Walking is good for your health. It is something nearly everyone can do, and it helps people see things and develop relationships that cannot be done while driving.
However, pedestrians face unique hazards from other vehicles on the road. This is especially true in urban areas, on weekends and during the evenings.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 72 percent of all pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas. Nearly one-half (48 percent) of all pedestrian fatalities occur on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (16, 17, and 15 percent respectively), and a majority of such accidents (70 percent) happen at night (between 4 p.m. and 4 a.m.). The state of Texas was one of the top four states in the nation for pedestrian accidents.
The NHTSA also reports that children under age 18 accounted for a majority of pedestrian injuries, while senior citizens (over age 65) had the highest fatality rate.
Despite the risk of injury, pedestrians have legal remedies available should they be injured. Texas law requires drivers to yield the right of way to pedestrians. While it is best for people to cross intersections within crosswalks, injured pedestrians may sue for money damages under a negligence claim. Essentially, if it is found that a driver did not use reasonable care in avoiding a pedestrian, they could be held liable for the resulting injuries, as well as costs and losses stemming from the accident. If a pedestrian is killed in an accident, the surviving family may bring a wrongful death lawsuit against the driver for lost wages, loss of consortium, mental anguish as well as medical and funeral costs.
CONTACT HERRMAN & HERRMAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
ABOUT HERRMAN & HERRMAN PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS
