Walking back from the store on Trimmier Road. Crossing at the light on Fort Hood Street. Taking a shortcut through a parking lot near WS Young Drive. None of those things should put you in the hospital. When a driver wasn't paying attention and you paid the price, you have legal options.
At Lorenz & Lorenz Accident & Injury Lawyers, our Killeen pedestrian accident lawyers handle these claims throughout Bell County and Central Texas. Ted Lorenz has practiced personal injury law exclusively since 2001 and works directly with every client. Call 254-662-4800 or 1-800-TELL-TED any time for a free consultation.
There's no fee unless we recover for you.
Do I Need a Lawyer After Being Hit by a Car in Killeen?
If you were injured by a driver in Killeen, having an attorney involved early makes a meaningful difference. Insurance companies don't automatically pay what a pedestrian accident claim is worth, even when fault seems obvious.
A Killeen pedestrian accident lawyer builds a claim around your actual losses, not what the insurer decides to offer in the first weeks after the crash.
Pedestrian injuries tend to be more severe than injuries in vehicle-to-vehicle accidents. There's no protection between you and the vehicle. That severity drives up long-term costs, and it also drives up what the insurance company has at stake.
The more serious the claim, the harder insurers typically push back.
Why Do Insurance Companies Fight Pedestrian Claims?
Insurers routinely challenge pedestrian claims by arguing the person on foot shared fault for the accident. They may point to where you were crossing, whether you were in a marked crosswalk, or what the lighting conditions were. These arguments are a standard tactic to reduce what they owe.
We counter those arguments with evidence gathered early: surveillance footage, witness accounts, police reports, and traffic data. The clearer the picture of what actually happened, the harder those arguments are to sustain.
Are Killeen's Roads Particularly Dangerous for Pedestrians?
Yes, and the data from the Killeen Police Department confirms it. Fort Hood Street has been documented as one of the deadliest stretches of road in the city for people on foot. The Central Texas Expressway corridor has seen multiple fatal pedestrian crashes in recent years.
Clear Creek Road, I-14, and Stan Schlueter Loop see high vehicle speeds combined with limited pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.
According to city planning data, more than half of Killeen's pedestrian crash incidents occurred within a half mile of a public transit stop, often near areas with incomplete sidewalk networks and few traffic calming features. That's a road design problem, and in some cases it's a liability issue.
Who Is Responsible When a Driver Hits a Pedestrian in Texas?
In Texas, drivers are required to exercise reasonable care around pedestrians. A driver who fails to yield, runs a signal, or isn't paying attention when someone is in or near the roadway may be found negligent and liable for the resulting injuries. Fault depends on the full circumstances of what happened, not just where the pedestrian was standing.
Common driver failures that lead to liability in pedestrian accident claims include speeding through commercial or residential zones, distracted driving including phone use, failing to yield at crosswalks, running red lights or stop signs, and backing out of driveways or parking lots without checking for people on foot.
Does Being Hit in a Crosswalk Automatically Mean the Driver Was at Fault?
Being struck in a marked crosswalk is strong evidence of driver negligence, but it doesn't automatically resolve the claim. The insurance company can still dispute the value of your injuries, challenge your account of events, or argue contributing factors. A crosswalk location helps your case, it doesn't end the fight.
Conversely, being hit outside a crosswalk doesn't automatically mean you were at fault. Texas drivers have a general duty to watch for pedestrians anywhere on or near the roadway. The full circumstances of the accident determine how fault is assigned, and that analysis requires a careful look at the evidence.
Can the City of Killeen or Another Government Entity Be Responsible?
In some cases, yes. A municipality that failed to maintain safe crosswalk markings, functioning traffic signals, or adequate lighting in a high-pedestrian area may share liability for an accident that occurred there.
Claims against government entities in Texas are governed by the Texas Tort Claims Act, which has its own notice requirements and significantly shorter deadlines than a standard personal injury claim.
If a road design or maintenance issue contributed to your accident, speak with an attorney quickly.
How Does Lorenz & Lorenz Build a Pedestrian Accident Case in Killeen?
We start immediately. In pedestrian accident cases, the evidence that matters most, including traffic camera footage, business surveillance recordings, and dashcam video, has a short window before it's overwritten or deleted.
Ted Lorenz has handled personal injury cases in Central Texas since 2001, and moving fast on evidence preservation is one of the first things our firm does after being retained.
Every pedestrian accident case Ted handles, he handles personally. You know who's working on your matter, you can reach him directly, and your case doesn't get passed to someone you've never spoken with.
What Evidence Matters Most in a Killeen Pedestrian Accident Claim?
The most valuable evidence in these cases is often visual. Traffic cameras at intersections like Fort Hood Street and Elms Road, security cameras from nearby businesses, and dashcam recordings from other vehicles can show exactly what the driver was doing before impact. We move quickly to identify what footage exists and send formal preservation requests before it disappears.
We also obtain the police report, gather witness statements while recollections are still fresh, and, where relevant, pursue cell phone records that can establish whether the driver was distracted at the time of the crash.
What Happens After We Take Your Case?
Once Lorenz & Lorenz is involved, all communication with the insurance company goes through us. You don't take calls from adjusters, you don't respond to settlement offers on your own, and you don't have to figure out what you're entitled to without guidance. We handle the legal process while you focus on recovery.
We work on contingency. Nothing is owed unless we recover for you.
Call 254-662-4800 for a free case review, available 24/7.
How Long Do I Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Claim in Texas?
Texas law generally gives you two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing that deadline typically eliminates your right to pursue compensation in court, regardless of how clear the liability is.
Note: if a government entity is involved, shorter notice deadlines apply under the Texas Tort Claims Act. A licensed Texas attorney can advise on the specific deadlines that apply to your situation.
Acting early matters for reasons beyond the deadline. Footage gets overwritten. Witnesses become harder to locate. Physical evidence at the scene changes. The sooner legal support is in place, the stronger the foundation of your claim.
Does Texas Law Allow Me to Recover If I Was Partly at Fault?
Yes, in many cases. Texas follows a modified comparative fault rule under the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code, Chapter 33. If you are found to share some responsibility for the accident, your compensation may be reduced proportionally. However, as long as your share of fault does not exceed 50 percent, you may still pursue a claim.
Crossing outside a marked crosswalk, crossing against a signal, or walking along a roadway doesn't automatically bar recovery. Drivers still have a duty to watch for pedestrians, and that duty doesn't disappear because a pedestrian made an imperfect choice. The full picture of the accident is what matters.
What Compensation May Be Available After a Pedestrian Accident in Killeen?
Pedestrian accident claims may include both economic damages, meaning measurable financial losses, and non-economic damages, which reflect the broader impact of what happened. The categories below represent what may be available depending on the facts of your specific case.
Potential compensation may include:
- Medical expenses, including emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, and future treatment costs
- Lost income, including wages missed during recovery and, for serious injuries, reduced earning capacity going forward
- Pain and suffering, reflecting the physical limitations and discomfort caused by the accident
- Loss of enjoyment of life, where injuries have permanently affected your ability to participate in activities that were a normal part of your life
- Property damage, including personal items damaged in the collision
There are no guaranteed outcomes in personal injury cases. The value of a claim depends on the severity of injuries, the clarity of fault, and the applicable insurance coverage. A free consultation gives you an honest assessment of what your situation may support.
What If the Driver Who Hit Me Doesn't Have Insurance?
An uninsured driver doesn't necessarily end your ability to recover. Your own auto insurance policy may include uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage that applies even when you were a pedestrian at the time of the accident. We review every applicable policy, including your own, before concluding what recovery options exist in your case.
Do I Have a Pedestrian Accident Case in Killeen?
You may have a viable claim if a driver's negligence caused or contributed to your injuries and you suffered measurable harm as a result. Common accident scenarios we see throughout Bell County include crashes along the Central Texas Expressway corridor, near shopping areas on Trimmier Road and WS Young Drive, at high-traffic intersections, and in parking lots across Killeen and Harker Heights.
What If I Was Hit in a Parking Lot, Not on a Public Road?
Pedestrian accidents in parking lots, driveways, and on private property can still support a personal injury claim. Drivers owe a duty of care to pedestrians in those locations as well. In some cases, the property owner or business may also share liability if the design or condition of the lot contributed to what happened.
The legal analysis is similar to a public road accident, though the applicable insurance coverage may differ.
What If the Accident Involved a Military Vehicle or Happened Near Fort Cavazos?
If a government vehicle or military personnel were involved in your pedestrian accident, federal law governs the claim rather than standard Texas personal injury rules. The Federal Tort Claims Act imposes different procedures and significantly shorter filing deadlines. If this applies to your situation, speaking with an attorney quickly is essential.
Not sure whether your situation supports a claim? Call 254-662-4800. The conversation costs nothing.
Ask Lorenz & Lorenz
What if the trucking company says the driver was an independent contractor and they're not responsible?
That argument is common and isn't always valid. Whether a driver qualifies as an independent contractor under Texas law depends on the actual working relationship, not just what the contract says. We examine how much control the company exercised over the driver's work, schedule, and equipment before accepting that characterization.
The truck's black box data could help my case. How do I make sure it's preserved?
Black box data has a limited retention window, and trucking companies are not always motivated to preserve it voluntarily. One of the first things we do after being retained in a truck accident case is send a formal preservation letter. When necessary, we pursue legal action to prevent that evidence from being lost or overwritten.
What if I was hit by a military convoy vehicle near Fort Cavazos?
Claims involving government vehicles follow different rules. The Federal Tort Claims Act governs suits against the federal government and imposes different deadlines and procedures than a standard personal injury claim. If a government vehicle was involved in your accident, it's important to speak with an attorney quickly, because the timelines are shorter and the requirements are different.
What if the truck driver left the scene after the accident?
A hit-and-run by a commercial truck doesn't necessarily end your ability to recover. Depending on your own insurance coverage, including uninsured motorist coverage, and on whether the truck or company can be identified through surveillance footage, witness accounts, or other evidence, there may still be viable paths to compensation. We can help assess what options exist.
Related content
If you're navigating a pedestrian accident claim in Killeen or Bell County, these pages may also be helpful:
FAQ for Killeen Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
How much does a pedestrian accident lawyer in Killeen cost?
Our firm works on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront and nothing at all unless we recover compensation for you. There are no hourly charges and no out-of-pocket costs to get started. Your initial consultation is free.
Should I talk to the other driver's insurance company after a pedestrian accident?
Not before speaking with an attorney. Insurance adjusters are trained to gather information that can be used to minimize what the company pays. Statements made early in the process, even casual or well-intentioned ones, can complicate your claim later. Once our firm is involved, we handle all communication with the insurer on your behalf.
What if the driver who hit me left the scene?
A hit-and-run doesn't necessarily end your ability to recover compensation. Law enforcement may identify the driver through traffic cameras, witnesses, or other evidence. Your own uninsured motorist coverage may also apply even though you were on foot.
We help evaluate what options are available when the at-fault driver is unknown or fled the scene.
What if a family member was killed in a pedestrian accident in Killeen?
Texas law allows certain surviving family members, including spouses, children, and parents, to pursue a wrongful death claim when a loved one is killed due to another party's negligence. These cases involve their own legal standards and timelines. A free consultation with our firm can clarify what options may be available to your family.
Can I file a claim if the pedestrian accident happened months ago?
As long as you are still within Texas's two-year statute of limitations, you may still pursue a claim. The sooner you act, the better your evidence position, but the two-year window is what governs your legal right to file. If you're unsure whether you're still within that window, a free consultation will give you a clear answer.
Reviews
You Were Just Trying to Get Somewhere
Most pedestrian accidents happen in ordinary places during ordinary moments. A crosswalk on the way to work. A parking lot after running an errand. A sidewalk that ended and left you with nowhere else to walk.
The driver had a legal duty to watch for you. When they didn't, that failure belongs to them, and the legal system exists to hold them accountable for it.
Ted Lorenz has spent more than two decades doing exactly this work in Central Texas. He answers the phone, he handles cases personally, and he doesn't pass clients off to people they've never met. When you call, you talk to someone who can actually help.
Call 254-662-4800 or 1-800-TELL-TED, any time of day or night. The consultation is free, and the fee comes only if we win.
The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws, deadlines, and legal standards referenced should be verified with a licensed Texas attorney for your specific situation.