COLLISION INVOLVING DEATHTexas Transportation Code (TRC) § 550.021(c)(1)(a)
Collision Involving Death is a second-degree felony under Texas Transportation Code (TRC) § 550.021(c)(1)(a). It is punishable by 2 to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
Below: how these cases end in Texas courts, how long they take, and the punishment.
What does “COLLISION INVOLVING DEATH” mean?
Collision Involving Death is a second-degree felony under Texas TRC § 550.021(c)(1)(a).
Texas Transportation Code § 550.021, the felony failure-to-stop-and-render-aid statute, applies to the operator of a vehicle involved in an accident that results in, or is reasonably likely to result in, injury to or death of a person. The driver must immediately stop at the scene or as close as possible, or immediately return, determine whether a person is involved in the accident and whether that person requires aid, and remain at the scene until complying with Texas Transportation Code § 550.023 — giving identifying and insurance information and rendering reasonable assistance to anyone injured, including transporting or arranging transport for medical treatment when treatment is apparently necessary or is requested. The offense is failing to stop or failing to comply with those requirements. This variant, § 550.021(c)(1)(A), is the most serious grade: it applies when the accident resulted in the death of a person.
What usually happens to a COLLISION INVOLVING DEATH charge?
14% ended without a conviction, 14% in deferred adjudication and 72% in a conviction.
How 65 resolved COLLISION INVOLVING DEATH charges filed 2019–2023 ended, across 12 counties (Bastrop, Bell, Brazoria, Collin, Comal, Dallas, FortBend, Galveston, Hays, Montgomery, Rockwall, Williamson):
Outcome is the final disposition recorded on the charge. “Other” (0) covers waived counts, bond forfeitures, transfers and unrecorded outcomes. Bexar County records disposition dates but not outcomes, so it counts toward time-to-disposition only. Tarrant County criminal records are not in this dataset.
How long does a COLLISION INVOLVING DEATH case take to resolve?
Typically about 20 months: half of resolved cases closed within 596 days of filing.
Across 65 resolved COLLISION INVOLVING DEATH charges filed 2019–2023, the median time from filing to disposition was 596 days. The middle half took between 375 and 918 days.
Time depends on the county's docket, whether the case is set for trial, and plea negotiations.
How did real COLLISION INVOLVING DEATH cases end?
Individual cases from the public court record, with the disposition and sentence text exactly as the clerk entered it. Every case is decided on its own facts.
Ended without a conviction
Deferred adjudication
Ended in a conviction
What is the punishment for Collision Involving Death in Texas?
2 to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $10,000.
| Charged as | Possible confinement | Fine | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Second-degree felony | 2 to 20 years in prison (TDCJ) | Fine up to $10,000 | Penal Code § 12.33 |
Ranges are the statutory maximums for the level; enhancements, prior convictions and plea agreements change what is actually imposed.
How much is bail for COLLISION INVOLVING DEATH in Texas?
The median bail is $50,000, and 2% of defendants were released on a personal bond.
Across 902 Texas bail settings for this charge (6 counties, Apr 2022 – Jun 2025), the median cash or surety bond was $50,000 (middle half: $25,000 – $100,000). 2% of defendants were released on a personal bond, and bail was denied in 79 cases. When this was the only charge at booking (362 records), the median was $50,000 and 3% got a personal bond.
| County | Records | Median cash bail | Middle half | Personal bond | Denied |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant | 109 | $30,000 | $10,000 – $50,000 | 0% | 7% |
| Bexar | 100 | $80,000 | $42,500 – $125,000 | 0% | 10% |
| Dallas | 98 | $50,000 | $25,000 – $100,000 | 0% | 6% |
| Travis | 98 | $75,000 | $25,000 – $75,000 | 15% | 4% |
| El Paso | 84 | $50,000 | $25,000 – $112,500 | 1% | 12% |
Showing the 5 counties with the most records; use the selector for any county with at least 30. Per-charge bond settings on original magistrations, from Texas OCA bail reporting under SB 6. Bail is set case by case — these are statistics, not a prediction.
Charged with COLLISION INVOLVING DEATH?
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Find a Defense AttorneyBail data: Texas Office of Court Administration magistration reports (SB 6), Apr 2022 – Jun 2025. Court outcomes: county district and county clerk records. Statistics describe past cases and are not legal advice; every case is decided on its own facts.