If your Texas crash report shows Code 22: Failed to Control Speed, the reporting officer is saying a driver didn’t slow or stop in time to avoid a collision. That single code can be a powerful liability anchor in a personal-injury claim—especially in rear-end, chain-reaction, and wet-road crashes. Below, I’ll translate Code 22 into plain English, connect it to Texas law, and show how we use it to win cases for injured clients across San Antonio and the I-35/I-10 corridors.
Quick Take
- Code 22 = Officer found a driver failed to control speed—didn’t slow/stop for traffic or conditions. (Texas Department of Transportation FTP)
- Texas law requires speeds that are reasonable and prudent for conditions—not just the posted limit. Violations are evidence of negligence. (Texas Statutes)
- Evidence that helps: dash-cam, ECM/telematics, skid/brake data, phone logs, weather/visibility, and witness statements.
- For injured victims: pursue medical care, property damage, lost wages, pain & suffering, and—when facts support it—punitive damages.
What “Failed to Control Speed” Actually Covers
On the Texas Peace Officer’s Crash Report (CR-3), Contributing Factor Code 22 = Failed to Control Speed. Officers use it when a driver should have reduced speed to avoid a known or foreseeable hazard—slowed traffic, stopped vehicles, congestion, weather, or a changing light. (Texas Department of Transportation FTP)
This isn’t only “speeding over the limit.” A driver can be under the posted limit and still be too fast for rain, glare, construction, or heavy braking ahead. Texas law codifies that duty:
- Tex. Transp. Code §545.351 (Maximum Speed Requirement): You may not drive faster than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances, with regard to actual and potential hazards. (Texas Statutes)
- Tex. Transp. Code §545.352 (Prima Facie Speed Limits): Even posted speeds are subject to conditions; when hazards exist, drivers must go slower to comply with §545.351. (Justia)
Bottom line: Code 22 + the statutory duty to drive “reasonable and prudent” gives you a strong framework for proving fault.
How We Prove Code 22 in Real Cases
To turn a crash code into a winning claim, we build a layered evidence file:
- CR-3 & Code Sheet
We obtain the official CR-3 and the TxDOT code sheet that defines Code 22. We cross-check officer narrative, diagrams, and contributing factors for internal consistency. (Texas Department of Transportation FTP) - Scene & Conditions
- Photos/video: intersection lines, sightlines, sun angle, signage, surface conditions.
- Weather & lighting: we correlate to time of day and precipitation.
- Traffic pattern: construction zones, lane closures, prior slow-downs.
- Vehicle & Driver Data
- ECM/EDR (“black box”) download for speed/braking.
- Dash-cam / telematics (personal, fleet, or rideshare).
- Phone records to rule in/out distraction.
- Physics & Stopping Distance
Stopping distance balloons with speed and road condition. We use accepted formulas and, if needed, an accident-reconstruction expert to model whether a reasonable driver would have stopped in time. - Comparators
If surrounding traffic slowed safely but the at-fault driver didn’t, that contrast supports the Code 22 finding.
Common Code 22 Scenarios We See in San Antonio
- Rear-end at a red or stale yellow: Traffic was stopped; the approaching driver failed to modulate speed.
- Rain-slick roads on Loop 1604/I-10: Posted 65–70 mph doesn’t apply if visibility and traction are reduced. §545.351 demands slower. (Texas Statutes)
- Rubbernecking & work zones: Cones, flaggers, lane shifts—drivers must anticipate sudden stops.
- Delivery & rideshare surges: Heavy brake-and-go patterns near shopping centers and airport corridors.
Liability: How Code 22 Supports Negligence
In Texas, a traffic-law violation is strong evidence of negligence. With Code 22 and §545.351/§545.352, we argue:
- Duty: Drive at a speed reasonable/prudent for the conditions. (Texas Statutes)
- Breach: Failure to slow/stop = Code 22. (Texas Department of Transportation FTP)
- Causation: The too-fast approach caused the impact and your injuries.
- Damages: Medical bills, wage loss, pain/impairment, etc.
When facts show gross negligence (egregious speeding, repeat violations, impairment), we preserve a punitive-damages claim.
Insurance Adjuster Playbook (and How We Counter)
- “Sudden stop” defense: We rebut with time-distance analysis and traffic-flow evidence showing a foreseeable slow-down.
- “Minimal damage” argument: We pair medical literature with expert testimony; low property damage ≠ no injury.
- Comparative fault claims: We use lane-positioning, signal timing, and EDR data to keep your percentage low.
Your Claim Checklist (Save or Screenshot)
- Get medical evaluation within 24–48 hours (gaps hurt claims).
- Photograph vehicles, road, skid marks, signage, and weather.
- Preserve dash-cam, EDR/telematics, and phone data.
- Request your CR-3 and verify Code 22 is recorded. (Texas Department of Transportation FTP)
- Track lost time from work, out-of-pocket costs, and all providers.
Damages We Pursue in Code 22 Cases
- Medical expenses (ER, imaging, therapy, injections, surgery)
- Lost wages & diminished earning capacity
- Pain, mental anguish, physical impairment
- Property damage & loss of use
- Future care (lifecare plans for serious injury)
FAQ
Is Code 22 the same as “speeding”?
Not exactly. Speeding over the posted limit is addressed by §545.352; Code 22 often captures being too fast for conditions even below the limit. Both support negligence; conditions govern. (Justia)
Can Code 22 apply in a multi-car pileup?
Yes. We analyze timing, inter-vehicle gaps, and braking data to locate the first negligent actor and any following drivers who also failed to control speed.
What if the officer didn’t mark Code 22?
We can still prove negligence under §545.351 using evidence that a prudent driver would have slowed sooner. The absence of a code isn’t the end of your claim. (Texas Statutes)
Why Choose Ryan Orsatti Law for Code 22 Crashes?
- Texas-specific strategy: We know how San Antonio officers document CR-3s and how Bexar County adjusters evaluate Code 22.
- Evidence horsepower: Rapid preservation of EDR, dash-cam, surveillance, and work-zone records.
- Hands-on lawyering: You work directly with a trial lawyer who builds value from day one.
Helpful Resources
- Texas Transportation Code §545.351 & §545.352 (speed duties & prima facie limits). (Texas Statutes)
- TxDOT Crash Report Code Sheet (CR-3) — definition of Code 22. (Texas Department of Transportation FTP)
Next Steps: Free Case Review
If your crash report shows Code 22, call us before you talk to the insurer. We’ll secure the evidence, protect your medical recovery, and maximize your claim.
Ryan Orsatti Law
4634 De Zavala Road, San Antonio, TX 78249
Phone: 210-525-1200
Get started today: We handle car, 18-wheeler, rideshare, and delivery-truck crashes throughout San Antonio and the I-35/I-10 corridors.