Anytime an individual is involved in an automobile accident, he or she has the potential to suffer significant or life altering injuries. The risks of being severely injured are greatly magnified when you are involved in an accident with an automobile while you are a pedestrian in Houston, whether in Downtown, Midtown, the Galleria area or anywhere else.
Drivers are supposed to look out for pedestrians in Houston. Houston City Code Sec. 45-44 states that when passing a vulnerable road user, including a pedestrian, motorists are to make sure to leave at least six feet of distance between the vehicle and the road user.
Being hit by a car can have a devastating impact on your ability to live a normal life. Pedestrians who are hit by vehicles are often left disfigured or handicapped. These types of injuries can lead to an inability to work, as well as an overall loss of the enjoyment of life.
If you are injured by an automobile while as a pedestrian, you may be entitled to compensation for the damages you have suffered. Damages is a term used to describe compensation that is awarded to an individual due to injuries, or emotional/financial distress they have suffered, which as caused by the negligent or malicious actions of someone else. Types of damages that pedestrian accident victims can be compensated for include:
• Economic Damages: Includes damages that awarded to compensate an individual for actual financial losses such as medical bills or lost wages.
• Noneconomic Damages: Compensation for nonfinancial losses such as physical or emotional pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, or physical disfigurement.
• Punitive Damages: Awarded in cases where the individual who caused the accident acted in a way that was grossly or maliciously negligent. These types of damages are designed to further punish the negligent party.
Under section 16.003 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code According, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Texas is two years. This means that pedestrian accident victims only have two years after the accident to file a personal injury claim seeking damages against the negligent party. After the time passes, victims will no longer be allowed to legal pursue compensation.
With the statute of limitations being such a short period of time, it is vital that individuals who have been injured in a pedestrian accident contact a Houston personal injury attorney immediately. The sooner you contact a lawyer, the sooner he can begin analyzing your circumstances, and preparing your case.
