Walking around Georgetown requires a good pair of sneakers and comfortable clothing to admire the red poppies, shop and dine near the town square, or stroll the Southwestern University campus, the oldest in Texas. Although walking is a healthy hobby, you must be vigilant when sharing the road with vehicles.
The biggest danger is how severe vehicle-pedestrian accidents are. Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord trauma, and road rash are all common results from these collisions. If you were injured by a careless motorist and now worry about your financial health while you recover, contact our Georgetown pedestrian accident lawyer today. Our team of dedicated personal injury attorneys can help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
The Texas Department of Transportation reports a 22% rise in pedestrian fatalities in recent years. Although pedestrians account for only 1% of traffic crashes, they comprise 19% of road fatalities. Our state ranks third nationwide in pedestrian deaths.
Severe injuries from a collision demand costly medical care and may prevent an injured pedestrian from earning wages during recovery. A reckless or careless motorist must take responsibility for compensating the injured. The motorist is responsible for negligent acts such as:
All motorists have a duty to drive safely. If they do not, injured pedestrians should contact our Georgetown pedestrian accident lawyers to establish negligence and seek compensation.
Citizens must adhere to the standard of a reasonable person to ensure a safe society. Motorists and pedestrians must follow traffic laws, and violating them breaches that duty. When a speeding driver strikes a pedestrian lawfully crossing at a traffic light, the driver acted negligently.
Negligence per se means negligence in itself. When a motorist violates a law designed to protect public safety, that violation establishes the duty and breach elements in a negligence claim. The plaintiff must prove the violation caused their accident and injuries. Our Georgetown pedestrian accident attorneys apply tort law to secure maximum compensation for clients.
Juries can award compensatory damages and, in rare cases, exemplary damages.
Compensatory damages are awards that pay plaintiffs back for economic losses such as medical bills, lost wages, and property loss, but also pay them for non-economic losses, such as the pain they suffer from their injuries, disfigurement or paralysis, and the loss of enjoyment of life.
Under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code 41.001, exemplary damages, also known as punitive damages, are only available if the defendant was grossly negligent or malicious. These damages serve to punish the defendant. State law imposes caps on exemplary damages and requires a unanimous jury decision to award them.
A punitive damages award cannot exceed the greater of twice the economic damages plus up to $750,000 in non-economic damages, or $200,000. In certain cases, such as intoxication assault or manslaughter, including a drunk driver striking a pedestrian, these caps may not apply. To discuss your specific pedestrian accident, contact our Georgetown lawyers.
When a negligent motorist crashes into a pedestrian, the impact is often catastrophic, leading to extensive medical care, a risk of death, or lifelong rehabilitation. After receiving treatment, financial concerns take priority, and someone must be held accountable.
Our job is to advocate for you and make that happen either from a sizeable insurance settlement or a damages award after presenting your case to a jury. Our dedicated Georgetown pedestrian accident lawyer is a phone call away. Contact us today for your free consultation
(512) 575-4262
