Austin Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Because pedestrians have no protection from the full force of an oncoming vehicle, even a slow-moving collision can leave them seriously injured. Victims are often left facing debilitating injuries, months in recovery, overwhelming medical bills, and missed time at work. If you were injured as a pedestrian in Austin, our pedestrian accident lawyers at Shamieh Law can help you fight for legal compensation. Contact us today to schedule your free case review.
Pedestrian accidents are more common than you may think, especially in busy urban areas like downtown Austin. If you or a loved one were hurt in a pedestrian accident in Central Texas, do not wait to have your case reviewed by an experienced personal injury attorney. You may be entitled to significant legal compensation from the motorist who caused your injuries.
At Shamieh Law, we serve our community by helping victims get back on their feet after they are injured in accidents caused by other people’s carelessness. Our knowledgeable Austin personal injury lawyers are ready to listen to your story, evaluate the facts of your case, gather evidence, and build a strong claim for compensation on your behalf.
Let us fight for you. Schedule your free consultation with one of our Austin pedestrian accident lawyers today to learn how we can help.
Why Choose the Austin Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at Shamieh Law?
Many personal injury firms take a win-at-all-costs approach. At Shamieh Law, we are committed to “Winning With Awareness.” This means we treat our clients like family, going the extra mile to ensure they receive the excellent legal counsel and representation they deserve.
It also means we treat everyone involved in their cases with compassion, dignity, and respect. This approach allows us to cultivate long-lasting professional relationships that better position us to secure optimal results. To learn more, explore our case results and testimonials from our many satisfied clients.
In addition to our excellent reputation among our clients, our award-winning firm has been recognized by numerous professional organizations and publications, including:
- Super Lawyers
- Texas Lawyer
- The National Trial Lawyers Top 100
- The Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- The American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys
Our firm was founded by Ramez Shamieh, a leading Texas trial lawyer with a passion for helping injury victims defend their right to compensation. He has hand-picked our team of seasoned personal injury attorneys and staff to ensure they share his commitment to excellence and service. Meet our team.
How Our Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Austin Can Help
Understandably, if you have no experience handling lawsuits, dealing with insurance companies and the legal system while trying to recover from painful injuries can be overwhelming. The injury attorneys at our firm have experience navigating Texas laws and can help by:
- Conducting a thorough, independent investigation of your accident.
- Gathering all available evidence to support your claim.
- Calculating the full value of your injuries and losses.
- Negotiating a settlement with the at-fault party and their insurers.
- Representing you in court if a fair out-of-court settlement cannot be achieved.
We will never leave you waiting to hear back from us. You can count on our lawyers to keep you informed throughout your case.
Damages You Can Recover Through an Austin Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit
If you were injured in a pedestrian accident in Austin, you may be entitled to a wide variety of compensation from the at-fault party. Our injury law firm can help you pursue compensation for things like:
- Medical expenses, including hospital stays and rehabilitation
- Lost wages from time missed at work
- Lowered future earning capacity
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lowered quality of life
- Loss of consortium
Of course, no amount of money can make up for the death of a loved one. However, if you lost a family member in a pedestrian accident, we can also help you pursue justice and accountability through an Austin wrongful death lawsuit.
How Common Are Pedestrian Accidents in Austin, Texas?
Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents are extremely common in Texas. According to the CDC, nearly 8,000 pedestrians were killed in auto accidents nationwide in 2021. This number translates to about one death every 66 minutes.
In that same year, one in six people who died in crashes were pedestrians. In the previous year, there were 104,000 emergency department visits to treat non-fatal pedestrian injuries.
Further, pedestrian fatalities reached a record high in Austin by the end of 2022. In that year, pedestrian deaths made up an alarming 40 percent of all traffic fatalities, representing a 10 percent increase from 2021. In 2022, pedestrian accidents in Texas accounted for:
- 5,764 traffic crashes
- 829 accident fatalities
- 1,526 serious injuries
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, pedestrian traffic deaths across Texas also increased by 29.6 percent in the last five years. Common causes of pedestrian accidents include:
- Failure to yield
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
- Dense traffic
- Outdated infrastructure
Types of Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents are not all the same. You’ll want an experienced attorney who knows how to assess the specifics of your accident, and our pedestrian accident attorneys can do just that. Some common types of accident scenarios we handle that involve pedestrians include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bus accidents
- Collisions at crosswalks and intersections
- Collisions along highways
- Reversing vehicle accidents
- Accidents in garages and parking lots
- Accidents in school zones
- Multi-vehicle crashes
Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents
Again, because pedestrians have little to no protection against the force of an oncoming vehicle, they are more likely to suffer catastrophic injuries in the event of a crash. Common injuries we see in pedestrian accidents include:
- Sprains, strains, tears, and bruises
- Cuts and puncture wounds
- Broken, fractured, and dislocated bones
- Spinal cord injuries, including full and partial paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal bleeding and organ damage
- Burns and road rash
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Psychological trauma
- Wrongful death
How To Stay Safe as a Pedestrian in Austin
Though the risk of pedestrian accidents cannot be reduced to zero, there are things you can do to lower your risk of being injured when walking near roadways in Austin. This section provides some useful safety tips.
First and foremost, you should always take reasonable care when crossing the street. Never assume a car is going to stop for you. Instead, make eye contact with drivers and wait until they start slowing down before trying to cross. Further:
- Always cross at crosswalks.
- Do not try to cross intersections diagonally.
- Do not cross freeways or other high-speed roads on foot.
- Stay on the sidewalk.
- If no sidewalk is available, walk on the shoulder as far away from traffic as possible.
- Obey all crosswalk and traffic signals.
Whether you are walking alone or with others, limit distractions that can prevent you from noticing dangerous conditions. Put your phone away, pause conversations, and remove your headphones at crosswalks and along busy roads. This will help you stay alert and prevent risky situations as you cross streets in Austin.
Texas Traffic Laws That Apply to Pedestrians
There are many laws in Texas meant to keep roads safe for pedestrians and motorists alike. This section explores just a few of them, which can be helpful to understand when wanting to pursue legal action against the negligent driver.
Texas Transportation Code, Section 552.003
According to Transportation Code Section 552.003, drivers must stop and yield to pedestrians on crosswalks, even if there is no traffic control signal. Likewise, drivers must stop and give pedestrians the right-of-way if they are already on a roadway or closely approaching. Further, drivers behind cars stopped for pedestrians are not allowed to pass the stopped vehicle.
Texas Transportation Code, Section 552.005
Transportation Code Section 552.005 states that, between adjacent intersections where traffic control signals are in operation, a pedestrian may cross only in a marked crosswalk. Also, pedestrians must yield the right-of-way to drivers on highways when trying to cross at an unmarked crosswalk or if a pedestrian tunnel or bridge is available.
Texas Transportation Code, Section 552.006
Transportation Code Section 552.006 states that pedestrians must always walk on the sidewalk if available and accessible. Otherwise, they must walk as far left as possible on the shoulder of a roadway facing oncoming traffic. Drivers leaving a building, alleyway, or private driveway are required to stop and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians.
Austin Municipal Code, Section 12-1-25
Austin also has a municipal traffic law in place that prohibits drivers from blocking intersections with their vehicles. It is unlawful for drivers to obstruct the passage of pedestrians and other vehicles on the road.
What Should You Do if You Are Involved in a Pedestrian Accident?
While we hope no Austin resident ever is involved or injured in a pedestrian accident, it is helpful to understand the steps to take to ensure your safety and put yourself in the best position to take legal action. They include the following:
- Try to stay calm and evaluate your injuries.
- If possible, move away from traffic.
- Report the accident to the police.
- Collect the at-fault driver’s contact and insurance information.
- Identify witnesses and gather their contact information.
- Do your best to collect evidence, including photographs and videos of the accident scene.
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible, including emergency attention if necessary.
- Follow your doctor’s treatment plan.
- Do not skip follow-up appointments.
- Keep bills and receipts associated with your accident.
- Avoid talking to insurers.
- Avoid posting about the accident on social media.
- Contact an experienced pedestrian accident attorney in Austin.
Remember, the steps you take following an accident can make a big difference in your case. Schedule your free case evaluation with Shamieh Law today. We can help you handle the legal aftermath of your pedestrian accident and get you started down the road toward compensation.
What Evidence Might Help My Austin Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit?
To secure compensation through a pedestrian accident lawsuit, you must prove the at-fault party’s liability by a preponderance of the evidence. Important evidence in your case may include things like:
- Medical treatment and billing records
- Photographs and videos of the scene
- Footage from Austin surveillance, traffic, and dash cameras
- Police accident reports
- Witness statements
- Expert testimony
Our team has the skills and experience needed to gather, evaluate, and deploy all evidence available in your case. We can also bring in accident reconstruction specialists, traffic engineers, medical professionals, life care planners, and other experts to substantiate your claim for compensation.
How Long Do You Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in Austin, Texas?
Under Texas’s Personal Injury Statute of Limitations, you have two years from the date of injury to file a pedestrian accident lawsuit. Subject to very few exceptions, if you do not file a lawsuit within this period, your case will be dismissed in court. Not only will this eliminate your right to seek compensation through a lawsuit, but it will also destroy your bargaining power in out-of-court settlement negotiations.
Two years may seem like a long time. However, the best way to get your case started on a strong footing is by bringing it to an experienced pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible. This will ensure that the all-important filing deadline is not missed. It will also give your attorney an opportunity to gather all available evidence before it deteriorates or disappears altogether.
Contact Our Austin Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Today
If are a pedestrian hit by a car in Austin, do not wait to have your case reviewed by an experienced personal injury lawyer. You may be entitled to significant legal compensation. Do not wait to take action.
The award-winning legal team at Shamieh Law is standing by to provide the excellent legal counsel and representation you deserve. We offer free, no-obligation consultations. Call us at (512) 888-3333 or complete our online form to schedule yours today.
