Skip to content

Legal advertising service. Not a law firm or a lawyer referral service.

InjuryClaimGuide
For firms
Back to Learning Center
Legal Guidance

Best pedestrian accident lawyer in Houston? How to choose one

Check a Houston pedestrian accident lawyer yourself with official Texas sources, plus questions on right-of-way, insurance, fees and barratry red flags.

7 min readPublished October 22, 2026Last updated October 22, 2026Edited by Joseph Budzinski, CTO, InjuryClaimGuide

The short answer

InjuryClaimGuide does not rank or rate lawyers, and this guide does not name any. What you can do is check any Houston pedestrian accident lawyer yourself: look up the lawyer's Texas license and public disciplinary history with the State Bar of Texas, read the written fee agreement, and ask how the lawyer approaches the questions that often come up after a pedestrian crash, such as which right-of-way rules applied and which insurance policies may be involved. This is general informational guidance, not legal advice, and it does not apply the law to your situation.

Key facts (as of October 22, 2026)

  • License and discipline. The State Bar of Texas Find A Lawyer directory shows whether a lawyer is eligible to practice in Texas and includes a public disciplinary history section.
  • Contingent fees in writing. A contingent fee contract for legal services must be in writing and signed by the attorney and the client (Tex. Gov't Code §82.065(a)).
  • Crosswalk right-of-way. Where no traffic control signal is in place or in operation, a driver must stop and yield to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk on the driver's half of the roadway, or approaching so closely from the other half as to be in danger (Tex. Transp. Code §552.003(a)).
  • Crossing elsewhere. A pedestrian crossing a roadway other than in a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection must yield the right-of-way to vehicles (Tex. Transp. Code §552.005(a)).
  • Shared responsibility. Texas uses proportionate responsibility: a claimant may not recover damages if the claimant's percentage of responsibility is greater than 50 percent (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §33.001).
  • Solicitation. Texas law generally makes it an offense to solicit employment for a lawyer in person, by telephone or through a social media direct message (Tex. Penal Code §38.12(a)(2)).

How do I check a Houston pedestrian accident lawyer's license?

The State Bar of Texas publishes a public Find A Lawyer directory. A lawyer's profile shows:

  • whether the lawyer is eligible to practice in Texas;
  • the bar card number and the date the lawyer was licensed in Texas;
  • listed practice areas, fee options and any foreign language assistance;
  • a "Public disciplinary history" section.

Look up the individual lawyer who will work on your matter, not only the firm name. If someone tells you they are a lawyer and you cannot find them, ask for their bar card number. Texas Penal Code §38.122 makes it a crime to hold oneself out as a lawyer, for economic benefit, without a current license in good standing.

The State Bar's Grievance and Ethics Information page points the public to Find A Lawyer to view a lawyer's disciplinary history. If the profile lists anything, you can ask the lawyer about it directly and decide for yourself how much it matters to you.

What should a contingent fee agreement say in Texas?

A contingent fee is a fee that depends on the outcome of the matter. Texas Disciplinary Rule 1.04(d) allows one except in matters where a rule or other law prohibits it, and Texas law sets some ground rules for the agreement:

  • In writing and signed. The contract must be in writing and signed by the attorney and the client (Tex. Gov't Code §82.065(a)).
  • How the fee is figured. The agreement must state the method by which the fee is determined. If the percentage differs depending on whether the matter is resolved without a trial, at trial or on appeal, the agreement must state each percentage (Rule 1.04(d), Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct).
  • Expenses. The agreement must state the litigation and other expenses to be deducted from any recovery, and whether they are deducted before or after the fee is calculated (Rule 1.04(d)).
  • At the end. When a contingent fee matter concludes, the lawyer must give the client a written statement describing the outcome and, if there is a recovery, showing the remittance to the client and how it was determined (Rule 1.04(d)).

You can ask to take the agreement home and read it before you sign. For a plain-language overview, see What Is a Contingency Fee.

What questions can I ask a pedestrian accident lawyer?

There is no single right answer to any of these; the answers are for you to weigh.

  • Pedestrian experience. Have you handled matters involving people on foot who were hit by a vehicle, and how are they different from crashes between two vehicles in your practice?
  • Right-of-way rules. Texas Transportation Code chapter 552 sets right-of-way rules for pedestrians at signals, at crosswalks and across driveways (Tex. Transp. Code ch. 552). How do you approach questions about which of those rules applied?
  • Shared responsibility. In Texas, the judge or jury assigns a percentage of responsibility to each person involved (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §33.003). How do you approach questions about a pedestrian's share of responsibility?
  • Insurance. Which insurance policies do you look at after a pedestrian crash? Texas auto policies must include personal injury protection (PIP) unless an insured named in the policy rejects it in writing, and PIP benefits are payable without regard to fault (Tex. Ins. Code §§1952.152, 1952.155).
  • Government vehicles. If a METRO bus, a City of Houston vehicle or another government vehicle was involved, how do you handle the notice rules? A governmental unit is entitled to notice of a claim not later than six months after the incident, and a city's charter can set its own period (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §101.101). The City of Houston's charter, quoted on the city Legal Department's claims page, requires written, verified notice of an injury claim against the city within 90 days (City of Houston, Filing a Claim).
  • Records and video. Which records would you want to see, such as the crash report, medical records and any video of the crash?
  • Day-to-day contact. Who at the firm will handle my matter day to day, and who do I contact with questions?
  • Language. Do you or your staff speak Spanish? (The State Bar profile has a "Foreign Language Assistance" field, and you can also ask directly.)
  • Fees and expenses. How is your fee calculated, and which expenses would be deducted from any recovery?
  • Local experience. Have you handled matters involving pedestrian crashes in Houston or Harris County?

For how Texas's pedestrian rules, insurance coverages and deadlines work in more detail, see Hit by a car while walking in Houston.

What are the red flags for barratry after a pedestrian crash?

Texas law prohibits barratry, the improper solicitation of legal clients. The State Bar's Solicitation and Barratry page explains that, with limited exceptions, a lawyer may not solicit clients in person or by phone, and may not have someone else, including a non-lawyer, solicit clients that way for them. A person who does that soliciting is sometimes called a "runner".

Signs to watch for, with the rule behind each:

  • An approach you did not ask for. Someone you did not contact approaches you in person, by phone or through a social media direct message to sign you up with a lawyer (Tex. Penal Code §38.12(a)(2); Disciplinary Rule 7.03(b)).
  • An offer of money or a gift. Anyone offers you money, a gift or another benefit to hire a lawyer (Penal Code §38.12(a)(3)).
  • Contact too soon after the crash. Texas law generally makes it an offense for a lawyer, and certain other licensed professionals, to send someone who has not asked for their services a written communication or solicitation about a personal injury or wrongful death matter, or an accident involving that person or a relative, before the 31st day after the accident (Penal Code §38.12(d)(2)(A)).
  • No "ADVERTISEMENT" label. A lawyer's written solicitation to a prospective client generally must be plainly marked or clearly designated "ADVERTISEMENT" (Disciplinary Rule 7.03(d)(2)).
  • Pressure. Communications involving coercion, duress, intimidation or undue influence are prohibited (Disciplinary Rule 7.03(c); Penal Code §38.12(d)(2)(E)).

Texas law also protects people who sign up because of barratry. A contract for legal services obtained through conduct that violates Penal Code §38.12(a) or (b), or Disciplinary Rule 7.03, is voidable by the client (Tex. Gov't Code §82.065(b)), and §82.0651 lets the client bring a civil action to void it.

If you think a lawyer, or someone acting for a lawyer, solicited you improperly, write down who contacted you, when and how. The State Bar's Grievance and Ethics Information page explains how to file a grievance, including online.

Where can I read more about pedestrian crashes in Houston?

About InjuryClaimGuide

InjuryClaimGuide is a legal advertising service. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. We do not recommend or endorse any attorney, and we do not analyze the merits of any potential claim. Routing to participating firms is based on geography, practice area, language, and firm capacity.

Participating law firms pay InjuryClaimGuide to receive leads. InjuryClaimGuide is not a lawyer referral service and is not affiliated with any state bar.

If you choose to submit an intake, InjuryClaimGuide forwards it to participating personal injury firms in your area and case type. Whichever lawyer you consider, through InjuryClaimGuide or on your own, you can use the same checks and questions in this guide. The choice of lawyer is yours. How Lawyer Matching Services Work explains more about services like this one.

Frequently asked questions

How can I check whether a Houston pedestrian accident lawyer is licensed in Texas?
Search the lawyer's name in the State Bar of Texas Find A Lawyer directory at texasbar.com. A lawyer's profile shows whether the lawyer is eligible to practice in Texas, the Texas license date, and a public disciplinary history section.
What does Texas law say about pedestrians in a crosswalk?
Where no traffic control signal is in place or in operation, Texas Transportation Code §552.003 requires a driver to stop and yield to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk who is on the driver's half of the roadway, or approaching so closely from the other half as to be in danger. The same section says a pedestrian may not suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk into the path of a vehicle so close that the driver cannot stop.
Does a contingent fee agreement in Texas have to be in writing?
Yes. Texas Government Code §82.065(a) says a contingent fee contract for legal services must be in writing and signed by the attorney and the client. Texas Disciplinary Rule 1.04(d) also says the agreement must state how the fee is determined and which expenses are deducted.
Does InjuryClaimGuide choose or rate the lawyer for me?
No. InjuryClaimGuide is a legal advertising service, not a law firm and not a lawyer referral service. The choice of lawyer is yours, and you can use the checks in this guide for any lawyer you consider.

Sources

Ready to talk about your situation?

A free intake is about two minutes. No obligation. You decide if you want to be connected with anyone.

Start free intake

More guides

Start Free IntakeAbout 2 minutes. Free to you.

Start