Houston Pedestrian Accident Attorney

Between the countryside roads, lush parks, and scenic trails, Texas serves up some of the best hiking and biking real estate in the country. However, its bustling metros are high-risk zones for those on foot. Every year, hundreds of pedestrians are killed and thousands more injured in the state and the rest of the country. If you or someone you love was harmed in such a scenario, contact Houston pedestrian accident attorney Chelsie King Garza.

You may have incurred thousands of dollars in medical bills. Many victims are also forced to take time off work, missing out on numerous paychecks. It’s a precarious financial situation for most Texan families that can quickly lead to financial turmoil. Fortunately, the state allows accident victims to pursue compensation from those responsible for causing their injuries.

Chelsie King Garza can assist you with your claim by investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident, collecting and compiling the necessary evidence to prove your case, and representing you throughout the proceedings. As your Houston pedestrian accident attorney, Chelsie Garza will do everything in her power to help you achieve a successful outcome. Reach out to us today at 713-893-8808 for a free consultation.

Common Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents

Whether it’s for their health, the environment, or just to save on gas, an increasing number of people are switching from four wheels to two feet. While there are many safe walking pathways in Houston, the city’s roads can still be a dangerous place for pedestrians. Often, it takes just one distracted, intoxicated, or reckless motorist to turn a morning walk into a nightmare.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common kinds of injuries suffered in these wrecks:

Head and Brain Injuries: Crash forces in an accident can lead to skull fractures, concussions, and brain contusions.

Neck and Back Injuries: The spine is one of the most vulnerable parts of your body in an accident. Injuries to the back and neck can lead to severe pain, affect your mobility, or leave you permanently disabled.

Hip Injuries: Extreme trauma to the hips can cause these bones to fracture or become crushed. These injuries can affect almost every aspect of your life and can be incredibly expensive to treat. If you suffered a hip injury you may have to undergo surgery, attend physical therapy sessions, and take chronic medication to heal and/or manage your condition.

Face Injuries: Pedestrians who are hit by cars may sustain serious injuries to their face such as dental fractures, puncture wounds, contusions, and facial fractures. These injuries can lead to permanent disfigurement and scarring.

Broken Bones: Whether it’s due to the impact of hitting the ground or the force of the initial collision, it’s not uncommon for pedestrians to suffer multiple broken bones in an accident. While less serious breaks, such as hairline fractures, will heal in just a few days, a crushing injury or compound fracture could require extensive treatment and require you to take weeks—if not months—off work.

Internal Injuries: Blunt force trauma in an accident can lead to serious internal injuries. Depending on the part of the body affected, you could suffer life-threatening health complications. Unfortunately, these injuries may not present with symptoms immediately, so it’s easy to overlook the signs of a severe internal injury. As the risk of suffering in an internal injury an accident is relatively high, you should make sure to seek medical treatment as soon as possible after leaving the scene.

What Should I Do After a Pedestrian Wreck?

When you’re on foot, any accident on the road—even at slower speeds—is a terrifying prospect. Unlike your four-wheeled counterparts, you don’t have the luxury of airbags, seatbelts, and other safety features to protect you in a crash. While the experience can be rattling, it’s important to stay calm and consider your next actions carefully. Making the right decisions right there and then could have a major impact on your ability to recover compensation for your damages.

Let’s take a look at a few of these steps below:

Wait for Authorities to Arrive: While you may be in a hurry to get somewhere, you should always wait for police to arrive after an accident. They will compile an official report on the incident, noting the names of those involved, injuries suffered, and the extent of any property damage. Officers will also usually include their observations on who or what caused the accident. Waiting for authorities will give you an opportunity to report your injuries and share your version of events.

Write Down Your Account of the Accident: You may think you’ll never forget the visceral details of this traumatic event, but even these memories will fade over time. Taking a few minutes to document what happened will ensure that this information is preserved to share with your attorney during the initial consultation. What happened? How did it happen? Where did the accident take place? When did it happen? What were the weather conditions? Were there any surveillance cameras nearby? Did you speak to eyewitnesses? This information could be a useful starting point for your attorney as they begin their investigation.

Visit the Doctor: Even if you were able to walk away from the accident, there’s always the chance you suffered a serious injury. Many life-threatening conditions may present with minor or latent symptoms. As such, if you do not visit the doctor, your injuries could worsen, leading to additional health complications and medical expenses. However, scheduling a medical assessment is about more than just taking care of your health. Getting a prompt diagnosis could help prevent disputes when you file your claim. For instance, if you did not visit the doctor within a reasonable timeframe after the accident, the insurer may assert that your injuries are not connected to the accident or can’t be that serious as you didn’t require urgent medical attention.

Start a Personal Injury Journal: Whether you are set to recover in just a few days, or have a long road to recovery ahead of you, a personal injury journal is a useful tool to help keep track of your pain levels, symptoms, doctor’s appointments, and other aspects of your treatment. Your attorney may use your entries to paint a picture of how your injuries have affected your everyday life. As such, you will want to include detailed descriptions of any pain you’re suffering and expand on how your injury has impacted your normal routines.

Stay off Social Media: After a traumatic experience, it’s tempting to reach out for support to your friends and family online. However, while these digital connections can provide some guidance during this challenging chapter of your life, discussing the details of the accident, your injuries, or the claim could hurt your chances of obtaining a fair settlement. It’s possible that the insurer will monitor your social media feeds for any evidence that could be used to dispute aspects of your claim. For instance, your comments may contradict other evidence in your case, or your online “check ins” could be used to show that you did not adhere to your doctor’s instructions to rest. As such, we will likely recommend that you deactivate your online accounts until your claim is resolved. If this isn’t possible in your situation, you should ramp your privacy settings so that only those in your circles can view posts you’ve published.

Speak to a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Houston Today

If you or someone close to you suffered a serious injury in a pedestrian accident, you may be wondering what to do next. These types of accidents often lead to catastrophic injuries that can take their toll on you physically, emotionally, and financially.

Personal injury attorney Chelsie King Garza understands the challenges you’re facing. With extensive experience helping those who have suffered serious injuries at the hands of negligent motorists, she knows what it takes to succeed in even the most complex cases. If you hire Chelsie King Garza to handle your claim, she will fight tirelessly to help you obtain a fair settlement for the losses you’ve incurred. Contact Chelsie King Garza today at 713-893-8808 or via our contact form to discuss your options.