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What Dallas Drivers Should Know Road Rage and Speed in Dallas Street Racing and Takeovers Gross Negligence and Punitive Damages Injuries We See in These Crashes Talk to Our Dallas Office Frequently Asked QuestionsTHE LAW GIANT Car Accident Lawyers:
We Fight for Your Rights
Road rage, tailgating and high-speed weaving are a daily sight on Dallas roads. When that behavior causes a crash, Texas law can hold the driver responsible for more than your medical bills.
Call The Law Giant at 956-982-1800 or contact our Dallas office for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we win.
What Dallas Drivers Should Know
- Speed played a role in 47% of Dallas County traffic deaths. That was the highest share among Texas’s largest counties in 2025.
- Dallas police run monthly road rage operations. They wrote thousands of citations in 2025.
- A street racing task force is making arrests. It reported 90 arrests in the first months of 2025.
- Road rage can support punitive damages. A driver who knowingly puts others at extreme risk can be punished in a civil case.
Road Rage and Speed in Dallas
TxDOT’s 2025 data shows that 128 of Dallas County’s 274 traffic deaths involved speeding. The City of Dallas reports progress too: its Vision Zero report says fatal crashes fell from 208 in 2024 to 168 in 2025, and that Dallas police ran 12 monthly road rage operations that produced 3,847 citations.
The same report found that more than half of the city’s recent fatal crashes happened on TxDOT-owned roads, such as the major highways and frontage roads that run through Dallas.
Street Racing and Takeovers
The Dallas Police Department’s Street Racing Task Force reported 90 arrests and more than 1,200 traffic stops in early 2025. In August 2025, police broke up a street takeover in northeast Dallas, seizing 12 dirt bikes and e-bikes and issuing 30 citations.
Texas made street takeover stunts a separate crime in 2023, and a racing crash that causes injury is a felony. Spectators and organizers can also share responsibility in some cases.
Gross Negligence and Punitive Damages
Texas allows exemplary (punitive) damages when a driver is grossly negligent. Under § 41.001(11), that means two things:
- The conduct involved an extreme degree of risk, judged objectively
- The driver actually knew of the risk but went ahead anyway with conscious indifference
Chasing another car in anger, racing through traffic or driving at extreme speed can meet that test. You must prove it by clear and convincing evidence, and the jury must agree unanimously. Punitive damages are usually capped under § 41.008, but the cap does not apply to some crimes, including intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter.
Injuries We See in These Crashes
High-speed crashes often cause brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones and deaths. Our Dallas car accident lawyers also handle drunk driving crashes, and our wrongful death attorneys help families after a loss.
Talk to Our Dallas Office
Our Dallas office is at 12801 N Central Expressway, Suite 445. We collect dash cam and witness video, 911 calls, the crash report and vehicle data, and we track any criminal charges. See our Texas reckless driving accident lawyer page for statewide rules, or read about the difference between negligence and recklessness.
Call 956-982-1800 today. We work on contingency, so there is no cost unless we win.
Common Questions
Dallas Reckless Driving FAQs
Can I sue a driver for road rage in Dallas?
Yes. If a driver’s road rage caused a crash, you can sue for your injuries and other losses. If they deliberately rammed you, you may also have a claim for assault, and punitive damages may be available.
What is gross negligence in a Texas car accident?
It is conduct that involves an extreme degree of risk, where the driver actually knew of the danger and did not care. It is more than a simple mistake and can support punitive damages under § 41.001(11).
Are punitive damages capped in Texas?
Usually. The cap is the greater of $200,000, or twice the economic damages plus noneconomic damages up to $750,000. It does not apply to certain crimes listed in § 41.008(c), including intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter.
Does a criminal conviction help my injury case?
Often, yes. A conviction or guilty plea, along with the police investigation, can be strong evidence that the driver was at fault. But you do not need a criminal conviction to win a civil claim.
Giant Wins for All Injuries
Our personal injury lawyers handle a wide range of accidents and serious injuries across Texas.
The Law Giant Stands With You
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