Can I Claim Compensation for a Pedestrian Accident Injury in Houston?

Unfortunately, when a pedestrian suffers an accident on Houston’s roads, there is only one winner.

Not only do pedestrians come off second best when hit by a car, motorcycle, bicycle or another vehicle. Their injuries tend to be very serious – and may even be life-threatening.

If you or a loved one suffer a pedestrian accident injury that was at least partly the fault of a negligent driver, you should seek immediate legal advice.

Personal injury lawyer, Ryan DeHoyos, will provide the support and expertise you need at this challenging time, fighting for a fair deal either in or out of the courtroom.

Named as one of Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars in 2019, a decade of experience in personal injury cases will help you claim the compensation you deserve for your injuries.

At DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, PLLC, we understand the local court system, the procedures involved in winning pedestrian accident injury cases, and the strategies to maximize your claim.

What can a pedestrian accident attorney do for you?

It should be an easy case to win compensation, right?

You cross the road and are struck by a driver who you think was speeding. You are badly hurt and expect the driver’s insurance company to cover your medical costs and the pain and suffering and other losses you have suffered.

Unfortunately, it is rarely as simple as that.

Insurance companies frequently play “hardball” to minimize their losses. You may be offered a settlement that does not reflect your losses. You may even be blamed for the accident. You are left not only with terrible injuries but no one willing to admit liability.

What do you do?

This is where the experience and legal skills of Ryan DeHoyos come in. He is intimately familiar with the strategies used by insurance companies and will provide the support and legal guidance you need at such a difficult time.

He will conduct all communications with the insurance company, fully investigate what happened to you, and gather evidence to prove both liability for the accident and the full extent of your injuries and losses. He will leave nowhere to hide for the liable party.

If necessary, we will consult with independent medical professionals about the seriousness of your injuries and how they may affect you in the future.

This usually puts us in a strong negotiating position and most insurance companies do not want to head to trial.

However, we will never accept a settlement out of court unless it is in your best interests to do so and are prepared to file a lawsuit on your behalf and present your interests at trial if necessary.

This will not only obtain you the compensation you deserve. It will remove the burden and stress of having to deal with the insurance company while you should be focused on recovery from your injuries.

What are the most common pedestrian accident injuries in Houston?

Pedestrians involved in accidents with motor vehicles are often seriously injured due to their lack of protection. This even applies at relatively low speeds. To escape uninjured involves a major stroke of luck.

Most typically in Houston, we see the following types of pedestrian accident injuries:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Head injuries (open and closed)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Other back and neck injuries
• Broken bones/fractures
• Soft tissue injuries
• Internal injuries

In the most serious cases, death results from the injuries suffered, and a wrongful death lawsuit is filed by the family of the deceased pedestrian.

What are the main causes of pedestrian accident injuries in Houston?

The main location for pedestrian accidents in Houston is road intersections.

There is no escaping the fact that, with the ever-presence of cell phones in our lives, more accidents do occur because of distracted driving (or distracted walking if the pedestrian is to blame).

Laws are in place to protect pedestrians but these are not always observed. Even if pedestrians mitigate the chances of accidents by wearing bright clothes, keeping their cell phones in their pockets, and observing all the road rules, it is sometimes not enough to prevent accidents.

Some drivers treat their phone messages as the priority rather than the safety of other road users. This is negligent and abandons the duty of care that drivers owe to other road users.

Distracted driving has become one of the main causes of pedestrian accident injuries but it is far from the only one. Other common causes of pedestrian injuries on Houston’s roads include:

• Failure to yield
• Speeding
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Other parties apart from drivers may be held liable for pedestrian accidents too. This includes the city municipality for failure to properly maintain sidewalks or warn of hazards on the road, a vehicle manufacturer for a defective part or trucking companies for overworked and inattentive drivers or poor vehicle maintenance.

How much compensation will I get for a pedestrian accident injury?

Typically, a pedestrian seriously injured after an accident on the roads will suffer significant losses from medical bills, loss of earnings at work, pain and suffering, costs of ongoing therapy, possible surgery for disfigurement, possible property damage, and other potential losses.

In some cases, the financial losses can be just as crippling as the physical injuries. If a victim is permanently or temporarily disabled, the loss of future earnings becomes a major issue.

You are likely to be able to negotiate a settlement more in line with what you deserve with the support and representation from an experienced personal accident lawyer like Ryan DeHoyos.

Every compensation claim is different and there are no hard and fast rules about how much you will be paid by the insurance company of the at-fault party. However, with our experience in these cases, we generally have a good idea of what constitutes a fair payment and will fight for it.

Been in a pedestrian accident in Houston?

Ryan DeHoyos is ready to help…

Whether you or a loved one have had your life turned upside down by a pedestrian accident in Houston, attempting to handle a compensation claim alone is a thankless task.

Dealing with insurance companies is best handled by those experienced with the process. The DeHoyos Accident Attorneys, PLLC provides this experience and support you need at this difficult time.

To begin the process of evaluating your claim and protecting your rights, call 832-745-4878 for a free and confidential case evaluation.