Houston Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Every two hours a pedestrian dies in the United States.
A pedestrian is considered any person that is on foot whether they are walking, jogging, running, lying down, or hiking, and is involved in a collision with a motor vehicle. The majority of pedestrian accidents occur in urban areas, just like Houston, Texas. Thousands of pedestrians become severely injured due to driver negligence. in addition to driver negligence, pedestrian accidents occur due to poor driving conditions, mechanical failures in traffic signs, or bicyclist negligence.
In efforts to reduce the amount of pedestrian accidents, Houston pedestrian accident attorney, Sue E. West, advises pedestrians and drivers to follow certain driving and walking protocols.
When Your Employer Denies Your Injury
It is the responsibility of a driver to obey all driving laws, and to drive carefully. Driving carefully includes obeying guidelines such as:
- Remaining alert at all times
- Obeying speed limits, especially during various weather conditions such as snow, rain, and sun
- Refraining from utilizing distracting devices such as cell phones, GPS navigation systems, and other distracting tools
- Refraining from driving fatigued
- Paying extra attention in areas pedestrians are likely to be such as parking lots or busy intersections
- Being cautious of pedestrians not following traffic laws and are jaywalking through traffic lights
- Checking that the way is clear before turning, such as when making a left-hand or right-on-red turn
Pedestrian Responsibilities in Texas
Many accidents involving pedestrians occur in the evening when pedestrians are harder to see. To help prevent these accidents from occurring, pedestrians are advised to wear bright and reflective clothing that can easily be seen by drivers. Pedestrians are also responsible for:
- Following traffic signals such as walking when the pedestrian is signaled to “walk”
- Not throwing yourself into the crosswalk when there is no time to cross
- Refraining from exiting the crosswalk when crossing the street
- Refraining from utilizing cell phones or other distracting gadgets when crossing
- Being cautious in instances or areas vehicles are not likely to see you
- Obeying the “right of way,” and should only cross in those instances. a pedestrian’s “right of way” varies from state to state.
Where Pedestrian Accidents Happen
Cities like Houston bring together large numbers of pedestrians and motor vehicles. Accidents are bound to happen. We tend to see collision in the following locations:
- Intersections—pedestrians can get clipped when crossing the street in a crosswalk because a motorist is in a rush or distracted.
- Parking lots—pedestrians are often struck in parking lots because motorists are not using their mirrors when backing up.
- Sidewalks—pedestrians are hit usually because a motorist recklessly drives up onto the sidewalk, or a homeowner is backing out of their driveway without looking for a pedestrian to cross.
- Road shoulders—when there isn’t a sidewalk, pedestrians should walk on the shoulder, and many collisions happen there.
We should also mention that some pedestrian accidents happen in the middle of the road. Some pedestrians rush into the road because they don’t want to walk up to the intersection and cross where it is legally permissible to do so. If you were jaywalking, then you might be barred from suing, or else you could receive less compensation because you are partly to blame for the collision.
Pedestrian Accident Injuries are Serious
These accidents tend to leave the pedestrian in considerable pain. The human body cannot withstand the forces generated by a moving vehicle, even one going relatively slowly. Some pedestrians are also hurt when they are tossed into the road and struck by additional vehicles.
Some of the most painful injuries are:
- Skin injuries, including road rash and friction burns
- Fractures, in particular fractured skull, pelvis, ribs, and legs
- Back injuries, including herniated discs, spinal cord injury, and fractured vertebrae
- Head injuries, such as traumatic brain injury and brain contusion
Many of these injuries carry complications. For example, road rash can become infected if the wound is not cleaned properly. Broken ribs can lead to pneumonia and possibly death. If you were hurt, please contact emergency services for a lift to the hospital. The sooner you receive treatment, the better.
Challenges that Pedestrian Accident Victims Face
These claims are not as straightforward as we would like. Accident victims can struggle to get their claims taken seriously, and many are rejected. Some of the difficulties include:
- Hit and run collisions—if you don’t know the driver, then it is much harder to sue for compensation.
- Uninsured or underinsured motorists—many drivers without insurance also have no money in the bank to pay a settlement.
- Catastrophic injuries which require extensive medical care—accident victims might not know the full extent of their out-of-pocket losses, especially if they need lifelong medical care.
Our legal team is skilled at building a comprehensive legal claim. If you were struck by a hit-and-run driver, we will search for helpful evidence. Likewise, if an uninsured motorist injured you, we will analyze other insurance policies that could apply, such as your own uninsured motorist coverage.
Contact a Houston Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Who is at fault in a pedestrian accident is determined by deciphering which party’s negligence caused the accident. the negligence of a party is usually difficult to determine until a hearing is administered. the accident will be investigated thoroughly to properly determine who is at fault. Houston pedestrian accident attorney, Sue E. West, can help you receive compensation for your personal injury. With the expertise to thoroughly defend your rights, the West Law Office will help you proceed with your case and resolve any issues with insurance agencies or disagreeing parties. for a free consultation call Sue E. West today 281-347-3247.
