Pedestrian Accidents in Dallas-Fort Worth
Texas leads the nation in pedestrian deaths, and DFW's car-centric design makes walking dangerous. Here's what you need to know.
⚠️ Rising Pedestrian Deaths
Texas sees over 800 pedestrian deaths annually, with DFW accounting for a significant portion. Many crossings lack basic safety infrastructure.
Why DFW Is Dangerous for Pedestrians
- Car-centric design: Wide, high-speed roads with minimal pedestrian infrastructure
- Missing sidewalks: Many areas force pedestrians into roads
- Long crossing distances: 6-8 lane roads take too long to cross safely
- Poor lighting: Many crossings are poorly lit
- Right-turn-on-red: Drivers often don't check for pedestrians
- Distracted driving: Phone use epidemic
Most Dangerous Areas for Pedestrians
1. South Dallas / Fair Park
High pedestrian volume, wide roads, poor infrastructure. Consistently high fatality rates.
2. East Fort Worth
Lancaster Avenue corridor sees frequent pedestrian crashes.
3. Harry Hines Boulevard (Dallas)
Wide arterial with heavy traffic and pedestrian activity.
4. Arlington (Near UTA)
No public transit means students walk on dangerous roads.
5. Downtown Dallas
High pedestrian volume meets aggressive drivers. Intersection crashes are common.
Common Pedestrian Crash Injuries
When a 4,000-pound vehicle hits an unprotected person, injuries are severe:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Multiple bone fractures
- Internal organ damage
- Severe road rash and lacerations
- Wrongful death
What to Do If You're Hit by a Car
- 1. Don't move – Wait for medical help if you have any spinal pain
- 2. Call 911 – Get police and ambulance
- 3. Get driver information – License plate, insurance, contact info
- 4. Document everything – Photos of the scene if possible
- 5. Get witness contacts – Other pedestrians or drivers who saw it
- 6. Accept medical transport – Go to the hospital even if you feel okay
- 7. Don't give recorded statements – To insurance without legal advice
- 8. Get your crash report – Set up monitoring
Texas Pedestrian Laws
- Right-of-way at crosswalks: Drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks
- Jaywalking: Pedestrians must yield to vehicles when crossing outside crosswalks
- Comparative negligence: Your compensation may be reduced if you share fault
- Statute of limitations: 2 years to file a personal injury lawsuit
Pedestrian Accident Compensation
Injured pedestrians can recover:
- All medical expenses (past and future)
- Lost wages and earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Disability and disfigurement
- Loss of quality of life
- Wrongful death damages (for families)
Were You Hit by a Car?
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