Pedestrians navigate through intersections, driveways, and parking areas amid heavy traffic. When a vehicle hits a pedestrian, injuries can be severe, and victims may need time off work. Unfortunately, common causes of pedestrian accidents in Houston often result in injuries.
Consulting with a pedestrian wreck attorney early could help gather evidence and prevent potential issues. Requests to save city or transit video and 911 audio can preserve evidence that may disappear and potentially harm an injury claim.
Driver Behaviors Linked to Pedestrian Crashes
Failure to yield in crosswalks is a common occurrence. Texas law requires drivers to:
- Exercise due care
- Use the horn when necessary
- Avoid passing stopped vehicles at crosswalks
- Stop and yield to pedestrians in crosswalks without traffic signals
- Be especially cautious around children or individuals who are confused, incapacitated, or otherwise vulnerable
Left turns across crosswalks, rolling right turns on red, and quick starts when signals change can put pedestrians at risk. Speed and inattention also increase the risk of an accident. Distractions like phone use and infotainment can delay reactions and increase stopping times. Parking lot cut-throughs, bus stop pull-outs, and mid-block turns into driveways also pose risks due to limited sight lines.
Low-light conditions, such as nighttime, rain, and glare, reduce visibility for both drivers and pedestrians. Headlight use, windshield visibility, and lane lighting all influence what drivers see. Pedestrians in dark clothing or on unlit routes are more exposed.
All of these factors can contribute to a pedestrian crash in Houston. Our attorneys could review the specific facts of your case to determine liability.
Pedestrian Decisions That May Affect Fault
One of the common causes of pedestrian collisions in Houston often involves crossing the street at crosswalks. Crossing outside a crosswalk requires pedestrians to yield to vehicles, and between adjacent signalized intersections, individuals on foot must cross only in a marked crosswalk. Entering a roadway suddenly may also increase the risk of a crash. Thorough documentation of signals, markings, and movement may clarify how responsibility should be shared under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001.
Evidence That Helps Prove Cause
An attorney can work closely with you to gather evidence to build a strong claim. Evidence that may support both liability and causation after a pedestrian accident in Houston includes:
- Vehicle Data: Event data recorder downloads, damage points, and repair estimates
- Witness Details: Names, phone numbers, and short descriptions of what was seen or heard
- Video Sources: Nearby business cameras, intersection systems, and bus or dash cameras
- Medical Documentation: Imaging, provider notes, and consistent reports of symptoms from the first visit forward
- Scene Photography: Crosswalk markings, signal heads, stop bars, lane positions, skid or yaw marks, debris, and lighting
Keep damaged footwear, clothing, and items that show residue or tearing. Save the incident report number, pharmacy receipts, and any insurer letters in one organized file. A concise timeline, written within days, may preserve small details that later become important.
How An Attorney Could Help
A legal representative may coordinate early preservation and coverage work. A lawyer could send letters to stores and agencies requesting the preservation of video footage, dispatch logs, and any city surveillance footage, as well as seeking access to available vehicle data. A skilled attorney could map coverage across the at-fault driver, any employer policy, and your personal protections, such as medical payments or personal injury protection, as well as, when applicable, uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits.
A lawyer could align medical proof with the mechanism of injury. Provider opinions that explain how the impact produced specific findings, together with consistent records, may link the event to the diagnoses. When facts, video, and medical documentation align, negotiations may become more productive.
This evidence can support your claim of who was responsible for the pedestrian wreck in Houston and increase the likelihood of recovery.
Meet With a Houston Lawyer To Learn the Cause of Your Pedestrian Crash
Pedestrians are protected by traffic rules that require drivers to yield at crosswalks, avoid passing a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian, and exercise due care. When those duties are ignored, injuries may be severe and long-lasting. You may be able to pursue compensation for medical costs, lost income, and other losses tied to the crash.
Speak with an attorney at KGS Law PLLC about common causes of pedestrian accidents in Houston and your legal options. We could review the facts, preserve key video and records, and outline next steps that fit your goals.