Houston Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

Injured as a pedestrian in Houston? Contact DeHoyos Accident Attorneys to hold the at-fault driver accountable for your injuries and losses.

Pedestrian accidents in Houston leave victims with devastating injuries because they have no protection when a vehicle strikes them at any speed. Whether it happened near a busy intersection along Westheimer, in Midtown, or at a crosswalk anywhere in the city, the aftermath includes emergency care, surgeries, months of rehabilitation, and an insurance company working immediately to limit what it pays while you focus on surviving the financial and physical impact.

At DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, our personal injury attorneys fight for Houston injury victims with the precision of a corporate attorney and the relentless determination of a trial lawyer. With more than $20 million recovered for injured clients, Ryan DeHoyos takes every case personally because he understands that your life does not stop after an injury. 

We handle every communication with insurance adjusters, move quickly to preserve critical evidence, and prepare each case with trial in mind. You pay nothing unless we win.

Contact us to schedule a free consultation with an award-winning Houston pedestrian accident lawyer at DeHoyos Accident Attorneys.

How Our Houston Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Help Victims Recover

After being hit by a car, you face immediate challenges that go beyond your physical injuries. Insurance companies start calling within hours, often trying to get you to accept blame or settle for far less than you deserve. We step in immediately to protect your rights while you focus on healing.

From your first call through final settlement, our team guides you through every stage of the legal process:

• Free Consultation: We listen to your story, evaluate your case, and explain your legal options in plain English—no cost, no obligation, no pressure.
• Evidence Preservation: We send immediate legal notices to preserve traffic camera footage, nearby business surveillance video, and the driver’s cell phone records before they disappear forever.
• Insurance Protection: We handle all communication with insurance adjusters, stopping them from pressuring you into recorded statements or lowball settlement offers.
• Medical Access: If you’re worried about paying for treatment, we connect you with doctors who will provide care now and wait for payment from your settlement.
• Case Building: We investigate the accident scene, interview witnesses, and work with experts to build the strongest possible claim for maximum compensation.
• Aggressive Negotiation: We fight for every dollar you deserve, pushing back against insurance company tactics designed to minimize your payout.

The moments after a pedestrian accident are crucial for building a strong case. We act quickly to secure disappearing evidence while you concentrate on your physical recovery and family.

How Much Is Your Pedestrian Accident Case Worth?

Pedestrian accident settlements in Houston can range from $15,000 for minor injuries to over $1 million for catastrophic harm. Compensation depends on medical expenses, lost income, fault, and injury severity. DeHoyos Accident Attorneys recently helped an injured pedestrian recover a settlement of $1,130,000.

Every pedestrian accident claim has unique factors that affect its value. We analyze multiple elements to determine the full worth of your case.

Case value depends on the severity of your injuries and recovery timeline, total medical costs both past and future, impact on your ability to work and earn income, strength of evidence proving driver negligence, and available insurance coverage from all liable parties.

Pedestrian cases often result in higher settlements than typical car accidents because the injuries tend to be more severe and the driver’s fault is usually clear.

Find out what your pedestrian accident case is worth. Call (832) 745-4878 for a free, confidential evaluation.

What Compensation Can You Recover After a Pedestrian Accident?

After a pedestrian accident, you may recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, future treatment costs, and pain and suffering. If a loved one died, wrongful death damages may also apply. The total value depends on injury severity, who was at fault, insurance policy limits, and how well your damages are documented before any settlement is reached.

Texas law allows pedestrian accident victims to recover damages for all the ways the crash has affected their lives. We fight to secure every dollar you’re entitled to receive.

You may be entitled to compensation for:

• Medical Expenses: Emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, physical therapy, medications, and all future treatment costs related to your injuries.
• Lost Income: Wages missed due to time away from work and compensation for any reduction in your future earning capacity.
• Pain and Suffering: Physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and loss of life enjoyment caused by the accident.
• Permanent Injuries: Compensation for disability, significant scarring, disfigurement, or any lasting limitations resulting from your injuries.

Pedestrian accidents often cause catastrophic injuries that justify substantial settlements due to the severity of harm when an unprotected person is struck by a vehicle.

Who Is Liable for a Houston Pedestrian Accident?

Multiple parties may share responsibility for your pedestrian accident. Our investigation identifies every liable party and their insurance policies to maximize your financial recovery.

Potentially Liable Party	Common Scenarios	Evidence We Secure
The Driver	Distracted driving, speeding, failing to yield, drunk driving	Cell phone records, vehicle black box data, police reports
Driver’s Employer	Employee working for delivery service, rideshare, or company	Employment records, vehicle maintenance logs, company policies
Bar or Restaurant	Serving visibly intoxicated person who then drives	Receipts, witness statements, surveillance footage
Property Owner	Poor lighting or obstructed views in parking lots	Maintenance records, lighting reports, incident history

Identifying all responsible parties ensures you receive compensation from every available source. Call (832) 745-4878 now to discuss your pedestrian accident case with our Houston pedestrian accident attorneys.

Can You Recover if You Were Partly at Fault?

Yes, you can still recover compensation even if you bear some responsibility for the accident. Texas follows modified comparative negligence rules, allowing you to collect damages as long as you’re less than 51% at fault.

Your compensation gets reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were jaywalking but the driver was texting and speeding, you might be found 30% at fault while the driver bears 70% responsibility. You would receive 70% of your total damages.

How Long Do You Have to File in Texas?

Texas gives you two years from the accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit. However, claims against government entities like the City of Houston or METRO require formal notice within just six months.

Evidence disappears quickly after accidents. Traffic camera footage gets overwritten, witnesses forget details, and vehicles get repaired. Acting promptly preserves crucial proof and protects your legal rights, positioning you to successfullynegotiate a personal injury claim or file a lawsuit.

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident

The actions you take immediately after being struck can protect both your health and your legal right to compensation.

Call 911 and Get Medical Help

Your safety is the first priority. Calling 911 creates an official police report and ensures you receive immediate medical attention that documents the link between the crash and your injuries.

Document the Scene and Your Injuries

If you’re able, photograph the vehicle that hit you, its license plate, any traffic signals, and visible injuries or torn clothing. This visual evidence can be crucial for proving your case.

Get Driver and Witness Information

Obtain the driver’s name, contact information, and insurance details. Collect names and phone numbers from anyone who witnessed the accident, as their statements can strongly support your claim.

Avoid Giving Statements to Insurance Companies

The at-fault driver’s insurance company will likely contact you quickly. Do not provide a recorded statement, as they will use your words to minimize your claim value.

Contact DeHoyos Accident, Attorneys

Contact our firm allows us to send legal preservation notices immediately, securing critical video footage from traffic cameras and nearby businesses before it’s erased.

Why Choose DeHoyos Accident Attorneys

You get direct access to attorney Ryan DeHoyos rather than being passed off to paralegals or case managers. Our anti-volume approach means we handle fewer cases, providing each client with the personal attention they deserve.

Ryan’s recognition as a Super Lawyers Rising Star and our track record of recovering over $20 million for injury victims demonstrate our commitment to maximizing compensation. We understand Houston’s court procedures, work with local medical providers, and operate on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win.

Our firm’s corporate background gives us sophisticated negotiation skills typically reserved for big-business defense, which we use to benefit injured pedestrians.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Houston Pedestrian Accident Lawyer?

Hiring DeHoyos Accident Attorneys costs you nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, collecting payment only when we successfully recover compensation for you. We advance all case expenses, including expert witness fees, investigation costs, and court filing fees.

This arrangement allows you to access experienced legal representation regardless of your financial situation while you’re dealing with medical bills and lost income.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Houston

Most pedestrian crashes result from preventable driver negligence rather than unavoidable circumstances. We frequently see collisions caused by specific dangerous behaviors throughout Houston.

Common causes include:

• Distracted Driving: Drivers texting or using phones near shopping areas like the Galleria, taking their eyes off crosswalks and sidewalks where pedestrians are crossing.
• Failure to Yield: Drivers turning at busy Downtown intersections without checking for pedestrians in crosswalks or ignoring pedestrian right-of-way signals.
• Excessive Speeding: Drivers racing along major corridors like Bissonnet Street and Bellaire Boulevard, leaving themselves no time to react when pedestrians enter the roadway.
• Impaired Driving: Drunk or drugged drivers leaving bars in Midtown or on Washington Avenue with slowed reaction times and impaired judgment.
• Poor Lighting Conditions: Inadequate lighting on stretches of FM 1960 and Gessner Road making pedestrians nearly invisible to drivers, especially at night.
• Parking Lot Negligence: Careless backing and drivers failing to check blind spots in busy apartment complexes and shopping centers throughout the city.

Common Pedestrian Injuries We See

Pedestrians have no protection against the massive force of a moving vehicle. The injuries we see in these cases are often severe and life-changing, requiring extensive medical treatment, lengthy rehabilitation, and permanently affecting your ability to work and enjoy life.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

When your head strikes a vehicle or pavement, the resulting brain trauma can cause cognitive impairment, memory loss, personality changes, and chronic headaches. These injuries often require neurological specialists, ongoing therapy, and may leave you unable to return to your previous occupation.

Even “mild” concussions can have lasting effects that emerge weeks or months after the accident, making immediate medical evaluation critical.

Spinal Cord Damage

The impact of a vehicle can fracture vertebrae or damage the spinal cord itself, leading to partial or complete paralysis below the injury site.

Victims face a lifetime of adaptive equipment, home modifications, and personal care assistance. Chronic pain, loss of sensation, and bladder or bowel dysfunction are common complications.

These catastrophic injuries fundamentally alter every aspect of your daily life and justify substantial compensation.

Broken Bones and Fractures

Complex leg, hip, pelvis, and arm fractures are extremely common when pedestrians are struck by vehicles.

These injuries typically require multiple surgeries, metal plates or rods, and months of physical therapy. Many victims develop arthritis, chronic pain, or permanent mobility limitations. Compound fractures where bone pierces skin carry serious infection risks.

Recovery often means extended time away from work and inability to perform basic tasks independently.

Internal Injuries

Blunt force trauma can cause internal bleeding, organ damage, and ruptured spleens or livers that may not show immediate symptoms.

These hidden injuries can be life-threatening if not promptly diagnosed and treated. Victims often require emergency surgery, blood transfusions, and extended hospital stays. The delayed onset of symptoms makes it essential to seek medical evaluation immediately after any pedestrian accident, even if you initially feel fine.

Psychological Trauma

Beyond physical injuries, many pedestrian accident victims develop post-traumatic stress disorder, experiencing flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety around traffic. This psychological damage can prevent you from walking near roads, driving, or leaving your home. Depression, sleep disturbances, and panic attacks are common.

Mental health treatment, therapy, and sometimes medication become necessary components of your recovery, and these damages are fully compensable under Texas law.

Wrongful Death

Tragically, some pedestrian accidents result in fatal injuries. When a loved one is killed by a negligent driver, surviving family members face devastating emotional loss alongside funeral expenses and lost financial support.

Texas wrongful death claims allow spouses, children, and parents to seek compensation for their profound losses.

Our firm handles these sensitive cases with compassion while aggressively pursuing the justice and accountability your family deserves during this difficult time.

What Evidence Proves Your Pedestrian Claim?

Strong evidence separates successful claims from denied ones. We move aggressively to secure proof before it disappears.

We immediately secure critical evidence, including:

• Traffic and surveillance footage: Camera recordings from city intersections, nearby businesses, gas stations, and apartment complexes
• Electronic data: The driver’s cell phone records and vehicle black box information showing speed and braking patterns
• Physical evidence: Skid marks, vehicle damage, and debris from the accident scene
• Medical documentation: Records linking your injuries directly to the impact and expert medical opinions

Traffic camera footage is often retained for only a limited time, so immediate legal action is essential to preserve this crucial evidence.

Dangerous Houston Areas for Pedestrians

Our experience handling pedestrian accidents throughout Houston gives us deep knowledge of the city’s most hazardous locations for pedestrians.

Houston’s most dangerous intersections include Westheimer Road at Hillcroft Avenue, Richmond Avenue near the Galleria, and Bissonnet Street at Fondren Road. The Texas Medical Center’s busy crossings and I-45 frontage roads also see frequent pedestrian accidents. 

School zones in Spring Branch and Alief present particular dangers during drop-off and pickup times.

As dedicated Houston pedestrian accident attorneys, we handle cases throughout Harris County and understand the unique challenges each area presents.

Houston Pedestrian Accident Statistics

Pedestrian accidents are a severe concern in Houston, with hundreds of injuries and fatalities occurring each year. Here’s a table summarizing key statistics from the Houston Vision Zero Annual Report 2022:

Statistic	Number
Total Traffic Deaths	331
Pedestrian Fatalities	115
Percentage of Pedestrian Fatalities	36%
Total Serious Injuries	1,620
Pedestrian Serious Injuries	245
Percentage of Pedestrian Serious Injuries	16%
Increase in Pedestrian Deaths from 2021	8.5%
Increase in Pedestrian Serious Injuries from 2021	11%

Texas Pedestrian Injury Laws

In Texas, motorists have a duty of care to stay focused on the task at hand and obey the rules of the road while driving. If they fail to do so, they are negligent and may be found liable for any resulting injuries or property damage.

In some cases, the pedestrian can be at fault, or partially at fault. According to Texas state law, pedestrians must obey traffic control devices—such as stoplights, pavement markings, and traffic signs—unless a police officer is controlling traffic.

Pedestrians must either walk on a sidewalk or must walk against traffic if there is no sidewalk. They must also use crosswalks, and keep to the right side when in crosswalks.

Houston Pedestrian Accident Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer for a pedestrian accident claim in Houston?

It’s highly recommended to hire a lawyer for a pedestrian accident claim. They can handle the complexities of the legal process, negotiate with insurance companies, and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. An attorney can also help you understand your rights and options, providing personalized guidance.

Can I Recover if I Was Outside a Crosswalk?

Yes, drivers in Texas have a duty to watch for pedestrians and avoid collisions even when pedestrians are not in designated crosswalks.

Who Pays My Medical Bills Before Settlement?

Your health insurance or auto policy’s medical payments coverage typically pays initial bills, then receives reimbursement from the final settlement.

What if the Driver Fled or Had No Insurance?

You can often file a claim under your own Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist coverage, which protects you even when you’re injured as a pedestrian.

How Quickly Can Traffic Camera Video Be Deleted in Houston?

City traffic footage is typically overwritten within 30 days, and private business surveillance footage can disappear even sooner without proper legal preservation.

Can I Use My Auto Insurance if I Was Walking?

Yes, your Texas auto insurance policy’s UM/UIM coverage generally protects you and family members even when injured as pedestrians.

What if a City or METRO Vehicle Hit Me?

Government entity claims require formal notice within six months and subject to special legal procedures that make experienced representation crucial.

How Long Will My Pedestrian Accident Case Take?

Many claims resolve within a few months, but serious injury cases can take longer to ensure all future medical needs are fully evaluated.

Contact DeHoyos Accident Attorneys Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, the skilled legal team at DeHoyos Accident Attorneys can help. We will analyze the details of your case to determine the at-fault party, gather evidence to substantiate your claim, and position you for the most favorable outcome.

Our experienced, compassionate attorneys will ensure that you understand your rights and options, and we will be by your side throughout the process. Don’t attempt to go through this overwhelming process on your own. We are here to help.

Contact DeHoyos Accident Attorneys today for a free and confidential consultation about your case.

2024 Houston Pedestrian Accident Infographic