Texas is a huge state with a large population. That means that there are a lot of crashes taking place on Texas roads and highways. Many of these crashes are minor, creating only slight injuries and moderate property damage. However, some of these collisions are more serious, resulting in catastrophic injuries or even death.
When there is a significant discrepancy in the size or weight of vehicles involved in a crash, the people in the smaller vehicles are usually at much higher risk. When vehicles collide with pedestrians, pedestrians often wind up hurt or even killed. Pedestrians in Texas should be careful when crossing or walking near any major road.
Pedestrian accidents are on the rise in Texas
In 2016, the most recent year with an analysis by the Texas Department of Transportation, 678 pedestrians died on the roads in 2016. That marks a 21.5 percent increase from pedestrian roadway fatalities in 2015. Overall, there’s been a steep increase in pedestrian accidents since 2010. It also means that nearly two people die every day in Texas as the result of vehicles colliding with pedestrians.
There are a number of factors which contribute to the number of pedestrian deaths on the roads. One of them is drunk or drugged driving, which can increase reaction times and make it harder for drivers to focus on the road and their surroundings. Distracted driving, including texting at the wheel, can also lead drivers to completely miss the presence of a pedestrian, even if that person has reflectors and highly visible clothing on.
Pedestrians can sustain severe injuries in these collisions
For every fatal pedestrian accident, there are also a number of less serious crashes with vehicles and people. People can break bones, lose limbs, or suffer traumatic brain or spinal cord injuries. Sometimes, recovery is possible with excellent medical care. Injured pedestrians may require trauma care, surgery and inpatient rehabilitation and physical therapy services. Over time, these injured people may recover most of their physical abilities and reduce pain levels to tolerable amounts.
For others, especially those with head and spinal cord injuries, full recovery may not be possible. These people could require ongoing medical care for the rest of their lives. They may no longer be able to go to work or even to provide for their own self-care, such as showering or getting dressed. In these situations, injured pedestrians may require compensation to offset the financial hardships caused by a crash.
Whether your family has lost a loved one in a pedestrian crash or you suffered severe bodily injuries caused by a distracted or otherwise negligent driver, you deserve to know your options for compensation. Recovering medical costs and lost wages may not reduce the suffering you have experienced, but it can reduce the impact of the accident on your daily life and your future.
