A person on foot has no protection against a moving vehicle. None. That is why pedestrian crashes are so often deadly — and why the driver’s choices in the seconds before impact matter so much.
If a driver killed or seriously injured someone you love, The Burkett Law Firm can help. Since 1960, we have fought for Coastal Bend families — including a $6,000,000 recovery in a parking lot pedestrian accident. Contact us or call 361-738-5548 for a free consultation.
| 768
Pedestrians killed on Texas roads in 2024 |
19%
Share of all Texas roadway deaths that are pedestrians — from just 1% of crashes |
11
Pedestrian deaths in the city of Corpus Christi in 2024 alone |
| Sources: TxDOT 2024 Crash Facts; TxDOT Pedestrian Safety Campaign; local crash reporting | ||
1. Distracted Driving
A driver looking at a phone travels the length of a football field blind at highway speed. In a parking lot or crosswalk, even two seconds of distraction is enough to kill. Distracted driving is one of the leading crash causes in Texas — and pedestrians pay the highest price.
2. Failure to Yield at Crosswalks and Intersections
Texas law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians lawfully in a crosswalk. Many don’t. Right-turning drivers watching for cars — not people — are a constant danger at Corpus Christi intersections like those along SPID access roads, Ayers, and Staples.
3. Speeding
Speed decides survival. A pedestrian struck at 20 mph usually lives. At 40 mph, the odds flip. Speeding drivers also have less time to see and react to someone crossing the road.
Corpus Christi’s wide arterials invite speed. Roads built to move cars fast — SPID frontage roads, Saratoga, Everhart — are the same roads people must cross on foot to reach bus stops, stores, and schools. That mismatch shows up in the fatality data year after year.
4. Drunk and Impaired Driving
Impaired drivers react slowly, drift out of lanes, and miss people entirely. Late-night crashes on entertainment corridors are among the deadliest for people on foot. Victims of drunk drivers can often pursue punitive damages on top of ordinary compensation.
5. Poor Lighting and Nighttime Driving
Most fatal pedestrian crashes happen after dark. Bad street lighting, dark clothing, and headlight glare all play a role. But darkness does not excuse a driver. Drivers must adjust speed and attention to conditions — that is the law.
6. Backing and Parking Lot Accidents
Parking lots feel safe. They are not. Drivers backing out of spaces often cannot see children, seniors, or anyone walking behind the vehicle. Our firm recovered $6 million for a client in exactly this kind of case.
7. Left Turns Across Traffic
A driver turning left is watching oncoming cars, looking for a gap. Pedestrians in the crosswalk simply vanish from their attention. These crashes strike people who did everything right — walking with the signal, inside the lines.
★★★★★ “Awesome People!!! Great Lawyers and Local.” — Deborah D., Burkett Law Firm client
Injuries in Pedestrian Accidents Are Catastrophic
When a vehicle hits a human body, the results are devastating:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Multiple fractures and internal injuries
- Fatal injuries — our wrongful death attorneys stand with grieving families
Your Rights After a Pedestrian Accident
Injured pedestrians can seek compensation for medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering. Even if the insurance company claims you were partly at fault — a favorite tactic — Texas law still allows recovery as long as you were not more than 51% responsible. Our personal injury lawyers push back on blame-shifting with crash reconstruction, video, and witness evidence.
Who Pays in a Pedestrian Accident Claim?
More coverage may apply than you expect:
- The driver’s liability insurance — the primary source in most cases.
- Your own auto policy. Surprising but true: your uninsured/underinsured motorist and PIP coverage can protect you even when you were on foot.
- A business or employer. If the driver was working — delivering, driving a company vehicle — the employer’s commercial policy comes into play.
- Property owners. Dangerous parking lot design or broken lighting can add a premises liability claim.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident
- Call 911 and accept transport. Internal injuries and head trauma often hide behind adrenaline.
- Get the driver’s information and the names of every witness.
- Photograph the scene — the crosswalk, signals, skid marks, lighting, and your injuries.
- Ask nearby businesses about cameras. Footage is often erased within days.
- Do not discuss fault with anyone at the scene or any insurance adjuster afterward.
- Call a lawyer before the insurer builds its version of events.
Pedestrian Accident FAQs
What if the driver fled the scene?
Hit-and-run victims may still recover through their own uninsured motorist coverage, and police often identify fleeing drivers through cameras and vehicle debris. Report it immediately and call us.
Was I automatically at fault if I crossed outside a crosswalk?
No. Drivers must still keep a proper lookout and use due care. Fault is shared based on the facts — and drivers are held to a high standard around people on foot.
How long do I have to file a claim?
Generally two years in Texas. But video footage from nearby businesses can be erased within days. Start the investigation now.
What is a pedestrian accident case worth?
It depends on the injuries, the medical costs, and the impact on your life. Severe cases can be worth millions — like our firm’s $6,000,000 parking lot pedestrian recovery. Get a free, honest evaluation before you talk numbers with any insurer.
Can family members recover if a pedestrian is killed?
Yes. The surviving spouse, children, and parents can bring a wrongful death claim, and the estate can bring a survival claim for what the victim endured. These cases carry the highest stakes, and we treat them with the care and force they deserve.
Talk to a Corpus Christi Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
One call starts the investigation and stops the insurance games. Call 361-738-5548 or schedule a free consultation today.
