Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Dallas

Pedestrian accidents often have devastating consequences. Pedestrians don’t have the same protective barriers as drivers sitting behind the wheel of motor vehicles. For that reason, walkers are far more likely to suffer severe injuries in pedestrian collisions than drivers and passengers. Even a seemingly minor pedestrian accident can have devastating consequences, causing serious injuries, physical pain, and exorbitant medical expenses. Consequently, a pedestrian accident attorney in Texas becomes necessary.

Tragically, even pedestrian fatalities are not uncommon in these accidents, and numerous

Texans sustain injuries from pedestrian accidents every year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that over 67,000 pedestrians suffered injuries in 2022 alone, and 7,522 were killed.

The pedestrian accident statistics in Texas are also staggering. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, 826 people were killed in pedestrian accidents in 2021. Further, at least 3,319 people suffered injuries from pedestrian accidents. That number could be higher, as there were also 1,155 additional possible-injury crashes. Interestingly, there were only 252 non-injury crashes, revealing the high likelihood of suffering a personal injury if you’re involved in a pedestrian accident.

These accidents often happen because of drivers’ gross negligence, leaving pedestrians with overwhelming injuries. If you were struck by a dangerous driver, you shouldn’t have to pay for your serious injury. On top of the costly medical expenses, you could struggle to work as you heal, further hurting your finances. You need to file an insurance claim against the at-fault party to recover fair compensation for your injuries and financial losses.

If you’re involved in a vehicle-person collision, contact Ax Injury Law. Our experienced attorney can help you through the complicated and frustrating insurance claims process.

Our law firm will also work to help maximize your compensation, and we can represent you in a pedestrian accident lawsuit. You can schedule a free consultation with our team today by calling 844-344-HURT or contact us here.

Compensation You Can Receive for a Pedestrian Accident

The compensation you’re entitled to after a pedestrian accident is contingent on your losses and degree of fault. If the accident was your fault, you likely won’t be able to recover compensation. You could be liable for injuries and property damage the driver suffered.

You are potentially entitled to damages if the driver or another party was at fault for the pedestrian accident. Filing a pedestrian accident claim may help recover compensation for any losses you experienced due to the accident.

The two basic types of damages in pedestrian accidents are economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages reimburse you for any expenses you had to pay because of the accident, and you can pursue economic damages for future expenses, such as upcoming surgeries and prescriptions.

Types of economic damages include:

• Past and future medical bills caused by the pedestrian accident
• Lost wages
• Loss of future earnings
• Property damage
• Legal fees
• Other out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel costs to seek medical attention and visit specialists

Non-economic damages compensate you for non-monetary losses, meaning there’s no exact dollar amount to reimburse. These losses are much harder to quantify, and they can be challenging to prove in pedestrian accident claims.

Types of non-economic damages include:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Loss of consortium
• Loss of enjoyment of life

In addition to these damages, you can seek wrongful death damages if you lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident.

Types of wrongful death damages include:

• Medical costs before the decedent passed away
• Funeral and burial costs
• Loss of a parent
• Loss of financial support

It’s important to note that victims are far more likely to recover reasonable compensation when they hire a Dallas pedestrian accident lawyer. An experienced Dallas pedestrian accident attorney will know all about the intricacies of the filing process, and they’ll help you build your case to optimize your likelihood of recouping fair compensation. For this reason, victims who hire a pedestrian accident attorney can often recover far more compensation than those who file alone.

Additionally, a pedestrian accident attorney works on a contingency-fee basis, meaning they don’t receive payment when they settle or win your case. This means that your pedestrian accident attorney in Texas will have an incentive to work diligently on your case and maximize your compensation. They will negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurer to secure you the most money possible.

What To Do After a Pedestrian Accident

Your actions immediately following the incident can heavily impact your pedestrian accident case. It’s critical to take the right steps to protect yourself and begin building your claim.

Follow these key steps:

Seek medical attention:

The most important thing to do after a pedestrian accident is to seek medical attention immediately. You may not yet realize how injured you are, and failing to receive prompt attention could have serious or even fatal consequences. Call 911 and receive medical attention at the accident scene.

Contact the police:

Injured victims and drivers need to report pedestrian accidents to the Texas road authorities. Under Texas law, those involved in an accident must contact the police if someone suffers a personal injury. The police will create an accident report, which will be vital for your claim. Both you and the driver of the motor vehicle should wait for the police to arrive unless you leave the scene for emergency medical care. If the driver attempts to leave before the police arrive, take a picture of their car and license plate. The negligent driver committed a criminal offense by leaving, and you need their information to hold them financially accountable.

Exchange information with the driver:

Make sure you and the motorist exchange contact and insurance information if you’re physically able.

Take pictures and videos:

If possible, take many pictures and videos at the accident scene, or have another person record for you. Photographic and video evidence are crucial in pedestrian accident cases. Ensure you or someone else takes pictures of the driver, their vehicle, your injuries, the area nearby, and any details that may be relevant to your claim, such as road hazards or confusing signs that could have contributed to the accident.

Talk to eyewitnesses:

Speak to anyone who saw the accident. These witnesses may have been at unique vantage points at the time of the accident, offering invaluable insights into how the collision occurred. Write down their names and contact information, and you should also ask them to speak to the responding officer. That way, the responding officer can create a more accurate accident report.

Contact a Dallas pedestrian accident attorney:

A pedestrian accident lawyer helps injured victims in building personal injury cases. A skilled Dallas pedestrian accident lawyer will assist you in identifying all at-fault parties, gathering evidence, and negotiating a higher settlement. 

You can get a free consultation with a Dallas pedestrian accident attorney by contacting Ax Injury Law at 844-344-HURT.

Proving Driver Negligence in Pedestrian Accidents

You’ll need to prove the driver was at fault for your accident to recover compensation. Contrary to popular belief, drivers are not always at fault for pedestrian accidents. Like

motorists and cyclists, pedestrians must follow traffic laws. Texas pedestrian laws dictate those on foot must follow traffic signals and use designated crosswalks when they’re available. Further, you should always walk on sidewalks. If a sidewalk is not available, walk on the left side of the road.

While motorists are frequently at fault for pedestrian accidents, a pedestrian could be considered liable if they:

• Cross the road when oncoming traffic is near
• Fail to use a crosswalk when one is available
• Walk on highways
• Ignore traffic signs
• Cross when motorists have the right of way
• Walk while distracted, such as staring at a smartphone

You should still exercise proper precaution even if you cross the road legally. Everyone, including pedestrians, has a legal responsibility to prevent accidents and injuries. For that reason, walkers should always be cautious when crossing the street. Even pedestrians crossing at designated crosswalks should be careful despite having the right of way.

While you may have exercised caution and followed Texas law at the time of the accident, the negligent driver’s insurance company could claim that you violated pedestrian traffic laws. Insurance companies often try to shift the blame onto injured pedestrians. They do this to avoid paying out pedestrian accident claims.

You can build your case and avoid liability by collecting as much evidence as possible against the motorist.

Valuable types of evidence for proving fault include:

• Pictures and videos
• Eyewitness statements
• Police reports
• Accident reconstruction expert testimony

Additionally, you’ll need to prove that you suffered losses from the accident.

You can do this through:

• Medical records
• Doctors’ notes
• Medical bills
• Receipts for out-of-pocket expenses
• Employment records
• Medical expert testimony

Most Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents

• Ignoring a traffic light or sign
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Distracted driving, such as eating or using a smartphone
• Speeding
• Failing to stop at crosswalks
• Reversing without checking mirrors properly
• Poor road visibility
• Driving recklessly
• Pedestrians failing to yield when a driver has the right of way

Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries

Walkers are at serious risk of suffering calamitous pedestrian injuries. Being struck by a vehicle can change your life in a brief moment, and pedestrian deaths can even happen when the accident occurs at slow speeds. Pedestrian accident victims can suffer numerous types of injuries, ranging anywhere from mild to fatal.

Common injuries a person may experience in a pedestrian accident include:

• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Crush injuries
• Soft-tissue damage
• Lacerations
• Contusions
• Internal injuries
• Amputations
• Disfigurement
• Wrongful death

The scary part of pedestrian accidents is a victim could experience any number of devastating injuries across their body. Someone could suffer from a debilitating traumatic brain injury as well as widespread broken bones and lacerations.

Individuals are incredibly vulnerable in collisions, so it is common for pedestrian accident injuries to impact a victim’s ability to work and enjoy life. If your injuries keep you from working or reduce your earning potential, you should seek compensation for your lost wages and loss of future earnings.

While not required by law, it’s invaluable to have a Dallas pedestrian accident lawyer to help you pursue compensation. An experienced Dallas pedestrian accident attorney helps their clients recover the most money possible from insurance companies. The at-fault driver’s insurance company could attempt to deny or undervalue your pedestrian accident claim. You need a Dallas pedestrian accident lawyer to fight and negotiate with the insurer. That way, you can recover damages for your various monetary and non-monetary losses.

Contact a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Dallas

You need an experienced lawyer to help you every step of the way as you navigate your pedestrian accident case. With the Dallas pedestrian accident attorney at Ax Injury Law, you can rest assured your claim is in good hands.

Our law firm is dedicated to helping Texans stand up against penny-pinching insurance companies. An experienced Dallas pedestrian accident lawyer can help you build and strengthen your case, allowing you to focus on your recovery.

We are ready to put our skills to work for you. Schedule a free initial consultation with our law firm today by getting in touch at 844-344-HURT.