League City Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

When you cross the street, you probably take a few seconds to look both ways to check for oncoming traffic because that is the safe thing to do. Unfortunately, many drivers do not extend the same courtesy to pedestrians. Although they might check in their mirrors or out the front window for approaching cars, many motorists do not look out for the safety of people on foot.

If you experienced serious injuries when a car struck you or you lost your loved one in a fatal pedestrian accident, a seasoned personal injury attorney could join your fight for justice. A trusted League City pedestrian accident lawyer could help guide you through a claim against the person responsible for the accident.

Common Causes of Motorists Hitting Pedestrians

Sadly, most pedestrian accidents are preventable, and could have been avoided if the motorists had acted responsibly. Pedestrian accidents most commonly occur for the following reasons:

• Distracted driving – Motorists who are distracted, such as by reading a text message or checking the directions on their GPS, are often unable to stop their car in time to prevent a collision with a pedestrian because they do not even see the person.
• Failure to yield – Many motorists fail to yield to pedestrians who are crossing this street and is especially common in unmarked crosswalks.
• Drunk driving
• Speeding
• Illegal passing, such as when a motorist tries to pass the vehicle in front of them that has stopped for a pedestrian
• Parking lot accidents – People leaving crowded malls or grocery stores are often in a rush to exit the parking lot and they might fail to check their rearview mirror before backing out of their parking spot.

A determined team of League City lawyers has successfully handled many different types of claims involving pedestrians struck by vehicles. They know how to gather information and determine how the accident occurred, building strong claims for compensation in the process.

Shared Fault Situations

Some people think that the driver who strikes a pedestrian is automatically at fault. However, sometimes the walker does something wrong and shares some of the blame for an accident. For instance, if a pedestrian crosses the street in a place outside of a marked crosswalk, even though there was a marked crosswalk a very short distance away, they could share some of the fault if a driver hits them. Similarly, a pedestrian might also share the blame if they were walking on the side of a road, instead of on a sidewalk, particularly if they were walking in the wrong direction and wearing dark clothes at night.

In shared fault situations, a court would examine the facts of an accident to determine the percentages of fault. Provided the court determines that a pedestrian’s actions were less than 51 percent to blame for an accident, the pedestrian could still pursue recovery of their losses in a lawsuit. However, the court would reduce the amount that the injured pedestrian could recover in the same percentage of their degree of blame.

A pedestrian injury lawyer could review the facts of a case in League City to see how Texas’ modified comparative fault rules might affect a recovery of damages to help determine whether filing a legal claim is in their best interests.

Work with a League City Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Recovering after being struck by a car can be a grueling process. You might face endless doctor’s appointments, surgeries, medical procedures, and rehabilitation. Sadly, your injuries might never fully heal. While you work on your recovery, you should not have to worry about how you will pay your bills.

Work with a League City pedestrian accident lawyer who could help you fight to hold the responsible parties accountable. Schechter, Shaffer & Harris offers free consultations.