Austin Pedestrian Accidents: Common Causes and Legal Options for Struck Victims

Pedestrians are frequently seen in Austin’s downtown district, shopping, dining, and enjoying the vibrant nightlife. The South Congress area is another neighborhood that sees many walkers. Sadly, pedestrians aren’t always as safe on Texas streets as they should be; accidents can and do occur.

If you are struck while walking in Austin, you may suffer severe injuries that impact your ability to work and quality of life. The Austin pedestrian injury lawyers at Carabin Shaw help victims of these accidents pursue compensation for the costs associated with their injuries. If you are hurt in Austin, our expert team is available 24/7 to provide free case reviews in English or Spanish. Call us toll-free at 1-800-862-1260 or contact us online.

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable victims in a Texas crash. Although walkers account for just 1% of traffic crashes in the state, 19% of roadway fatalities involve pedestrians. Over 6,000 crashes involved pedestrians in 2024, which took the lives of 772 of those victims. Common causes of these accidents include:

• Distracted driving or speeding
• Failure to yield at crosswalks
• Driving under the influence of substances
• Vehicles veering onto sidewalks
• Right turns at intersections

Texas law clearly outlines when pedestrians have the right-of-way on roadways. When drivers violate those laws, they can be liable for the injuries they cause. A local personal injury attorney will investigate your accident to determine the cause and who was at fault.

Injuries from pedestrian accidents can be life-changing, such as:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Fractures, broken bones, and amputations
• Spinal cord injuries
• Damage to internal organs
• Disfiguring lacerations

You may require care for an extended period or even the rest of your life. If someone else’s actions led directly to your injuries, you have the legal right to seek damages from that party. Search for a pedestrian accident lawyer near me right away to protect your rights and maximize compensation.

The lawyers at Carabin Shaw have extensive experience representing victims of pedestrian accidents, as our law firm’s client reviews attest. We offer our services on a contingency-fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win your case.

To ensure you receive all the compensation you are entitled to, your attorney must first identify the at-fault parties. That party is often the driver who violates the pedestrian’s right-of-way and strikes the pedestrian. In some cases, more than one party may contribute to the accident, including the victim. Under Texas’s proportionate responsibility rule, you can hold all parties liable for your accident based on their proportion of fault.

If you were partly responsible for the accident (walking against signals, failing to use crosswalks), you can still seek compensation from the other responsible party if your portion of fault for the crash was less than 50 percent.

Your pedestrian accident attorney in Austin TX must demonstrate that the at-fault party’s negligence led to your injuries, which involves these elements:

• The at-fault party owed you a duty of care to keep you safe
• The party breached its duty (often by violating traffic laws)
• The breach directly caused your accident and injuries
• You incurred losses as a result of your injuries

If your lawyer successfully proves negligence, you can seek various damages, including:

• Medical expenses
• Lost wages and earning potential
• Property damage
• Mental and emotional anguish
• Disfigurement or disability
• Loss of enjoyment of life

Your legal team will calculate your current and future losses to restore your life to the way it was before your accident as closely as possible.

A pedestrian crash can change your life in a moment, leaving you with severe, debilitating injuries. Don’t try to navigate the legal aftermath when you are in pain and traumatized by your accident. Call Carabin Shaw’s skilled Texas attorneys today at 1-800-862-1260 or contact us online to get the legal help you need.

For more information:

• Texas Department of Transportation
• Transportation Code 552
• Texas Statutes 33