What Should I Do After A Pedestrian Accident?

Key Takeaways

• Move to safety, call 911, and seek medical attention immediately.
• Timely medical records link injuries directly to the accident.
• Consult a lawyer before giving recorded statements to insurance adjusters.
• Texas imposes a two-year filing deadline, or claims are barred.
• Pedestrians may recover damages if their fault does not exceed 50 percent.

Pedestrians suffer serious injuries, unexpected medical costs, and uncertainty about what comes next when a vehicle strikes them. Knowing what to do after a pedestrian accident can make a significant difference in both physical recovery and financial compensation. Injured pedestrians in Texas have legal rights, and acting on those rights quickly matters. Our team at the Monsour Law Firm helps pedestrian accident victims across Longview navigate every step of the process. Speaking with a Longview pedestrian accident attorney as soon as possible gives victims the strongest position from the start.

Pedestrian accidents in Texas cause serious injuries every day, and every step taken after an incident directly affects the outcome of a potential claim. Move to safety first, call 911, and seek medical attention right away, even when injuries do not feel serious. Once stabilized, gather the driver’s contact and insurance information, photograph the scene thoroughly, and collect witness names and phone numbers before leaving. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 550.023, the driver involved in the collision has a legal duty to provide that information and render reasonable assistance to anyone injured, including arranging transportation for medical treatment if necessary. Avoid giving recorded statements to the driver’s insurance company before speaking with a lawyer. Adjusters use carefully phrased questions to minimize payouts, and an offhand comment can significantly affect a valid claim.

Contact a Longview Personal Injury Attorney

Free case consultation Call us: (903) 999-9999

What Compensation Can You Recover After Being Hit by a Vehicle?

Victims may recover economic damages, non-economic damages, and, in certain cases, exemplary damages.

• Economic damages: Cover measurable financial losses: emergency room bills, surgeries, physical therapy, lost wages, and future medical expenses related to the injuries.
• Non-economic damages: Cover what cannot be measured on a receipt: physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of companionship.
• Exemplary damages: Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 41.001 refers to any amount awarded as a penalty or punishment, on top of what compensates a victim for actual losses. A drunk driver or someone texting through a crosswalk, for example, may face a claim for this additional category of compensation.

When Will You Receive Compensation After a Pedestrian Accident?

The timeline varies, but most pedestrian accident claims resolve faster with strong legal representation. Simple cases involving clear liability and documented injuries may settle within months.

Cases involving disputed fault, severe injuries, or multiple parties often take longer because attorneys need time to gather medical records, accident reconstruction reports, and witness statements. Texas sets a strict two-year filing deadline on personal injury claims. Victims who miss that window on their pedestrian accident case permanently lose the right to pursue compensation.

Knowing what to do after a pedestrian accident also means acting before the evidence disappears, keeping all legal options open.

Related reading to learn more about pedestrian rights: Texas Crosswalk Laws and Pedestrian Rights

How an Experienced Lawyer Can Help With Your Case

An attorney handles every part of the legal process so the victim can focus entirely on healing. Understanding what to do after a pedestrian accident goes beyond the scene itself.

An attorney investigates the crash, handles all communication with insurance carriers, and files a lawsuit when a fair settlement offer never arrives. Insurance companies routinely dispute injury severity or argue that a pedestrian shared fault. An experienced attorney knows those tactics and pushes back with evidence tailored to each pedestrian accident case.

Who Can Be Held Responsible After a Pedestrian Accident?

Drivers, employers, government entities, and property owners may all be held legally responsible.

Most pedestrian accidents involve a negligent driver, but other parties can share responsibility:

• Drivers: Those who speed, run red lights, text behind the wheel, or fail to yield at crosswalks bear direct liability for the injuries they cause.
• Municipalities: If a broken crosswalk signal or a missing sidewalk contributed to the pedestrian accident.
• Shared fault: Texas law still allows an injured pedestrian to recover damages even if they crossed outside a marked crosswalk or stepped into traffic unexpectedly, as long as their share of fault does not exceed 50 percent. A victim found 20 percent at fault would still recover 80 percent of the total damages.

Why Monsour Law Firm?

Monsour Law Firm has recovered millions for injury victims across Texas, with a 98 percent success rate and decades of combined legal experience. Our attorneys serve Longview and the surrounding East Texas communities on a contingency fee basis, meaning clients pay nothing unless we win. Call us today at (903) 999-9999 for a free case review.