Houston, TX Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Common Causes of Houston Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents can happen at any time and anywhere. They represented nearly one of every five traffic fatalities in Texas in 2016. A total of 678 pedestrians died in traffic accidents in Texas in 2016. That represents a 21.5% increase compared to the previous year.

Motorists should always be on the lookout for people on foot. Many accidents occur because drivers are not looking for pedestrians and fail to see them crossing the street, entering an intersection crosswalk, or walking along the road. The common causes of pedestrian accidents include:

Speeding—There is a strong relation between vehicle impact speed and the severity of pedestrian injuries. An estimated 5 percent of pedestrians will sustain fatal injuries when struck by vehicles traveling 20 miles per hour or less. By comparison, 40 percent of pedestrians will be killed if hit by a car traveling 30 miles per hour and 80 percent will be fatally injured by a vehicle traveling 40 miles per hour, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Failure to Yield— Drivers in Texas are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in a number of situations. Drivers must give the right-of-way to pedestrians at an intersection that does not have traffic signs or signals.  Drivers must yield if the pedestrian has a WALK signal or on a green light if there is not a pedestrian crossing signal. Drivers pulling out of driveways, alleys or private roads should yield to pedestrians on sidewalks.

Drivers should look out for yellow signs indicating areas where large numbers of pedestrians cross the street and slow down. Motorists should be alert for any blind or partially blind pedestrians guided by a service dog or using a white cane. When a driver fails to yield, a pedestrian may be seriously or fatally injured.

Distraction—Distraction is a factor in many pedestrian accidents. A driver who is preoccupied with a cell phone, food, cigarettes, the radio, a navigation system or talking with passengers poses a danger to pedestrians and other motorists. A distracted driver is more likely to fail to see a pedestrian and cause an accident.

Alcohol—Texas has among the highest number of drunk driving accidents in the nation, and alcohol is a contributing factor to many pedestrian accidents. Fifteen percent of pedestrians struck and fatally injured are hit by drunk drivers, according to the Governor’s Highway Safety Commission, while a third of pedestrians who are killed are legally intoxicated. Some pedestrians under the influence of alcohol walk in the road or even sit or lie down in the road.

Lack of Visibility—About three fourths of fatal pedestrian accidents occurred in the dark, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Pedestrians are more difficult for drivers to see at night, particularly if the person on foot is wearing dark clothing.

Common Injuries in Pedestrian Crashes

A pedestrian accident is more likely to involve severe injuries. The impact of being struck by a vehicle can cause trauma to the head, legs, pelvis, and torn ligaments in the knee. The seriousness of the pedestrian’s injuries depends on a number of factors including the vehicle speed, the angle of impact, and the body part first struck.

In pedestrian crashes involving adults, the vehicle will typically hit the legs of the individual on foot, causing the person’s legs to be pushed forward and the upper body and head to hit the car windshield or hood. At higher speeds, the pedestrian may be tossed into the air onto the car hood or thrown onto the ground, causing secondary impacts.

The most common injuries in pedestrian accidents involving children are traumatic brain injuries and musculoskeletal injuries frequently involving muscles and ligaments in the upper and lower legs, which can cause long-term disabilities.

A pedestrian accident can involve a lengthy recovery and leave a person unable to work for months and facing sizable medical bills. Serious injuries may leave an accident victim unable to return to work.

If you or your loved one has been seriously injured in a pedestrian accident in Houston or anywhere in Texas, you should seek the help of an experienced injury lawyer.