Brownsville Police: Pedestrian at fault in December 13 accident
by Benjamin Treviño | December 14th, 2022 | Pedestrian Accident
BROWNSVILLE – Police say a Brownsville pedestrian was at fault for a December 13 accident that left him hospitalized. According to a news release, 65-year-old Ricky Joe Beede was jaywalking across the 800 block of International Boulevard when he was hit by 2017 Hyundai shortly after 6:00 p.m. The vehicle driver was not identified.
“Witnesses at the scene confirmed the vehicle had a green light as it proceeded through the intersection,” the release said. The driver also remained at the scene following the accident, the report added.
Beede was transported to a hospital, and was last reported in stable condition.
Police say the accident investigation determined that Beede was at fault for not using the crosswalk, and for crossing at a pedestrian red light.
Determining liability for Texas auto-pedestrian accidents
Sometimes it can be difficult to determine who is responsible for an auto-pedestrian accident. Determining liability, or legal and financial responsibility, might require an in-depth investigation.
Texas is a tort-based car accident state. In laymen’s terms, this means the party guilty of committing a tort, or wrongdoing, will be liable for the wreck. Some common torts by drivers include traffic safety violations, speeding, distracted driving, and drunken driving.
On the other hand, a pedestrian can also cause or contribute to an accident by breaking traffic laws, ignoring crosswalk signals, jaywalking, or walking while distracted (using a cell phone).
In some cases, both parties will share a portion of the fault.
Comparative fault state
Texas is a comparative fault state. This means it must be determined which party is more at fault. If a driver is primarily at fault, usually at least 51% or more, they are held financially liable. Victims cannot recover damages if they are 51% or more at fault.
Review of police accident report
If judgments in the official police report (including who was at fault) are in dispute, either party can write out his/her version of events. If the fault determination is legally disputed, a third-party mediator will hear both sides. Based on the facts, fault determination can change. The worst-case scenario will escalate to a civil lawsuit.
Ideally, police report disputes should be done with the help of an experienced car accident attorney. The personal injury attorneys at the J. Gonzalez Law Firm are your best bet for obtaining the justice and compensation you deserve. J. Gonzalez offers free consultations, and if he takes your case, you pay nothing unless you win. Call for more information today at 1-800-CAR-CRASH!
Source: https://myrgv.com/local-news/2022/12/14/police-brownsville-pedestrian-at-fault-in-auto-ped-accident/
