Being hit while walking can result in medical expenses, missed work, and increased insurance premiums. After treatment begins, the priority is to preserve evidence, meet deadlines, and avoid statements that undermine the claim. Houston pedestrian accident injuries are evaluated under specific Texas traffic rules that assign duties to drivers and pedestrians. Those rules shape liability and negotiations.
Speak with a pedestrian collision attorney early. A short call helps organize evidence, manage insurer contact, and set a plan while you focus on recovery.
What Does Texas Law Require Of Pedestrians?
Texas traffic statutes define right-of-way and the concept of due care. A driver must stop and yield to a person in a crosswalk when no traffic signal is operating, including when the pedestrian is on the driver’s half of the roadway or close enough to the opposite half to be in danger. Passing a vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk is prohibited. Drivers must exercise due care to avoid collisions and give a warning by sounding the horn when necessary, taking extra caution around children or anyone who appears confused, incapacitated, or otherwise vulnerable.
Pedestrians must yield if they are crossing outside a crosswalk, and they must obey signal rules. Between adjacent signalized intersections, crossing is allowed only in a marked crosswalk. These responsibilities commonly frame fault decisions in pedestrian accident injuries in Houston because they address how each party should behave at the moment of impact.
If you were inside the crosswalk or had the walk indication, make sure that detail appears in the police report and in your medical history. Note signal status, lane positions, whether another vehicle had stopped, and any horn use. These facts align with statutory text and help establish breach and causation.
Evidence, Insurance, and Timing
Preserve the incident report number, imaging results, provider notes, discharge instructions, and receipts for out-of-pocket expenses. Keep photos of the following:
- Stop bars
- Crosswalks
- Signal heads
- Lane markings
- Skid or yaw marks
- Lighting conditions
Save damaged footwear and clothing – track wage loss with pay stubs, schedules, and supervisor letters. When an insurer calls, keep statements limited until coverage is reviewed, including liability limits, any personal injury protection or MedPay, and any uninsured or underinsured motorist benefits under the policy.
According to Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code § 16.003, most pedestrian accident injury claims in Houston follow a two-year limitations period, measured from the date of the incident. Wrongful death claims generally have two years calculated from the date of death. Exceptions exist, but you should assume the ordinary deadline applies and act within it. Comparative fault also matters. Texas proportionate responsibility reduces any award by the claimant’s percentage of fault and bars recovery if that percentage is greater than 50 percent. Accurate documentation of crosswalk use, signal indications, and driver conduct can affect the allocation.
Damages and Building the Claim
Compensation for pedestrians who were injured in a collision in Houston may address medical expenses, wage loss or reduced earning capacity, and non-economic harm such as pain, functional limits, and loss of everyday activities. Provider opinions should connect the injury to your diagnoses. Scene evidence and witness statements also help support liability. If visibility, speed, passing at a crosswalk, or failure to use due care contributed to the wreck, this can help prove breach and causation.
Expect specific requests during the investigation. Records from treating physicians, imaging facilities, and physical therapy documents track the recovery process. Requests for nearby business video, intersection footage, or event data recorder information can help clarify the sequence and impact forces. Aligning this documentation with the statutes strengthens liability and connects the injuries to the crash.
Contact an Attorney in Houston for Pedestrian Accident Injuries
You do not have to manage evidence and insurers alone. We could explain the options, gather the necessary proof, and file within the two-year deadline so that your claim can proceed.
Contact KGS Law PLLC to discuss your Houston pedestrian accident injuries today. Please bring the report number, treatment status, and any relevant photos or videos. We could review coverage, liability, and timing, and then outline a clear strategy.