Individuals who have been injured in a Houston pedestrian accident should know they are not alone in the legal battle to seek compensation for the damages they have experienced. Working with a team of exceptional Houston pedestrian accident lawyers can help you or your family member conquer the legal challenges to claim the most beneficial compensation available to you. Williams Hart & Boundas is an award-winning pedestrian accident law firm ready to fight for your financial recovery while you focus on healing and getting back to life.
Working with our Houston pedestrian accident lawyers allows pedestrian accident victims to navigate the complexities of the Texas legal system more effectively. A free consultation allows you or a loved one to explain the events of the accident leading to the damages experienced to a member of our team of Houston pedestrian accident lawyers and become familiar with the options available to you for financial compensation. When you need a pedestrian accident law firm, seek the compassionate and personalized representation our Houston pedestrian accident lawyers offer each client. Schedule your free consultation and case evaluation today.
Understanding the Legal Process of Pedestrian Accident Lawsuits in Texas
Texas personal injury cases allow pedestrian accident victims and anyone suffering a significant personal injury in Houston to seek compensation for the damages they experience due to the negligence of someone or something, such as a business, organization, or entity. Recent reports from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau emphasize the burden of medical debt in the United States. According to their data, an estimated $81 to $140 billion in medical debt in the U.S. is in medical debt collection. Their research also demonstrates that 21% to 25% of Texas residents have medical bills in medical debt collection.
Filing personal injury cases for our clients serves to return an individual to their prior financial standing before their life was derailed by a pedestrian accident, providing financial compensation to cover critical medical care and medical bills, especially when a pedestrian accident victim is unable to work or stay on top of growing financial debt. Williams Hart & Boundas is ready to remove the weight of the legal process and seek the highest compensation available for your injuries for the following damages from a pedestrian accident in Texas resulting in a personal injury.
Economic Damages
The economic damages that personal injury cases seek to compensate for are those costs to you with a defined amount. Carefully documenting your economic damages allows us to demand the maximum compensation in personal injury cases. The damages you may be able to seek financial compensation for include the following:
- All current and future medical bills and expenses
- Medication costs
- Lost wages, lost future earnings, and other income and bonuses
- Transportation costs resulting from medical care
- Purchase or rental of medical equipment
- Home modifications or adjustment costs
Non-Economic Damages
Williams Hart & Boundas understands that some of the costliest injuries a Houston pedestrian accident victim may experience are those damages that have no readily identifiable amount for compensation. A comprehensive evaluation of your injuries allows our team to evaluate and assign an appropriate dollar amount to the following damages resulting from your injuries and seek financial compensation for you. These damages may include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality and enjoyment of life
- Physical impairment
- Scarring or disfigurement
- Amputation
- Loss of consortium
We understand the sensitive but impactful losses these damages create in a pedestrian accident victim’s life. Our team diligently strives to see the entire picture and impact of the injuries and to seek financial compensation for these damages that may last a lifetime.
Punitive or Exemplary Damages
Texas law allows pedestrian accident victims to seek exemplary damages (also known as punitive damages) when the negligent actions of an individual were committed with the intent of:
- Fraud
- Malice
- Gross Negligence
These damages seek to set an example that such negligence is not tolerated. Exemplary damages are a form of punishment for particularly egregious acts of negligence. When your injuries result from such an act, we will fight for your right to compensation for these damages in court.
Pedestrian Accident Claims
It is beneficial for pedestrian accident victims to work with a Houston personal injury lawyer with our law firm to file personal injury claims. Insurance companies play a critical role in assigning fault in an accident and determining what compensation pedestrian accident victims should receive for their injuries. Working with a personal injury lawyer does not guarantee a greater compensation amount. However, it ensures you have a team fighting to help you recover all the damages available to you.
While insurance companies may offer to settle your claim and do so quickly, the compensation provided to you may not come close to the total losses experienced. Additionally, future medical costs may be overlooked in a claim. Let Williams Hart & Boundas help you by serving as a mediator between you and insurance companies to protect your best interests and maximize your potential financial compensation by providing the following services:
- Acquiring and reviewing a copy of the police report to determine who the liable parties in personal injury claims may be
- Reviewing all medical records of your injuries to understand the extent of your damages
- Speaking with insurance companies’ adjusters on your behalf to prevent any statements you make about the accident from being used against you
- Striving to hold all liable parties and negligent drivers accountable
- Working to effectively negotiate a personal injury settlement with the insurance company
- Litigating your case in court when a fair settlement cannot be reached
A personal injury lawyer will protect your rights every step of the way. Tactics and strategies that may harm your claim can be avoided when you allow Williams Hart & Boundas to negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf.
Facts You May Not Know About Houston Pedestrian Accident Claims
Significant facts a pedestrian accident victim may be unfamiliar with can consequently impact personal injury claims. A personal injury lawyer in Houston with our law firm will not only work to explain the information supporting your claim, but a personal injury lawyer will also work to protect your rights by offering critical guidance in actions and decisions that can negatively impact your claim, such as:
- Accepting the first settlement offer can reduce your potential compensation because it rarely reflects an accurate picture of the personal injury damages you have suffered.
- Pedestrian accident victims can refuse a settlement offer that does not fairly compensate them for their injuries.
- A police report may contain inaccuracies, making it more challenging to determine who the negligent drivers or liable parties are in an accident, impacting personal injury claims.
- Insurance companies may use your statements about the accident against you to reduce your compensation.
- Pedestrian accident victims should seek guidance from an experienced law firm before giving recorded statements to insurance companies.
- Social media posts are public records that may be used to weaken personal injury claims.
- There may be multiple liable parties in pedestrian injury claims.
- Pedestrian accident victims are not required to release all of their medical records to insurance companies. Only medical records and medical expenses stemming from the accident should be released, and consulting a personal injury lawyer before signing release forms is vital.
- Pedestrian accident victims may be found responsible or partially responsible for their personal injury.
Working with a law firm that genuinely cares about the impact of personal injury claims on the ability to recover allows you to feel confident moving forward in seeking compensation from insurance companies responsible for covering negligent drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 73% of pedestrian fatalities occur at locations other than intersections. A personal injury lawyer will examine a driver’s behavior to determine how their actions led to your injuries when no intersections were present to allow for you to safely cross the road as a pedestrian. All Houston commuters have the right to use the highways.
Statute of Limitations in Texas
Strict laws in Texas designating a statute of limitations or timeframe that injured pedestrians can file a personal injury lawsuit apply to each case. While some exceptions to this timeline are defined by law, a personal injury lawsuit in Texas must be filed within two years of the date injuries occur in a Houston pedestrian accident.
Each personal injury lawsuit in Texas is impacted by the specific facts surrounding the incident. While the statute of limitations allows two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, it is recommended that you speak with Houston pedestrian accident lawyers as soon as possible so that they can begin securing valuable evidence in your case. Evidence must prove that negligence led to your injuries, resulting in the damages you suffered.
Contacting Williams Hart & Boundas does not obligate you to file a Texas personal injury lawsuit. However, it does help you and our team to determine:
- If you have a Texas pedestrian accident lawsuit
- What timelines apply to your case
- How we can better serve you and help seek the most beneficial compensation possible
There is no cost to you to sign up for a free case evaluation. Furthermore, the Williams Hart & Boundas team understands the financial struggles that often accompany severe injuries in Texas. After determining you have a solid personal injury lawsuit and you sign on to work with our law firm, you will pay nothing unless we secure compensation for your damages. We believe in your right to legal action and will work tirelessly for successful results in your personal injury lawsuit. We have served over 200,000 clients and stand ready to serve you.
Pedestrian Accidents vs Car Accidents
Texas traffic laws apply to a car accident as well as a pedestrian accident in Texas. Each individual using the roadways in Texas owes others around them a duty of care to prevent collisions. As mentioned, pedestrians may be determined to be the at-fault party in an accident.
Texas follows the law of modified comparative negligence, and a percentage of fault may be assigned to motorists and pedestrians in motor vehicle accidents involving a pedestrian. Any party in an accident found to hold a percentage of fault greater than 50% cannot recover damages. Assigning more fault to someone other than the at-fault party benefits the insurance company covering the negligent driver.
A personal injury attorney working for your recovery will diligently strive to prove a driver breached the duty of care owed to you as a pedestrian in Houston. Other factors that may impact your case may include:
- Who had the right of way
- Whether the pedestrian crossed in a designated crosswalk
- What negligent actions, such as cell phone use, may have contributed to the accident
- Vehicle accidents involving pedestrians occurring in parking lots may pose unexpected challenges in a personal injury case
Report hit-and-run accidents to law enforcement immediately to increase the chances of the responsible party being located and held accountable for your injuries. A personal injury attorney can not only work to prove the at-fault party broke traffic laws but can also prove the offender put you in a heightened state of danger by leaving the scene of the car accident, increasing the risk of injury by not acting to secure medical care at the scene.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
Houston pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to severe injuries and fatalities when involved in an accident involving a motor vehicle. No human is safe from the tremendous impact and force when struck by a moving vehicle. Common pedestrian accident injuries may include:
- Broken bones: Broken bones can result in closed or open fractures where the bone protrudes through the skin
- Spinal cord injuries: Paraplegia and quadriplegia are severe injuries that may result from spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI): The symptoms of traumatic brain injuries may not be present until days or weeks following an accident
- Disfigurement: Severe injuries resulting in disfigurement can create physical as well as emotional challenges
- Amputation: suffering the loss of one or more limbs or appendages
- Other catastrophic injuries: any injury causing permanent or significant damage
If a loved one suffered fatal injuries in a pedestrian accident, you can count on Williams Hart & Boundas to fight for the financial losses you suffer due to wrongful death. During times of immense grief and loss, we are here to shoulder the legal burden while you take personal time to process the loss you have experienced. Legal action for wrongful death must be taken within two years of the date of the passing of your family member. A wrongful death attorney in Houston will compassionately guide you through the steps of financial recovery to help reduce the impact of financial loss and pave the way for a more stable economic future.
Contact The Award-Winning Houston Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Williams Hart & Boundas and Schedule a Free Consultation Today
Houston pedestrian accidents can produce some of the most severe damages in personal injury cases in Texas. Pedestrian accident injuries can be debilitating, leading to lifelong physical struggles, financial burdens, and unnecessary hardship. Devastatingly, many pedestrian accident victims in Houston do not survive their injuries. Watching a loved one or family member face these challenges or being the person who is impacted by a pedestrian accident can create a sense of helplessness and overwhelming challenge.
Williams Hart & Boundas has the Houston pedestrian accident attorneys team you need ready to protect your rights with honest, proven legal representation. With nearly 40 years of experience on our side, our Houston pedestrian accident attorneys have developed strategic skills to successfully represent the best interests of pedestrian accident victims in Houston. Expect clear communication and accessibility when you work with one of our skilled Houston pedestrian accident attorneys.
Our legal representation ensures you fully understand your options and the possible outcomes in the decision-making process. We provide the tools you need to make the best decisions for your future. Schedule a free case evaluation today to access the support you need in a Houston pedestrian accident claim or case. We will advocate for a fair settlement with the insurance company and take your case to court to seek the maximum compensation you deserve.
Houston pedestrian accident lawyers
The Houston pedestrian accident lawyers at Williams Hart & Boundas are ready to help you get the compensation you deserve. If you have sustained injuries after being hit by a car or other vehicle in Houston, it is important to contact the experienced pedestrian injury lawyers at Williams Hart & Boundas.