A pedestrian crossing should provide a safe place to cross the road, but it cannot protect you from a distracted driver or one unwilling to yield. A pedestrian collision can leave you facing serious injuries, pain, and lost time at work while an insurer questions your claim.
A Katy pedestrian crosswalk accident lawyer from our firm can investigate the circumstances and explain your legal options. At Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, our attorneys can work to identify the responsible parties and pursue compensation that reflects your losses.
Why Crosswalk Collisions Require Careful Investigation
A driver may cause a crash by turning into a crosswalk or entering an intersection too quickly to notice someone already crossing. However, the location of the impact does not always determine fault; signal timing and vehicle speed often matter just as much.
Our pedestrian crossing attorneys in Katy can preserve accident evidence before it disappears, including nearby surveillance footage and vehicle data. Our investigation can compare physical evidence with statements from the driver or witnesses. When those accounts conflict, objective records often become central to establishing whether the motorist had enough time to stop.
Does a Pedestrian Always Have the Right-of-Way?
State law gives pedestrians important protections, but it also imposes duties on everyone using the roadway. Under Texas Transportation Code § 552.003, a driver must stop and yield when a pedestrian is in the driver’s half of a crosswalk or is approaching closely enough from the opposite side to be in danger. The statute also provides that a pedestrian may not suddenly step off the curb into the path of a vehicle that is too close to stop safely.
Because of this distinction, insurers may argue that the injured person entered the roadway unexpectedly or crossed against a signal. However, that allegation does not automatically defeat your case. The state follows a proportionate-responsibility system, and bars recovery only when you are found more than 50 percent responsible. The state may reduce the award by your percentage of fault under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001. Our Katy legal team understands state pedestrian crossing laws and can help you navigate your accident claim.
Building a Claim That Reflects Your Harm
Serious pedestrian injuries often affect more than your initial emergency treatment. Your claim may need to account for continuing medical care, reduced earning ability, and the practical limitations from your pain or disability. Our Katy lawyers can work with your medical providers and other qualified professionals to connect the entirety of your losses to the collision.
Insurance companies may seek a quick statement or early settlement before the long-term consequences are clear. We can handle those communications and evaluate whether an offer accounts for future care. Our team can also determine whether another party may share responsibility, such as an employer whose employee was driving the vehicle that struck you.
Time affects legal strategy. Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003 generally requires that you file a personal injury lawsuit within two years after the claim accrues. Acting earlier could provide more time to locate witnesses and secure records that may otherwise be lost.
Contact Our Katy Pedestrian Crossing Collision Attorneys Today
You should not have to manage a serious personal injury claim by yourself while trying to recover. We can help you protect your rights and pursue a fair recovery. Our legal team can examine evidence from the collision and help you pursue damages. Speak with a Katy pedestrian crosswalk accident lawyer at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris today to discuss your situation and understand your next steps.
