Houston, TX Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

A pedestrian prior to being struck by a motor vehicle

Walking is the most basic form of transportation. At some point during the day, nearly all of us are pedestrians. While vehicles are getting safer, people on foot remain just as vulnerable to serious or fatal injuries if struck by a car or truck. Unfortunately, pedestrians represent an increasing portion of the total traffic accident injuries and deaths.

At Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C., our compassionate attorneys help pedestrians who have been hurt in automobile accidents caused by motor vehicle drivers. Our pedestrian injury lawyers will review the details of the accident and discuss your legal options during a free consultation.

Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C. is a highly regarded local law firm with more than 100 years of combined legal experience.

We have served thousands of people in Houston and across Texas. If we accept your pedestrian accident case, we will handle it on a contingency fee arrangement so that you will not owe any upfront costs.

Whether your pedestrian accident was caused by a drunk driver, a distracted driver, a driver who was speeding or breaking traffic laws, or someone who simply failed to exercise caution, you can count on our experienced pedestrian accident attorneys to be dedicated to advocates for you. Call Herrman & Herrman P.L.L.C. to obtain a free review of your case.

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:

speed limit sign
Speedingā€”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.
yield sign
Failure to Yieldā€” 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.


icon of a person holding a phone
Distractionā€”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.
icon of alcohol to represent drinking and driving
Alcoholā€”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 Governorā€™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.
icon of a moon to represent lack of visibility while driving
Lack of Visibilityā€”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

pedestrian accidentsA 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 pedestrianā€™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 personā€™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.

What to Do If You Are Hit by a Car While on Foot

The following steps are important to take to protect your rights after a pedestrian accident caused by a motorist:

Medical Treatmentā€”If you did not need emergency medical care after being injured in a pedestrian accident, you should still see a doctor and have a medical evaluation. If you were struck by a car traveling at low speed, you may not feel injured immediately afterward. But you may be very sore the next day. Itā€™s important to be evaluated by a doctor to be screened for injuries. Some potentially serious injuries such as concussions may not be readily apparent. A doctorā€™s evaluation describing your injuries will be useful if you need to pursue a pedestrian accident injury claim.
Call Policeā€”If you were struck by a car, summon the police to the scene of the accident if you are able or have someone else report the accident to police. Do not let a driver talk you out of calling the police, even if the driver promises to pay your damages out of pocket. A police accident report describes how the pedestrian accident occurred and offers an official record. The law enforcement officer may make a determination of fault in the accident and cite the driver for failure to yield or another traffic violation. A police accident report can serve as a starting point for an attorneyā€™s investigation of your pedestrian accident. Without a police report, it will be your word against the driverā€™s word.
Obtain Motoristā€™s Insurance Informationā€”Obtain the insurance and registration information of the driver who hit you or have someone else do so. The insurance company representing the at-fault driver may try to contact you. You should not give any statements to the other driverā€™s insurance company or discuss your injuries with the insurance adjuster until you have sought the guidance of a personal injury lawyer. An insurance company may twist any statements you make to minimize or deny your claim for compensation.
Consider Your Legal Optionsā€”You should schedule a free consultation with an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer at Herrman & Herrman. If you have serious injuries, it is very important to have an experienced pedestrian accident attorney review your accident and discuss your legal options. You may face significant medical debt as a result of your injuries. Our aggressive attorneys will fight for your rights to be compensated fully for your hospital bills, rehabilitation, lost wages, pain and suffering resulting from a driverā€™s negligence.

Contact Our Houston, TX Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

Call Herrman & Herrman, P.L.L.C. to schedule an appointment with an experienced personal injury lawyer and receive an explanation of your legal options after a spinal cord injury caused by another personā€™s negligence. There is no charge for the consultation.

 

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