Fort Worth Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
While intersections, traffic signals, and right-of-way laws are designed to help keep pedestrians safe, accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians still happen frequently in Fort Worth. When careless or reckless motorists injure innocent pedestrians, they could and should be held accountable for the harm they cause. Contact us if you have been hit by a car or truck.
If you were hit by a car, contact a Fort Worth pedestrian accident lawyer from The Wilhite Law Firm right away. We provide our clients with the compassionate, dedicated, responsive service and legal representation they need and deserve. Contact our pedestrian accident attorney today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation, and let us put our skills and experience to work for you.
Do You Have a Pedestrian Accident Case in Fort Worth?
You might be owed significant compensation if you were injured in a pedestrian accident that was caused by someone else’s negligence. This could include a negligent motorist, a commercial vehicle driver, a trucking company, a government entity, or another party. If you were injured and suffered losses due to the wreck, you could have a pedestrian accident case.
Building a Strong Case Against the Driver Who Hit You
At The Wilhite Law Firm, our attorneys will thoroughly investigate your accident to recover crucial evidence. This allows us to build the most persuasive case possible against the party responsible for the accident and your injuries. Examples of the evidence we might use to build a claim against the other driver include:
- Accident scene photos and video
- Surveillance or traffic camera footage
- Dashcam footage
- Police accident reports
- Eyewitness statements
- Post-accident vehicle inspection reports
- Medical records from the treatment of your injuries
- Accident reconstruction analysis
Requesting Compensation for Your Pedestrian Accident Injuries
When you suffered injuries in a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to recover compensation from the at-fault driver for expenses and losses that you have suffered, including for:
- Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation of injuries
- Loss of income or wages for time missed from work to recover from injuries suffered in the pedestrian accident
- Loss of future earning ability if you suffer permanent disabilities that affect your ability to work
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Loss of quality of life
Time Limit for Filing a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in Texas
In Texas, the statute of limitations imposes a two-year time limit on filing a lawsuit when you have a pedestrian accident claim. If you file a lawsuit after the statute of limitations expires on your claim, you run the risk of the trial court permanently dismissing your case and losing the right to recover compensation from the driver who hit you. A Fort Worth pedestrian accident lawyer knows the details.
How a Fort Worth Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help You
Although pursuing compensation following a pedestrian accident may seem straightforward, at-fault drivers and insurance companies often try to avoid their liability to you for the injuries you have suffered. When you work with The Wilhite Law Firm, you can count on us to:
- Thoroughly investigate the accident’s underlying facts and circumstances and secure evidence that can be used to build your case
- Ensure you fully understand your legal rights and options and what to expect at every stage of your claim
- Retain experts in accident reconstruction, medicine, or another field to help build a compelling, persuasive case on your behalf
- Present your claim for compensation to the at-fault driver and their insurance company to vigorously pursue negotiations aimed at securing a fair and full settlement for you
- File your claim in court and take your case to trial if necessary to fully pursue your options for recovering maximum compensation for your injuries and losses
Tips for Protecting Your Rights If You’ve Been Hit by a Car
If you were hit by a car and injured in a pedestrian accident in the Fort Worth area, steps you can take to protect your legal rights and options might include:
- Reporting the crash to police and saving a copy of the accident report.
- Using your phone to take photos or video of the accident scene, if you can safely do so, capturing details such as vehicle damage, skid marks, debris in the road, traffic controls at the scene, and weather and lighting conditions at the time of the crash.
- Seeking medical attention as soon as possible to get examined for any injuries you may have sustained in the accident. Remember to take photos of any visible injuries suffered.
- Following treatment instructions and recommendations , and not deferring any treatment or rehabilitation.
- Preserving copies of any bills or invoices for expenses you incurred because of the accident, along with copies of pay stubs, income statements, or tax returns if you have lost wages or income.
- Talking to a Fort Worth pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible after the wreck to go over your options and to start the process of pursuing a legal claim to recover compensation for your injuries.
Common Injuries in Pedestrian Crashes Hit By a Car
Despite advances in vehicle design to help reduce the risk of severe injuries to pedestrians in collisions, pedestrians still have little to no protection in the event of a crash. As a result, pedestrian accidents can result in catastrophic or even life-threatening injuries, such as:
- Burns
- Road rash and other skin abrasions and injuries
- Broken bones
- Dislocated joints
- Sprains, strains, or other soft-tissue injuries
- Whiplash
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Internal organ injury and internal bleeding
- Head and facial injuries
- Traumatic amputation
- Crush injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Fort Worth
Common causes of pedestrian accidents that occur in the Fort Worth area include:
- Speeding
- Reckless or aggressive driving
- Failure to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks or intersections
- Running red lights and stop signs
- Drowsy or tired driving
- Distracted driving, including texting while driving
- Inexperienced drivers
- Adverse weather, low lighting, or night driving interfering with visibility
- Vehicle mechanical failure due to defective parts or improper or inadequate maintenance
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
Pedestrian Accident FAQs
If you were hit by a driver who doesn’t have the liability insurance coverage required by Texas law, you might have the option of turning to your own auto insurance policy to recover compensation if you have purchased uninsured motorist coverage. Uninsured motorist coverage effectively acts as the liability insurance that the at-fault driver should have had, allowing you to recover compensation for all your losses up to your policy limits.
If a hit-and-run driver hurt you, you might still have options for recovering compensation for your injuries and losses. If you have auto insurance, you may be entitled to file a claim with your own insurance company when you were injured by a hit-and-run driver in a pedestrian accident. Hit-and-run drivers who cannot be identified are deemed uninsured drivers, allowing you to file a claim under the uninsured motorist coverage in your auto insurance policy.
If an insurance adjuster contacts you after a pedestrian accident, you should direct them to contact your Fort Worth pedestrian accident attorney at The Wilhite Law Firm. In many cases, insurance adjusters will contact accident victims directly to obtain a statement that the insurance company might later use to deny the injured victim’s claim or pay less than the full amount of compensation they deserve. Your attorney can handle communications with the insurance company on your behalf so that you have someone protecting your interests.
At The Wilhite Law Firm, we represent injured pedestrians on a contingency-fee basis. This means you will pay no money upfront to hire us to help with your pedestrian accident case. Instead, we will be paid only if we secure compensation for you, either in a negotiated settlement or by securing a verdict at trial. We will be paid a previously agreed-upon percentage of your total financial recovery.
Talk to a Fort Worth Pedestrian Accident Attorney Now
If you were hit by a car or truck and injured in a pedestrian accident, contact The Wilhite Law Firm today for a free initial consultation. Our Fort Worth pedestrian accident attorneys will be ready to discuss your rights and options and what type of compensation you might be owed. Call us or contact us online to speak with us about your case now. Our Fort Worth personal injury attorney can help.