crashes in Hidalgo County in 2024 (TxDOT). Pedestrians, with nothing to protect them, are among the most seriously harmed victims.
Local context: In Edinburg, the seat of Hidalgo County and home to the main UTRGV campus, traffic on I-69C/US-281 and the avenues near the university grows every year along with the city.
The first thing you should know
If you were hit by a car in Edinburg, in most cases you can claim compensation, as long as your responsibility is 50% or less. Having the right of way helps, but what is decisive is the evidence of how the crash happened.
Your rights as a pedestrian in Texas
As a pedestrian you have the right of way in many situations, especially at marked crosswalks. But that right is not absolute: Texas law also places duties on you. After a crash, what matters is reconstructing with evidence who was responsible.
The driver's insurer will almost always say "the pedestrian darted out." Without someone on your side, that version can go unchallenged.
Common driver mistakes
Most pedestrian crashes happen because of driver mistakes. In Edinburg, busy avenues and crossings are the higher-risk spots:
Distracted drivers on their phones.
Failing to yield when turning.
Speeding near pedestrian areas.
Not checking before turning right on red.
How fault is decided under the 51% rule
In Texas, if your responsibility is 50% or less, you can recover compensation; if it is 51% or more, you recover nothing. That is why the insurer will fight to raise your percentage of fault.
That fight is won with evidence: the report, cameras, witnesses, and sometimes expert analysis. Having someone gathering it on your side changes the outcome.
What to do after being hit
If you can, at the scene of the accident:
Call 911 and get medical care, even if you think it was minor.
Do not give statements to the driver's insurer without advice.
Get names of witnesses if you can.
Take photos of the scene, the vehicle, and your injuries.
Keep everything: reports, medical bills.
How Carreras Law Firm helps
We gather the evidence that keeps your percentage of fault low, deal with the insurer, and calculate the real value of your case given how serious these injuries usually are. We do not let them pressure you into a low offer.
We handle your case in Spanish and charge nothing unless we win. The consultation is free and with no obligation.
Do not sign anything yet
The insurer may offer you quick money before you know the real extent of your injuries. Once you sign, you cannot ask for more.
