Despite recent initiatives to make Houston a more walkable and pedestrian-friendly city, the fact remains that walkers, bikers, and joggers are all at risk from vehicles that share the streets. A motorist who fails to pay attention when turning at an intersection or driving through a parking lot can injure or kill an unwary pedestrian, leaving them or their family with grief and unwanted bills.
Pedestrian accident victims need more than just skilled medical care. They need to understand how to hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligence and careless actions. After the initial recovery, you or your loved one can trust in the skills and experience of Houston pedestrian accident lawyer Steve Lee. He and his team will listen to your story during a free initial consultation, and then take aggressive action to recover the compensation you need and are entitled to receive.
Pedestrian Rights after a Houston Accident
The Texas Department of Transportation recorded over 5,300 pedestrian-involved accidents in 2021, with pedestrians accounting for as many as 1 in 5 traffic fatalities. When a negligent driver is at fault for your injuries or a fatality, they must be held accountable and face the consequences of their actions. Attorney Steve Lee can help you protect your rights and seek justice.
Drunk driving is a leading cause of harm to those who are traveling on foot, whether on the roadside or crossing at intersections. While the at-fault party might face criminal charges when they are arrested by law enforcement, this does nothing to address your injury and loss. To do that, you must file a claim against their insurance policy or take them to court in a personal injury lawsuit.
While you have the right to seek compensation, you may not have the skills or the energy to undertake this process if you are recovering from severe injuries. This is when you can turn these worries over to an accomplished Houston pedestrian accident attorney to manage your case efficiently and effectively.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
The Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University has found that Houston pedestrians face serious risks of injury on our streets. In 2022, the city was ranked 15th most dangerous among metro areas in the U.S. Despite initiatives such as Downtown Houston’s 20 miles of walkable tunnels and pedestrian bridges, visitors and commuters suffer injuries in auto pedestrian accidents from drivers who commit negligence actions such as:
- Failure to stop or yield: In nearly every situation, pedestrians have the right-of-way, but a driver who fails to yield can cause serious injuries on the streets or in parking lots. This behavior is common in intersections, where careless or hurried motorists may roll through stop signs or red lights.
- Distracted driving: Commuters may mentally zone out on a route they drive every day, causing them to ignore people in crosswalks. Likewise, tourists could be distracted by navigation devices, cell phones, or sightseeing, leading to disaster for pedestrians.
- Driving under the influence: One of the deadliest factors in a pedestrian accident is the use of drugs or alcohol by a driver. These substances can slow reaction times and blur vision, causing the driver to overlook pedestrians or be unable to stop their vehicle in time.
- Speeding: Speed limits on Houston city streets are 30 mph, but even at this speed, an accident involving pedestrians can be serious. When drivers go faster, the damage they can cause increases substantially.
- Ignoring road and weather conditions: Accidents involving pedestrians increase at night and during inclement weather. Heavy rain, snow, or sleet can make it harder to see someone walking on the road. Closed shoulders or sidewalks could force pedestrians onto the street, where drivers may not see them until too late.
- Reckless driving: Drivers who speed, ignore traffic laws, or drive aggressively (road rage) put pedestrians and other motorists at risk of injury.
- Texting: Texas has made it a crime to read, send, or perform any messaging action using a cell phone while driving. This falls under distracted driving as a cause, but it can be charged as a misdemeanor, supporting your negligence claim against the driver.
When you or a loved one is hurt because a car or truck driver failed to follow the law, you should not have to suffer injury and financial loss without remedy. Texas is an at-fault state, which means you can file a claim against the liable party’s auto insurance. You can request compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and property damage. If they do not pay in full, your pedestrian accident lawyer in Houston can take them to court to cover all your losses.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Because they rarely expect a driver to disobey traffic laws, injured pedestrians report they were caught off guard and did not have time to get to safety. When you have no protection against an oncoming vehicle, even a slow-speed accident involving a car or truck can cause catastrophic harm to you and your companions.
Some of the severe injuries our team has seen in Houston pedestrian accidents include:
- Amputations
- Burns
- Broken bones or fractures
- Cuts and lacerations
- Damage to blood vessels
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Head injuries, including to the face, eyes, nose, ears, and mouth
- Internal bleeding
- Internal organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries, such as concussion, brain bleed, and coup-contrecoup
In many cases, pedestrians suffer such severe injuries that they pass away from their wounds. Drivers who cause fatalities can face criminal charges such as manslaughter, but the penalties they pay and jail time they serve do not provide financial relief to the families of those who died.
Families can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the drivers and other parties who are responsible for the loss. The survivors can seek compensation for their grief, medical bills for the deceased, funeral expenses, and support to pay bills for the family. A compassionate and accomplished Houston pedestrian accident lawyer knows that no amount of money will bring your loved one back. Nonetheless, attorney Steve Lee will strive to ensure you get the relief you need to move on with your life.
Our Houston Pedestrian Accident Attorneys Will Fight for Maximum Compensation
After a pedestrian accident involving a vehicle, you have the option of filing a claim against the driver’s automotive insurance policy. These usually pay for medical bills, lost wages, and property damage, but little else. If you are permanently disabled, you will have substantial medical expenses along with subjective losses, such as your pain and suffering.
Insurance companies will not pay for these, so you may need to file a personal injury claim. Whichever option is best for you, you will benefit from relying on the experience and skills of a qualified personal injury attorney like Steve Lee. He and his team of lawyers have managed hundreds of pedestrian accidents, providing services such as:
- Gathering your medical records, evidence of injury-related expenses, and written documentation of your subjective losses
- Connecting you with our network of specialists who will ensure you receive proper diagnosis and medical attention for the duration of your recovery
- Filing your claim and negotiating with insurance representatives for a fair settlement to cover your medical care and other damages
- Managing your personal injury lawsuit by ensuring all paperwork is filed correctly and on time and representing you in all court proceedings
- Representing your family in a wrongful death lawsuit if you pass away as a result of your injuries from a Houston pedestrian accident involving a vehicle
Our law firm offers over 50 years of experience working with clients compassionately and effectively. We understand the concerns you have after a pedestrian accident in Houston, and we are committed to your emotional, physical, and financial recovery. Steve Lee will not allow wrongdoers to get away with their negligent actions, leaving you to suffer the consequences.
Contact Houston Pedestrian Accident Attorney Steve Lee Today for a Free Consultation Today
When you have been hurt by a careless driver or other individual in a pedestrian accident in Houston, you could require weeks or months to recover fully. You could also be so injured that you are permanently disabled and must adjust to a new way of life. To overcome the potential financial crisis you could face due to medical bills and other losses, you need a respected law firm to guide you in filing a claim.
Holding the negligent individuals or entities responsible takes time, skill, and know-how. It is not something you can do alone, especially when you are trying to heal. Instead, you can put these frustrations in the hands of Houston pedestrian accident lawyer Steve Lee and his knowledgeable legal team. Our law firm is here to offer top-notch legal representation that aggressively seeks the justice and compensation you deserve.
There is not much time to file your claim since the Texas statute of limitations is only two years after the date of your accident. You can focus on healing, and we will focus on settling your case or, if needed, taking it to trial. We offer a free case evaluation and a contingency fee structure, meaning you do not pay us until we secure a settlement or verdict for you. Contact us to schedule a free consultation today.