Pedestrian Accidents
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) reported that the state had more than 5,500 pedestrian accidents in 2017 and had the third-highest rate of traffic fatalities in the country. Mission pedestrians face risks from distracted drivers, senseless drivers, poorly maintained sidewalks and crosswalks, and an increase in the number of large SUVs, not to mention commuter rail. If you were a pedestrian hit by a vehicle in Mission, TX you need to contact a pedestrian accident lawyer at the Osiris A. Gonzalez law firm. Many factors may contribute to pedestrian accident injuries and an experienced pedestrian accident attorney will know how to get you the compensation you deserve.
Call (956) 583-4404 for a confidential case evaluation.
Pedestrian Right-of-way
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) notes that everyone is a pedestrian at some time. It gives a broad definition of pedestrian as “any person on foot, walking, running, jogging, hiking, sitting, or lying down.”
Texas law defines when pedestrians have the right-of-way:
- When they are crossing at a crosswalk and the light facing them is green, unless it is only a green arrow signaling cars to turn right.
- When the light control signals “Walk.”
- At a crosswalk without a signal when the pedestrian is in the half of the roadway in which the car is traveling, or so close to it the pedestrian is in danger.
- When walking along the side of the roadway when there is no sidewalk, facing traffic if possible.
- When on a sidewalk and crossing an alley, driveway, or building entrance.
A pedestrian does not have the right-of-way when crossing at a place other than a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. However, motorists have a duty to avoid hitting pedestrians whether or not the pedestrian has the legal right of way. A Mission pedestrian accident attorney can help determine if a driver was distracted or impaired and thus responsible for injuries under Texas’ shared fault rule.
Contact a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Mission, TX
At the Osiris A. Gonzalez law firm, we know that being hit by a vehicle can have a lasting impact on your emotional and physical health and your family’s well-being. We know how to investigate pedestrian accidents and get compensation for all of your injuries. If you or a family member suffered injuries as a result of being hit by a vehicle, you need to call the Mission pedestrian accident attorneys at the Osiris A. Gonzalez law firm. Call (956) 583-4404 today or request a confidential case evaluation online.
Our firm helps individuals that have suffered any type of pedestrian accident.
Questions and Answers
Our Q & A is a helpful resource for anyone who has suffered a pedestrian accident or wants to learn more about the legal process surrounding these types of accidents. Below you’ll find valuable information on a range of topics, from insurance claims to personal injury lawsuits.
Every pedestrian has the duty to obey traffic laws and to reasonably observe traffic conditions. In general, most states apply a “reasonable person” standard, based on how a reasonable person would behave in similar circumstances.
If the pedestrian dies as the result of an accident, their survivors are entitled to recover wrongful death compensation for their economic losses that result from the pedestrian’s death, as well as damages that stem from the loss of companionship and consortium suffered by the decedent’s family.
If you miss the deadline for filing your case, your claims can be dismissed. This is why it is important to talk with a pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as you receive or discover an injury.
