In 2016, San Antonio drivers caused crashes that injured almost 800 pedestrians. And as residents and tourists increasingly travel by foot in our city, this number could significantly increase. Keep reading to learn more about San Antonio car-pedestrian accidents, including how you can protect yourself and what you can do if you’ve been injured.
At Least 50 Pedestrians Die Every Year on Bexar County Roads
Between 2013 and 2017, at least 50 pedestrians died in crashes each year in Bexar County. And in 2017, Bexar had the eighth-worst pedestrian fatality rate among all counties in the country. Meanwhile, Harris and Dallas Counties in Texas also wound up among the 10 worst counties for the same statistic. Clearly, Texas needs to improve the safety of its roads for vulnerable pedestrians.
“Between 2013 and 2017, at least 50 pedestrians died in crashes each year in Bexar County.”
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Car-pedestrian collisions happen for many reasons. Sometimes, the pedestrian is distracted, jaywalking, intoxicated, or wearing dark clothing that makes them difficult to see. However, in many cases, the pedestrian victim does nothing to contribute to the crash. Instead, distracted, reckless, and intoxicated drivers fail to yield or engage in dangerous driving behaviors like speeding.
Often, poorly-designed sidewalks, crosswalks, and bridges contribute to crashes as well. According to crash data, 33% of San Antonio’s serious car-pedestrian accidents occur on just 1% of the city’s roads. As an example, several Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) officials who monitor San Antonio’s Culebra Road told reporters in 2018 they wouldn’t let their children cross that road due to the frequency of pedestrian collisions.
San Antonio Officials Are Trying to Make Roads Safer, but There’s Much More to Do
In 2015, San Antonio became the first Texas city to join Vision Zero, an ambitious multi-national initiative that aims to help create a highway system with no traffic-related fatalities or injuries. The city is also spending millions of dollars to improve San Antonio sidewalks and roads. The San Antonio Transportation and Capital Improvements Department (TCI), which oversees the city’s Vision Zero activities, says it will focus on five areas: education, community engagement and social media, engineering projects, evaluation of high-risk areas, and enforcement.
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Currently, TCI says it plans to complete 10 pedestrian-safety-related construction projects each year, add speed cameras in certain areas, and improve the safety of 20 zones in San Antonio that see the highest rates of motor vehicle wrecks.
Pedestrians Can Protect Themselves With These Simple Tips
Although you can’t control drivers’ behavior, you can take some simple steps that will reduce your risk of injury while walking in San Antonio. All pedestrians should:
- Use designated crosswalks and walkways
- Follow our local traffic laws
- Look both ways before crossing any street
- When a sidewalk is unavailable, walk on the edge of the road while facing traffic
- Don’t wear headphones or use an electronic device while walking
- At an intersection, try to make eye contact with a driver before crossing
- Check driveways and alleys for vehicles before you cross in front of them
- Avoid walking while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol
- At dusk and night, wear light-colored or reflective clothing and cross the road only at well-lit intersections
You can also refer to San Antonio’s Vision Zero materials for more safety tips.
Victims of Car-Pedestrian Accidents Should Consult a San Antonio Injury Lawyer
Because car-pedestrian collisions frequently inflict catastrophic injuries and lead to significant damages for the victims, insurance companies scrutinize the resulting claims. If you’ve been injured, you can bet the insurance adjuster will immediately look for reasons to deny your claim or shift the blame.
Texas applies a theory of comparative fault in car crash claims, which means that if the insurance company can successfully argue you are 51% or more at fault for a crash, they won’t have to pay for your damages. If the insurance company can find evidence suggesting that you were distracted, intoxicated, or violating San Antonio’s traffic laws, they will invoke comparative fault and try to reduce your compensation, even if your actions didn’t contribute to the crash.
To fight back against the insurance company’s tactics, you need an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side. At Crosley Law, we use cutting-edge tools to reconstruct car crashes and identify all the causes. This approach often involves consulting with experts and using technology to simulate the crash. And using the information we uncover, we fight aggressively to get our clients the compensation they deserve.
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We also work hard to identify all the potential claims our pedestrian clients might have after a crash. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your injuries, you might have claims against negligent drivers, companies that made or distributed defective car parts, and property owners or local governments who failed to properly design and maintain the roads and sidewalks.
Crosley Law: Fighting for Injured Pedestrians in San Antonio
If you recently suffered injuries in a pedestrian collision, contact Crosley Law for your free, no-risk consultation. Our team will listen to your story and help you understand your legal rights. And if we’re able to take your case, we’ll fight aggressively to get you the compensation you deserve. To schedule your free consultation, complete our online contact form or call us at 210-LAW-3000 | 210-529-3000.
References
Elchaig, B. (2018, June 21). Traffic engineers struggle to curb pedestrian deaths. San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved from https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Traffic-engineers-struggle-to-curb-pedestrian-13007097.php
Retting, R., & Schwartz, S. (2018). Pedestrian traffic fatalities by state: 2017 preliminary data. Washington, D.C.: Governors Highway Safety Administration. Retrieved from https://www.ghsa.org/sites/default/files/2018-02/pedestrians18.pdf
The content provided here is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject.
