Fort Worth Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Fort Worth is a vibrant city in the northern part of Texas, with museums, gardens, and plenty of attractions. It is known for its history and community connections.

While it is a car-dependent city, Fort Worth does have many locations and neighborhoods like its Cultural District or downtown area that are considered walkable, with a walkability score ranging from 70 – 89 in such areas. With pedestrian traffic comes the risk of Fort Worth pedestrian accidents. These accidents can cause irreversible losses, with some people sustaining fatal injuries.

If you or someone you love has suffered a pedestrian accident injury, it might be time to bring in the muscle of our Fort Worth pedestrian accident lawyers to help you navigate your legal options. Schedule a free legal consultation today.

Pedestrian Laws in Texas

A pedestrian is someone who travels on foot or walks on a sidewalk next to a street. Sometimes, pedestrians have to cross the road or walk too close to the traffic, in which cases, pedestrian accidents may occur. When this happens, a pedestrian walking without any protection can become seriously hurt.

The Texas Department of Transportation outlines a few pedestrian safety tips and laws that help create a safer road for everyone. Here is a basic overview of what you need to know:

If you are a pedestrian:

• You should yield to vehicles and not assume traffic will stop.
• You should use the sidewalk when available.
• If no sidewalk is available, you should walk as far to the left as possible on the side of the street facing traffic.
• You must adhere to traffic control signals unless directed by a special pedestrian control signal.
• You should not jaywalk (i.e. walk across the street where there is no crosswalk).

If you are a driver:

• You should slow down when approaching crosswalks.
• You must yield to the right of way of pedestrians when turning.
• You must yield to the right of way of pedestrians in crosswalks when there is no traffic control signal and the pedestrian is walking in the marked crosswalk.

In 2021, Texans experienced an unusual winter storm that created the need for new and improved pedestrian laws. A pedestrian was charged with a misdemeanor for not using a sidewalk during the icy weather. Upon reviewing the situation, the charges were later dropped but a new law, House Bill 1277, was passed. Accordingly, a pedestrian should walk as far to the left side of the road as possible and face oncoming traffic when no sidewalk is available or usable.

Surprisingly, it hasn’t always been a crime to strike a pedestrian in a crosswalk in Texas. Only within the past few years has the Lisa Torry Smith Act officially made it a crime to cause bodily harm to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. This Senate Bill was passed after a mother and son were both hit by a vehicle while crossing the road to go to school. While the son sustained serious injuries, his mother lost her life. Due to the laws at the time, the defendant only received a $50 fine for failing to yield.

Why Are Fort Worth Pedestrian Accidents Dangerous?

A typical adult in Texas weighs less than 200 pounds. In sharp contrast, an average vehicle weighs around 4,000 pounds. As you can imagine, anytime a vehicle collides with a pedestrian, the damage is likely to be extreme for the pedestrian. It’s also important to consider the average speeds of both during a pedestrian accident—while the pedestrian moves very slowly on foot, a vehicle may travel at high speeds.

Here are some of the most common injuries pedestrians sustain in a Fort Worth accident:

• Wrongful death
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Paralysis
• Loss of limbs
• Broken bones and fractures
• Road rash and burns
• Lacerations
• Internal bleeding
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

When injuries are minor and minimal medical intervention is required, the situation may be easy to resolve. When the damage is extreme, however, the injured pedestrian may sustain significant financial losses as a result of their medical bills, inability to return to work, and emotional distress.

How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents in Fort Worth?

Pedestrian accidents are common in Texas in general. In 2022, there were 5,751 total pedestrian accidents, out of which 825 were fatal. Many such accidents happened in major cities, such as in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. According to the Fort Worth accident reports, there were at least 145 pedestrian roadway crashes that resulted in injuries in 2020.

While pedestrian accidents may happen without our control, Fort Worth has several dangerous roadways that pedestrians should avoid whenever possible. These areas include East Lancaster, West Belknap, Main Street, and the Las Vegas Trail area. The increased foot traffic as well as dangerous intersections increase the risk for pedestrian accidents in these areas.

What Are the Main Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?

The number one cause of pedestrian accidents is human error. Since every pedestrian accident situation is unique, you’ll need to analyze the specifics of your crash to determine what caused it and who might be at fault. Here are some of the main causes of pedestrian accidents:

• Driver Inattention: Distracted driving happens when the driver’s focus shifts from the road to something else temporarily. When that happens, the driver might not have enough time to stop or swerve when they see a pedestrian.
• Speeding: Speeding can restrict a vehicle from stopping or slowing down on time to properly yield to pedestrian traffic. It may also prevent a driver from even noticing the proximity to a crosswalk.
• Driving Under the Influence (DUI): Drugs and alcohol impair judgement and slow down reaction speeds. Alcohol can also impair vision, so a driver might not even see a pedestrian on time to prevent an accident.
• Poor Visibility: Inadequate lighting on a roadway can prevent both pedestrians and vehicles from seeing each other until it is too late.
• Failure to Give the Right-of-Way to Pedestrians: Vehicles must yield to pedestrians who are on crosswalks. A failure to give them the right of way can lead to a crash.
• Failure to Give the Right-of-Way to Vehicles: Similarly, pedestrians who enter into the roadway when vehicles have the right of way may also be responsible for an accident. Pedestrians should never cross the road without a marked crosswalk, and they shouldn’t go into a crosswalk until the traffic signal states that it is safe to do so. When no traffic signal is present, you will need to use your judgment and still yield to cars.

To prevent an accident, pedestrians and drivers should both remain as vigilant as possible while on or around the road. Both drivers and pedestrians need to adhere to traffic laws. If a pedestrian is aware that they are walking in a dangerous area, then they should consider wearing bright or reflective clothing during their commute. As much as possible, one should also avoid using their cell phone while walking or driving.

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident

Pedestrian accidents often result in serious injuries. If your situation warrants immediate medical care, then don’t hesitate to call 911 right away. If your situation isn’t an emergency, then you can proceed with the following steps:

• Call the police and report the crash.
• Do not admit fault or say that you aren’t injured (it is better to wait until you’ve been checked out and aware of all the facts regarding your accident).
• Call for medical attention and get a full body checkup at a hospital as soon as possible.
• Collect evidence at the accident scene, such as photographs and contact details from eyewitnesses.
• Document your losses by keeping your medical bills, diagnosis, and wage statements from your employer.
• Get in touch with a Fort Worth accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Should I Call a Fort Worth Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?

In general, you should contact a pedestrian accident lawyer when:

• You or a loved one was involved in a pedestrian accident.
• You believe someone else was primarily responsible for the collision.
• Your financial losses are significant.

Under these circumstances, it makes the most sense to consult with a local lawyer who can help you unpack what happened and identify your legal options. If it seems intimidating to look for a lawyer, you might want to start by researching personal injury law firms in your area. Look for firms that have specific experience handling pedestrian accidents. From there, consider looking up the lawyer’s past case results and past reviews. Remember, no lawyer can guarantee a successful item, but their past success and reviews may serve as an indicator of their capability and experience.

Pedestrian Lawyer Near Me

If you’re hurt in the Fort Worth area, then you can reach out to our Fort Worth team for help. Our office is at 4200 South Fwy, Ste. 2335. Check out this map of La Gran Plaza de Fort Worth to see exactly where we’re located.

I Was Hit by a Car as a Pedestrian: Who is Responsible?

To identify who might be responsible for a pedestrian accident, you need to understand a few things. After an accident, you have to analyze the factual matrix to see what factors led to your accident. For example, did the driver hit you under the influence of narcotics or certain prescription pills? Who had the right of way? These will determine who might be held responsible for the accident and the degree of their liability.

In general, the at-fault party will be obligated to pay for the losses associated with the accident. If there were multiple factors including your negligence that contributed to your crash, then you can still seek out compensation as long as you were less than 50% at fault.

Fort Worth Pedestrian Accident Lawyer: FAQs

1. How Many Pedestrians Get Hit by Cars Every Year?

Pedestrian traffic injuries in Texas have increased in recent years. In 2022, there were about 830 deaths and 5,766 pedestrian accidents involving pedestrians state-wide. Pedestrian fatalities are very high in Fort Worth, and cause a great deal of grief to the loved ones of such pedestrians every year.

2. What Are the Odds of Getting Hit by a Car While Walking?

According to the National Safety Council, the odds of getting hit by a car while crossing the street and sustaining fatal injuries are about one in 485. These odds have surprisingly gotten higher in recent years. In 2023, the number of fatal pedestrian accidents was at a 40-year-high in the country. This disturbing trend means that your odds of getting hit by a car while crossing the street in Fort Worth are higher than you might think.

3. Where Do Collisions With Pedestrians Happen Most?

According to Safe Roads USA, the most dangerous roads in Fort Worth include Weatherford St., the intersection of 6th St. and Taylor St.; Currie St. between 7th St. and Bledsoe St.; Rosedale St.; Berry St.; Allen Ave.; as well as certain areas in Main St. and the Stockyards district.

4. Do You Have to Report an Accident to Your Insurance If It’s Not Your Fault?

Yes. In general, it is best to report all crashes even if it’s not your fault. If your insurer finds out you were involved in an accident that you never reported to them, then they could potentially refuse coverage.

5. How Much Money Can You Get From Getting Hit by a Car as a Pedestrian?

Since pedestrian accident injuries are usually serious, the average compensation for being hit by a car is fairly high. In general, a pedestrian can receive a settlement award upwards of tens of thousands of dollars, however, every case is different and therefore compensation can vary significantly. Hiring the right Fort Worth pedestrian accident law firm can help ensure that you get a settlement that accurately reflects your losses.

The average settlement award in fatal pedestrian accident situations is often higher. The loved ones of such pedestrians can claim damages in the form of burial costs, loss of financial support, pain and suffering, and more.

Call a Fort Worth Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today: You Won’t Pay Until We Win

If you or a loved one was recently injured in a pedestrian accident, you should check with a Fort Worth pedestrian accident lawyer whether you have legal recourse.

At DFW Injury Lawyers, we know you’re already dealing with significant financial losses, so we won’t ask you for payment until you win your claim. This type of payment arrangement is called a contingency fee basis. In a nutshell, we’ll investigate your accident, collect evidence, build your case, and represent you without any financial obligation on your part. Once you receive a settlement check, we will request for a percentage of your settlement award in exchange for our help.

Are you ready to speak with a Fort Worth pedestrian accident lawyer about your situation? Get in touch with our officenow to schedule a consultation.