of approximately 4%.

• 158 fewer injured people, a decrease of approximately 2.5%.

• Five fewer suspected serious injuries, a decrease of approximately 1.2%.

• Two fewer deaths.

Compared with the first quarter, however, the third quarter had:

• 392 more crashes, an increase of approximately 3.4%.

• 661 more injured people, an increase of approximately 12.1%.

• 34 more suspected serious injuries, an increase of approximately 9%.

• Nine more deaths.

The third quarter improved from the second quarter across all four measures, but injury totals remained substantially above the first quarter.

These are comparisons of quarterly totals. The quarters contain different numbers of days, and the data does not establish what caused the changes.

Third-Quarter 2026 Had Fewer Crashes Than Third-Quarter 2025—but More Injured People

Comparing July through September in both years provides another useful perspective.

Dallas County recorded 11,957 crashes during the third quarter of 2026, compared with 12,343 during the third quarter of 2025. That represents 386 fewer crashes, a decline of approximately 3.1%.

Despite that decrease, the number of injured people increased:

• People injured: Rose from 5,834 to 6,130—296 additional injured people, or approximately 5.1%.

• Suspected serious injuries: Declined from 465 to 411—a decrease of approximately 11.6%.

• Deaths: Declined from 76 to 73.

This helps explain the nine-month results. Third-quarter crashes fell below the prior year, narrowing the county’s earlier increase in crashes. Overall injuries, however, continued to exceed the corresponding 2025 period.

Dallas Accounted for More Than Half of Dallas County’s Crashes

Within the Dallas County-filtered records, the City of Dallas accounted for 19,159 crashes during the first nine months of 2026, compared with 18,605 during the same period in 2025.

That represents 554 additional crashes, an increase of approximately 3%.

Dallas accounted for approximately 53.3% of the county’s reported crashes.

The city’s increase exceeded the countywide increase of 70 crashes because decreases elsewhere in Dallas County offset much of the growth within Dallas.

The ten cities with the most reported crashes in the 2026 Dallas County dataset were:

1. Dallas: 19,159 crashes.

2. Irving: 3,336 crashes.

3. Garland: 2,312 crashes.

4. Grand Prairie: 1,808 crashes.

5. Mesquite: 1,777 crashes.

6. Carrollton: 1,158 crashes.

7. Richardson: 1,008 crashes.

8. Farmers Branch: 687 crashes.

9. Duncanville: 604 crashes.

10. Balch Springs: 601 crashes.

Grand Prairie increased from 1,619 to 1,808 crashes, approximately 11.7%. Mesquite increased from 1,708 to 1,777, approximately 4%.

Other cities recorded declines. Irving decreased approximately 4.1%, Garland decreased approximately 2.9%, and Carrollton decreased approximately 11.6%.

For cities extending across county lines, these figures cover only the crashes returned by the Dallas County query. They do not necessarily represent the entire city.

Which Dallas County Highways Had the Most Reported Wrecks?

Major interstate highways continued to account for substantial crash totals.

Among the roadway labels in the supplied records, leading highway categories included:

1. I-35E: 2,656 crashes.

2. I-635: 2,283 crashes.

3. I-30: 2,087 crashes.

4. I-20: 1,397 crashes.

5. Loop 12: 1,162 crashes.

6. US-75: 1,158 crashes.

7. SH-183: 575 crashes.

8. SH-161: 528 crashes.

9. I-45: 457 crashes.

10. US-67: 409 crashes.

I-35E had the highest total among these highway labels, although its count declined from 2,808 in 2025 to 2,656 in 2026—approximately 5.4%.

I-635 moved in the opposite direction. Its total increased from 2,167 to 2,283, approximately 5.4%. I-30 increased slightly, from 2,071 to 2,087, while I-20 declined from 1,482 to 1,397.

Our guide to 18-wheeler wrecks on I-35E in Dallas discusses evidence and practical issues that can arise after a serious collision on that corridor.

These figures reflect the roadway labels in the records. Alternate names, directional labels, and related routes may appear separately. The totals do not establish which highway has the highest crash risk because they are not adjusted for traffic volume or roadway length.

Dallas County Commercial Vehicle Crashes Declined, but Serious Injuries Increased

Dallas County recorded 2,911 crashes involving commercial motor vehicles during January–September 2026, compared with 3,138 during the same period in 2025.

That represents 227 fewer CMV crashes, a decrease of approximately 7.2%.

Other CMV findings included:

• People injured: Decreased from 1,210 to 1,091, approximately 9.8%.

• Suspected serious injuries: Increased from 93 to 97, approximately 4.3%.

• Deaths: Decreased from 27 to 18.

Commercial vehicle crashes, overall injuries, and deaths declined. Suspected serious injuries increased by four.

The CMV category is broader than 18-wheelers. It can include other vehicles classified as commercial motor vehicles. A CMV flag also identifies involvement; it does not establish that the commercial driver caused the wreck.

Commercial Vehicle Crashes Increased From the Second to the Third Quarter

Dallas County recorded:

• 989 CMV crashes in the first quarter

• 935 CMV crashes in the second quarter

• 987 CMV crashes in the third quarter

Third-quarter CMV crashes increased approximately 5.6% from the second quarter, even as the county’s overall crash count declined.

However, people injured in CMV crashes decreased from 389 to 371, and suspected serious injuries decreased from 38 to 26. CMV-involved deaths remained at seven in each quarter.

A Dallas truck accident lawyer can investigate the facts of an individual collision, including driver conduct, company responsibility, available insurance, and evidence controlled by the commercial operator.

What These Statistics Mean After a Dallas Car or Truck Wreck

Countywide statistics provide context. An individual injury claim depends on evidence showing how the collision happened, who was responsible, and what harm resulted.

Useful evidence may include:

• Police crash reports and supplemental reports.

• Dash-camera footage and nearby surveillance video.

• Witness names and contact information.

• Scene photographs and vehicle damage.

• Medical records, bills, and treatment recommendations.

• Documentation of missed work and other losses.

• Available vehicle electronic data.

• Commercial driver, dispatch, inspection, and maintenance records when relevant.

Vehicles may be repaired, video may be overwritten, and witnesses may become harder to locate. Preserving available evidence early can help resolve disputed accounts of a collision.

If you were injured, prioritize safety and appropriate medical care. Keep your records and understand any proposed release before accepting a final settlement.

A Dallas car accident lawyer can help evaluate responsibility, document injuries and losses, identify coverage, and address disputes with an insurance company.

Frequently Asked Questions About Dallas County Wrecks in 2026

How many car and truck wrecks occurred in Dallas County through September 2026?

The supplied CRIS records show 35,975 reported crashes from January 1 through September 30, 2026, compared with 35,905 during the same period in 2025.

Were more people injured in Dallas County crashes in 2026?

Yes. The number of injured people increased from 17,202 to 17,887, approximately 4%. Suspected serious injuries declined from 1,246 to 1,204.

Did crashes decrease during the third quarter?

Third-quarter 2026 crashes were approximately 4% lower than second-quarter 2026 and 3.1% lower than third-quarter 2025. They remained approximately 3.4% above first-quarter 2026.

How many commercial vehicle crashes occurred in Dallas County?

The records identify 2,911 CMV-involved crashes during the first nine months of 2026, with 1,091 injured people and 18 deaths.

Are these City of Dallas statistics or Dallas County statistics?

The overall figures cover Dallas County. The city breakdown separately identifies crashes recorded within Dallas and other cities in the county.

Injured in a Dallas Car or Truck Wreck?

The Wooley Law Firm represents people injured in car, 18-wheeler, and other commercial vehicle wrecks throughout Dallas County.

If you are dealing with medical bills, missed work, disputed fault, or an insurance company’s settlement offer, our firm can review what happened and explain your options.

Call (214) 699-6524 for a free consultation. You don’t pay unless we win. You can also contact The Wooley Law Firm online.

Data Sources and Methodology

This analysis uses two TxDOT Crash Records Information System query exports filtered to Dallas County and the periods January 1–September 30, 2025, and January 1–September 30, 2026. TxDOT maintains reportable crash records submitted by Texas law enforcement officers and makes public data available through CRIS Query. txdot.gov

The 2026 export contains data processed through October 15, 2026. The 2025 export contains data processed through October 16, 2026. Quarterly figures were calculated using each record’s crash date. CMV figures include records marked “Yes” in the Commercial Motor Vehicle Flag field.

The updated 2026 file contains 24,018 first-half crashes, compared with the 23,970 reported in our earlier article. This follow-up uses the newly supplied file consistently for all 2026 comparisons. Different data snapshots may produce different totals as reports are received or updated.

Injury and death figures count people, rather than the number of crashes involving injury or death. Suspected serious injuries are included within total injuries. City and roadway figures are raw counts, not traffic-adjusted risk measures. The data does not independently establish fault or explain why totals changed. The analysis and conclusions are those of The Wooley Law Firm, not TxDOT.

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.