Have you or a loved one been hit by a car? This a traumatic event that can lead to devastating and life-altering conditions. You deserve to be compensated for your injuries by the negligent driver who hit you. Call a San Antonio pedestrian accident lawyer from George Salinas Injury Lawyers at (210) 225-0909 to learn more about how we can help your case.
Our San Antonio personal injury lawyers fight for injured victims of all personal injury matters, including slip and fall accidents, bicycle accidents, San Antonio construction accidents, workplace accidents, San Antonio motorcycle accidents, uber accidents, and more. We’ll diligently pursue all avenues of compensation to maximize your recovery.
If you or a family member was hit by a car, contact our award-winning law firm for a free consultation with a pedestrian accident attorney in San Antonio, Texas.
Why Choose George Salinas Injury Lawyers?
Pedestrians have no protection from injuries when a car hits them. Their bodies receive the full force of the impact with the vehicle. Additionally, they can be thrown against another object or crushed beneath a vehicle.
Therefore, pedestrians have a high risk of sustaining injuries that result in substantial damages. If you were hit by a car, you need a Texas personal injury lawyer with substantial experience handling pedestrian accident cases.
At George Salinas Injury Lawyers, our San Antonio car accident lawyers have handled thousands of cases. We have decades of combined legal experience and extensive resources. We are the law firm you hire when you need an aggressive advocate to fight for your right to fair compensation.
Our founding attorney, George Salinas, has assembled an exceptional team of trial lawyers. As a result, we have a proven track record of recovering top awards for personal injury victims. Since opening our law firm, we have recovered millions of dollars for our clients.
When you hire our San Antonio personal injury law firm, we’ll treat you and your case with the respect and attention you deserve by:
- Taking the time to answer your questions, explain your legal options, and review the claims process
- Handling all aspects of your case to reduce your stress so that you can focus on healing
- Thoroughly investigating the cause of your pedestrian accident to gather evidence proving the driver is at fault
- Working with you and your physicians to document the extent of your injuries
- Hiring the top expert witnesses in their fields to work on your case as needed
- Filing insurance claims and negotiating insurance settlements
- Pursuing all forms of compensation to put as much money in your pocket as possible
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit and having a skilled trial attorney argue your case in court, if necessary
You should not bear the burden of another person’s negligence. Our legal team at George Salinas Injury Lawyers can help. Contact our law office today to schedule your free case review with one of our experienced pedestrian accident attorneys in San Antonio, TX.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
Tragically, pedestrian accidents hit a record high in 2021. With 20 deaths every day, the number of pedestrian fatalities was the highest it has been in four decades. Nationwide, 7,485 pedestrians were killed in 2021, a 12% increase from 2020.
In Texas, 824 pedestrians died in 2021. That was a 15.24% increase from 2020. There were 5,366 pedestrian crashes, including thousands of serious injuries.
San Antonio reported 52 pedestrian fatalities in 2021 and 82 serious injuries. City officials are working to improve road safety for everyone. George Salinas Injury Lawyers continues to help victims and families recover compensation for injuries.
Steps To Take After a Pedestrian Accident in San Antonio, TX
The aftermath of a pedestrian accident can be frightening, but it’s important to take certain steps in order to protect your rights and try to preserve your health. If you or someone you love is struck by a vehicle, here are the things you need to do right after the collision:
- Call 911 to report the accident: The police need to know immediately about any accident that causes injuries, that causes extensive property damage, or that results in a vehicle being unable to move off the road. Calling the police is important not just because the law may require it, but also so you can obtain a police report that will help you to prove how the collision occurred.
- Ask eyewitnesses for their names and contact information. Sometimes, there are conflicts about who caused a pedestrian crash. Witnesses can testify on your behalf to show the driver of the vehicle was to blame. This will help you to get compensation from the motorist who hurt you.
- Take pictures. If you are able to do so, get pictures of the crash scene and your injuries. If you cannot take photos yourself, ask a bystander to take pictures and make a video of the accident scene. This can also prove to be invaluable evidence if there’s any conflict about whether the driver caused the incident to occur.
- Seek immediate medical treatment for your injuries: Seeing a doctor can help to avoid more serious damage to your health since your doctor can identify hidden injuries and begin prompt treatment for obvious health issues. Your doctor can also document the injuries so it is easier to prove they were caused by the collision and that you deserve compensation for them as a result.
- Document your damages by keeping careful records and copies of all bills, receipts, invoices, and other evidence. The other driver should cover economic and non-financial losses, so it’s helpful to have detailed documentation of the extent of your damages.
- Contact George Salinas Injury Lawyers as soon as possible for a free case evaluation. Our San Antonio truck accident lawyer will help you to understand if you have a case and can start working to assist you in gathering evidence so you can prove your claim.
Taking some of these steps might not be possible if the accident resulted in severe injuries. Don’t worry. Our legal team at George Salinas Injury Lawyers can take care of these things for you.
The most important thing for you to do is focus on your healing and following your doctor’s instructions. Our team of skilled lawyers can gather evidence, document damages, and file claims to protect your rights.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in San Antonio, TX
Sadly, most pedestrian accidents can be avoided. They are caused by negligent and reckless behavior.
Common causes of pedestrian accidents in San Antonio include:
- Distracted drivers
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Speeding and reckless driving
- Limited visibility
- Inadequate or malfunctioning traffic signals
- Unsafe or illegal turns
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Drivers trying to “beat” a red or yellow light
- Inadequate infrastructure for pedestrians
- Poorly or defectively designed intersections and pedestrian crossings
A motorist is liable for damages when they hit a pedestrian. However, government agencies, manufacturers, employers, and other parties could share responsibility for your injuries. George Salinas and our team of lawyers will pursue all parties who contributed to your accident to maximize the money available for your claim.
However, a pedestrian can contribute to the cause of the accident. If you were partially to blame for causing your injury, Texas’s modified comparative fault law will reduce your compensation by your percentage of fault. If you were more than 50% to blame, you will receive no money at all.
Insurance companies unfairly blame accident victims to reduce their liability for claims. Likewise, insurance adjusters might try to get you to say something they can intentionally twist around to blame you for the accident.
Our San Antonio pedestrian accident attorneys at George Salinas Injury Lawyers are very familiar with these tactics. Our San Antonio premises liability attorneys know how to fight back against these unfair allegations to protect you.
San Antonio Pedestrian Accidents Can Cause Traumatic Injuries and Wrongful Deaths
When a car strikes a pedestrian, it can cause severe injuries. A person crossing the road does not have airbags, seatbelts, a metal frame, and other safety devices occupants of cars have to protect them. Instead, the pedestrian is the most vulnerable person in the crash.
Injuries caused by pedestrian accidents include:
- Multiple broken bones and fractures
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injury
- Damage to internal organs
- Loss of limbs and amputations
- Paralysis
- Crushing injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
Your injuries might prevent you from visiting our office. We understand. Contact us to arrange a time for an attorney to visit you because severe injuries should not prevent you from hiring a San Antonio personal injury lawyer.
What Compensation Can George Salinas Injury Lawyers Help Me Recover for a Pedestrian Accident?
You can recover economic damages for your monetary losses and expenses related to the accident and your injury. You can also receive money for non-economic damages to compensate you for your pain and suffering.
Damages that our office fights to recover include, but are not limited to:
- Physical pain and discomfort
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Medical bills and expenses
- Loss of income and benefits
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Diminished earning capacity
- Permanent disabilities and impairments
- A decrease in your quality of life
At George Salinas Injury Lawyers, our legal team will carefully analyze the evidence to calculate the maximum value for your damages. Then, our lawyers will aggressively negotiate for an amount equal to the full value of your personal injury claim.
Recovering from a pedestrian accident could take months. You might never recover fully from your injuries. We will not stop seeking compensation for you until we exhaust every possible source of compensation.
Steps To Take After a Pedestrian Accident
The steps you take after an injury or accident can affect the outcome of your case.
If you are hit by a vehicle in San Antonio, you should:
- Call 911 to report the accident
- Ask eyewitnesses for their names and contact information
- If possible, ask a bystander to take pictures and make a video of the accident scene
- Seek immediate medical treatment for your injuries
- Document your damages by keeping careful records and copies of all bills, receipts, invoices, and other evidence
- Contact George Salinas Injury Lawyers as soon as possible for a free case evaluation
Taking some of these steps might not be possible because the accident resulted in severe injuries. Don’t worry. Our legal team at George Salinas Injury Lawyers can take care of these things for you.
The most important thing for you to do is focus on your healing and following your doctor’s instructions. Our team of skilled lawyers can gather evidence, document damages, and file claims to protect your rights.
How Long Do I Have To File a Personal Injury Claim After a Pedestrian Accident in Texas?
Your time to file a personal injury claim is limited by the Texas statute of limitations. If you do not file a lawsuit before the deadline, you lose your right to pursue a legal claim.
Most pedestrian accident claims must be filed within two years of the accident date. However, there are exceptions to the rule that can increase or decrease your time to file.
The best way to avoid missing the filing deadline is to discuss your case with one of our San Antonio slip and fall accident attorneys as soon as possible. The sooner you contact George Salinas Injury Lawyers about your injury claim, the quicker we can begin working on getting you money to help with medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses.
Pedestrian Accident FAQs:
After a pedestrian accident, you may have many questions about your rights or about the steps you should take. Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions so you’ll be more informed.
Can I recover damages if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Under Texas law, you can recover damages if you were partly at fault for the accident. Texas Code Section 33.001 states that “a claimant may not recover damages if his percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent.”
This statute establishes a modified comparative fault rule. If you don’t bear the majority of the blame, you’re entitled to recover damages. Texas Code Section 33.003 also says the trier of fact should determine how blame is split and that you will have your compensation reduced based on your percentage of fault.
A modified comparative fault rule is now more common than contributory negligence, which was traditionally the rule across much of the United States. The doctrine of contributory negligence says someone who shares any responsibility for an accident can’t pursue a claim.
This resulted in unfair outcomes in many situations, as someone who shared a very small percentage of the responsibility was prevented from taking legal action against the person who bore most of the blame. That’s why many states abandoned contributory negligence in favor of modified comparative fault rules like the one in Texas — or in favor of pure comparative fault rules that always allow a victim to sue even if the victim was the primary cause of the incident.
What evidence do I need to support my pedestrian accident claim?
To support your pedestrian accident claim, you will need evidence showing:
- The at-fault driver breached a legal obligation to you, such as the obligation to exercise reasonable caution behind the wheel or to follow the rules of the road.
- That the driver’s failure to fulfill their obligation was the direct and proximate cause of the accident. You must show the accident would not have happened but for the careless or wrongful actions the other driver took.
If the other driver violated any safety regulations designed to prevent the harm you endured, this violation creates a presumption of negligence. It’s considered negligence per se because the violation speaks for itself and is sufficient to show a reasonable person would have been more careful because, after all, a reasonable person would have followed the rules.
There are many safety regulations related to driving, from speed limit laws to rules prohibiting operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated. George Salinas Injury Lawyers will help you to identify whether any regulatory violations occurred that could make your claim easier.
If the other driver didn’t break any safety rules, you can still hold them accountable but will need evidence to prove that they acted less cautiously than a hypothetical reasonable driver would have. If a reasonable driver would have seen you step out into the road as a pedestrian, for example, then the driver who failed to do so is likely negligent and should be responsible for their carelessness.
How long does it take to file a pedestrian accident claim?
The length of time it takes to resolve your pedestrian accident claim will vary depending on whether the driver accepts responsibility and whether the case is resolved through an out-of-court settlement or is resolved through a trial. A settlement can result in a faster resolution of your claim, but you don’t want to accept a settlement unless you are certain you’re getting the full compensation you are entitled to.
You should make certain that you file your pedestrian accident claim in a timely manner, though. According to Texas Code Section 16.003, you have two years from the time of an incident to file your case before the statute of limitations runs out and it is too late.
Should I talk to the insurance company after a pedestrian accident?
You should report a pedestrian accident to your own insurer. If you have uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage and it turns out the person who hurt you has too little insurance, your auto insurance can pay for your losses even if they happened while you were walking.
You will likely be asked to talk to the other driver’s insurer when you want them to compensate you. Be aware they will be looking for excuses to not pay you, so will search your statements for evidence that you are inconsistent in your story or exaggerating your injuries.
You should seriously consider speaking with an experienced San Antonio pedestrian injury attorney who can help you to make sure you don’t make mistakes when talking to the insurer that jeopardizes your claim. Do this before answering questions from the other insurance company so your attorney can guide you through the process.
Contact A San Antonio Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
Call George Salinas Injury Lawyers to speak with a compassionate, knowledgeable lawyer about your pedestrian accident. You do not have to fight this battle alone. Instead, you can have the full force of our law firm on your side.
Contact us online or by phone for more information or to schedule a free case review. We are here for you and your family during this difficult time.