Category: Hit and Run Accidents

Pedestrian accidents are incredibly common in Texas. The human body, while supported by a strong skeleton and musculature, can only take so much force before breaking. Pedestrians are constantly at risk of being hit by a vehicle that can seriously injure or kill them. Just this year, a young girl lost her life in Weslaco, TX while walking down the street. A Ford Mustang struck 16-year-old Zitlali Diaz who was pronounced dead on the scene. The scene of the accident was dark with little to no visibility and a lack of improved shoulders for pedestrians along that road. Being a pedestrian is not easy, as your body has no protection against the large vehicles that can hit you. If you or a loved one were hit by a car while walking through your town, please contact our office today for a free consultation.

What Happens When a Pedestrian is Hit by a Car?

There are typically three phases that occur when a pedestrian is hit by a car – the initial impact, the pedestrian’s trajectory, and the ground contact. The distance from the initial place the pedestrian was hit to the resting place of the pedestrian is known as the “throw distance.” If a car hits a pedestrian at a lower speed, the throw distance will be short. If the car is traveling at high speeds, the throw distance may be quite large. When a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle, the following usually happens:

• Initial impact: The bumper of the vehicle will hit the knee joint or middle of the pedestrian’s leg if they were standing up straight. The thigh will then impact the edge of the hood and the body will subsequently be carried on the hood of the car. This can be head-on or from the side.
• The pedestrian’s trajectory: The pedestrian may be thrown forward, to the side, or may be thrust inward into the windshield.
• Ground contact: The pedestrian will then make impact with the ground away from the vehicle, can fall to the ground after rolling off the vehicle, or be stuck on the car.

That initial contact will depend on the height of the car, the height of the pedestrian, and if they are hit head-on or on the side. If a pedestrian is hit by a much larger vehicle like a truck or bus, the individual may be immediately and forcefully knocked down to the ground and be run over by the vehicle. The force of the impact depends on the driver’s speed and whether the driver tries to brake or swerve away from the pedestrian. The worst injuries and highest potential for pedestrian fatalities happens when a driver does not slow down at all and hits a pedestrian at full speed.

The Types of Injuries Sustained when a Pedestrian Is Hit by a Car

The majority of pedestrians are hit by motor vehicles on their side as they are crossing the road, either at a crosswalk or in the middle of the street. Many of these auto pedestrian accidents happen at lower speeds when cars are driving at 25 mph or less. Even at these lower speeds that would usually cause minor injuries in a car accident, pedestrian injuries can still be incredibly serious or deadly because pedestrians are completely unprotected. Because the pedestrian often goes through two separate impacts when hit by a car, the initial impact and then the ground contact, they have the potential for multiple significant injuries.

The most common injuries faced by pedestrians hit by a car include:

• Brain injuries: Traumatic brain injuries and other head injuries are the most common cause of pedestrian fatalities. These may include concussions, skull fractures, intracranial swelling, hemorrhages, and puncture wounds. When a pedestrian’s head makes impact with the vehicle’s hood or other parts of the car, they are hitting a solid metal panel or glass window / windshield. These hard surfaces can cause serious, permanent damage to a person’s brain.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: A pedestrian who is hit in the back, side, or who hits their spine upon ground contact can sustain serious spinal cord injuries, including herniated discs, nerve damage, and paralysis. If the spinal column is severed at any point, the damage may be irreversible, causes paralysis, or be deadly.
• Broken Bones: Broken bones are incredibly common injuries seen when pedestrians are hit by cars. These can range from minor fractures to major breaks that puncture through the skin. All broken bones must be treated by a medical professional for proper healing which can take weeks to months.
• Internal Organ Damage: When a pedestrian is hit by a car, their internal organs can easily be damaged from the impact. Internal bleeding is incredibly dangerous, as well as organ rupture, and can be deadly if not treated immediately.
• Loss of Limbs: When a pedestrian is pinned against a wall or other surface by a car, they may end up losing limbs if the blood circulation to the limb has been completely lost or the limb has been completely crushed and/or severed by the impact.
• Cuts, Scrapes, and Bruises: From the initial impact to ground contact, there are many ways a pedestrian who has been hit by a car can be cut, scraped, or bruised in an accident. Road rash, when the body has been forced to slide along a rough surface like the road, can cause severe pain and scarring as the body scrapes against the road’s surface and skin is torn off.
• Death: From the injuries listed above, it is easy to see just how deadly a pedestrian accident can be. If the impact is at high speeds, the pedestrian may die on initial impact. They may also be flung by the vehicle and die when they make contact with the ground.

Pedestrian accidents are some of the most serious motor vehicle collisions in Texas. Without the protection of airbags or metal frames, pedestrians take on the full force of the impact. It is essential to be aware of your surroundings at all times while driving your car or while walking down the road to avoid being in a terrible accident.

South Texas Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

Car accidents involving a pedestrian can be complex and stressful situations. By choosing experienced legal representation, you won’t have to worry about what steps to take to receive fair compensation for your damages. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in an auto pedestrian accident, contact the Weslaco car accident lawyers at Ezequiel Reyna, Jr. Law Office today to discuss your case. There is limited time to act following a Texas pedestrian accident, so don’t delay.

Being in any kind of car accident can be a very stressful and traumatic experience, but when the person who hit you leaves the scene it can leave you wondering what to do and who will be responsible for helping you recover from this horrible event. Typically in a car accident, the collision happens and both cars pull over to the side of the road to exchange information. The instant the other driver chooses to drive away and not take responsibility for their actions, this accident becomes a hit and run. Texas ranks amongst the top ten worst states for hit and run accidents. If you are injured in a hit and run accident, it is critical to find an experienced injury lawyer to help guide you through the process of claiming the compensation you are owed.

In Texas, all drivers involved in a car accident are legally required to move their vehicles to a safe location if able to do so with the damage caused by the accident. This is to keep all drivers involved safe from other drivers on the road after the accident happens. All persons involved should check for any type of injury that may require immediate medical attention. If there were any pedestrians involved in the crash, they need to be checked on as well. Emergency services and the police should be called to report the accident right away – even if it does not look like anyone was injured seriously as they could be in shock. Serious injuries can happen and not present themselves right away. All drivers involved should exchange information including identification (driver’s license), and contact and insurance information.

If a driver involved in the car accident speeds away and does not exchange information with you, it is crucial that you attempt to gather any identifying information about them as quickly as possible. What kind of car hit you? What was their license plate number? What was the make and model of the car? Was the driver male or female? Old or young? What direction did they drive off in? Can you snap a picture of the car quickly before they drive away? Do you have a dash camera that recorded the accident? All of this information will be important and you will need to let the police officer writing the accident report know everything you remember.

While you may be tempted to drive after the other car, staying at the scene of the accident is important because you are still legally responsible for remaining at the crash scene. There are legal consequences that come from leaving the scene of a Texas car accident. The resulting criminal offense can range from a misdemeanor to a felony depending on the severity of injuries and car damage involved. The police can charge the driver who ran if they are able to link a particular vehicle to the crash, which is why it is so important to try to remember as many details as you can about the car that hit you. The sooner the police are made aware of the accident, the sooner they can start tracking down the driver that hurt you.

After talking with the police, make sure to get a copy of the police report and take pictures and video of your vehicle as evidence. Write down as much as you can remember as soon as possible so that you have an accurate picture of what happened during the accident. If there are any witnesses to the accident, speak to them and ask if they have any identifying information about the other driver. Ask for their name and contact information for your insurance company and attorney.

While the accident may not have been your fault, you will still need to call your car insurance company to report it. The insurance adjuster will be experienced with hit and run accidents and will open an insurance claim for damages. Make sure to give them copies of all of the information obtained about the accident. You will also want to hire an attorney right away. While insurance companies are there to help their policyholders, they may not want to compensate you fairly. Having an attorney on your side will help keep the process fair.

It may take time for injuries to appear after being in a hit and run accident. Seek medical attention immediately if you start to get severe headaches, feel dizzy or nauseous, have back, neck, or shoulder pain, or just do not feel well in general. After the accident, your body may be in shock and it could take 24 hours to a week for injuries to appear. Make sure to update your insurance company and your attorney about any medical conditions you are treated for as a result of the hit and run accident.

South Texas Hit and Run Attorneys

If you or your family have been involved in a hit and run accident, you may be left not knowing what to do. Victims do not have to handle this process alone. By selecting quality legal representation, the injured won’t have to worry as much about their next steps because they will have the guidance and support of an experienced hit and run accident attorney. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car accident, contact the Weslaco car accident lawyers at Ezequiel Reyna, Jr. Law Office today to discuss your case. There is limited time to act following a motor vehicle accident in Texas, so don’t delay.

Being involved in a motor vehicle accident can be a jarring experience that leaves victims suffering from serious injuries and mental turmoil. When a crash occurs and a driver flees the scene, it’s important to know whether that crash constitutes a hit and run accident and what to do afterward.

A hit and run accident occurs when a motor vehicle strikes an object, person, or vehicle, and the driver knowingly flees the scene of the accident. Under the Texas Transportation Code,  drivers are required to undertake the following actions after being involved in a car accident; failure to do is a direct violation of the law:

• Immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident or as close to the accident as possible (without obstructing traffic more than necessary)
• Immediately return to the scene of the accident if the vehicle is unable to stop or does not stop at the scene of the accident
• Remain at the scene of the accident

When a driver fails to take these actions, a collision could be deemed a hit and run accident, and the driver who fled the scene could be charged with a crime.

Steps to Take After a Hit and Run Accident

The most important first step to take after a car accident is to seek medical treatment. Motor vehicle accidents often leave victims with a surge of adrenaline that can easily mask pain – for this reason, hit and run accident victims should seek timely medical care. Since the responsible party fled the scene, it’s crucial that victims document information about the event, including a description of the vehicle and/or driver.

Record important details – such as the year, make, and model of the vehicle, as well as specific details like vehicle color and any unique indicators like bumper stickers or body damage. Victims should also note where the accident occurred, the time of day and the date, and any nearby retail stores or businesses that could potentially have security footage of the event. Take photos of the vehicle damage sustained in the hit and run accident. If the crash involved a pedestrian, cyclist, or motorcyclist, it is crucial to take photos of the injuries sustained including cuts and bruises.

A hit and run accident is a serious offense that often brings about both criminal and civil actions. As such, victims are best served utilizing the knowledge of an experienced car accident lawyer. Sadly, auto insurance providers are not always on their own policyholders’ side – even in a serious collision. Hiring an experienced Texas personal injury lawyer helps ensure victims are justly compensated for their damages.

Weslaco Hit and Run Accidents Lawyers

After the physical pain, mental turmoil, and stress caused by a hit and run accident, the last thing a victim should have to deal with is the pressure of financial repercussions. Drivers who cause hit and run accidents need to be held accountable for their destructive and dangerous actions. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a hit and run accident, contact the Rio Grande Valley trial lawyers of Ezequiel Reyna Law Office today to discuss your case. There is limited time to act following a Texas car accident, so don’t delay.