Pedestrian Accidents Generations of Trusted Advocacy

Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Terrebonne Parish

Representing Injured Gulf Coast Families Since 1971

When a driver strikes a pedestrian, the injuries are rarely minor. Broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, and even wrongful death are often the reality in crashes where one person had no protection at all. If this has happened to you or someone in your family, Waitz & Downer is ready to help. We’ve represented injured people and their families across South Louisiana since 1971, and we bring over 100 years of combined personal injury experience to every case we take.

We handle pedestrian accident cases in Houma and Terrebonne Parish, as well as the surrounding parishes of Assumption, Lafourche, and St. Mary. State law requires drivers to yield the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalks, and when they don’t, they can be held accountable. Consultations are free and confidential. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

If you or a family member was hurt in a pedestrian accident in Terrebonne Parish, call us now at (985) 331-7832 for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Why Terrebonne Parish Families Choose Waitz & Downer

Waitz & Downer is a third-generation family firm founded by Joseph L. Waitz in 1971. His children and grandson carry that legacy forward today alongside Hunt Downer Jr., a former Louisiana Speaker of the House with more than 50 years of legal experience, and a respected team of local attorneys, including Gary Williams Jr., incoming president of the Terrebonne Parish Bar Association. This isn’t a regional franchise. Our attorneys grew up here, practice here, and know the people and courts of the Gulf Coast.

We take pedestrian accident cases selectively, focusing on those involving severe bodily injury and wrongful death. That allows us to invest real investigative time and resources into each one. Joseph L. Waitz III has secured millions in judgments and settlements for seriously injured clients since joining the firm in 2014. When an insurance company makes an inadequate first offer, we’re prepared to go to trial. Our accolades include Martindale recognition, a Client Reviewed designation, and Lawyers of Distinction honors.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Terrebonne Parish

Most pedestrian accidents come down to a driver who failed to pay attention or follow the law. Distracted driving, including texting, phone use, and GPS interaction, is one of the leading causes. Drunk or impaired driving, speeding, and failure to yield at crosswalks also appear regularly in these cases. Left-turn crashes are particularly common, as well, often occurring when a driver watching for oncoming traffic misses a pedestrian already crossing in a crosswalk.

Backup accidents in parking lots and driveways account for another significant category. Even a low-speed impact can fracture bones, lacerate tissue, or cause a serious head injury when a person has no physical protection.

Fault doesn’t always rest with the driver alone. When poorly maintained crosswalks, construction zones that push pedestrians into traffic, or defective traffic signals contribute to the crash, a municipality or property owner may share liability alongside the driver of the vehicle involved.

Proving Negligence in a Louisiana Pedestrian Accident Claim

A successful claim requires proving four elements:

The driver owed a duty of care to the pedestrian
The driver breached that duty
The breach caused the injuries
The injuries produced measurable damages

Under Louisiana’s comparative fault system, a pedestrian who bore some responsibility for the crash can still recover compensation, with the recovery reduced in proportion to their share of fault.

Insurance adjusters frequently try to shift blame onto the pedestrian to reduce what they pay. Because of this, getting an attorney involved early matters. A pedestrian accident lawyer in Terrebonne Parish can help preserve skid mark evidence, secure surveillance footage before it’s overwritten, and be an advocate in your corner from the start.

It's especially important to talk to a lawyer early on if you think a government agency might be liable. When a pedestrian accident results from a defective crosswalk or malfunctioning signal, special notice requirements and shorter procedural deadlines can apply, making early action even more critical.

I would recommend them to anyone needing a personal injury attorney.
“Waitz and Downer has handled legal affairs for my family for years. My daughter was involved in a head on collision with a drunk driver. The insurance company did not want to pay for my daughter to purchase a new car, hers was totaled. Waitz and Downer handled the matter very professionally and things were settled very quickly.”

- Lie Ann M.
Mary W. Riviere and her team are outstanding!
“Mary is sharp, professional, and friendly. She strives to meets the needs of her clients, and she truly invest in them and their cases. She is easily assessable, and she is exceptionally honest and trustworthy. She is an excellent attorney, and I highly recommend her!
”

- Dana P.
This firm is exceedingly generous to its clients and the community at large.
“Excellent law firm. Attorney Hunt Downer is a very down to earth guy who likes to keep it simple.”

- Joseph G.

Filing Deadlines & the Terrebonne Parish Court

Louisiana sets strict deadlines for filing personal injury claims, and missing them can forfeit the right to seek compensation. Our attorneys have worked in the 32nd Judicial District Court in Terrebonne Parish for decades, navigating Louisiana’s civil law system continuously since 1971 through changes in prescriptive period rules and shifts in how courts apply comparative fault. That local, real-world experience shapes how we build and present each case.

Prescriptive Period Rules for Pedestrian Accident Claims

Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 3493.1, pedestrian accident injuries that occurred on or after July 1, 2024, are subject to a two-year prescriptive period running from the date of injury. Incidents that occurred before July 1, 2024, remain subject to the prior one-year deadline. Wrongful death claims carry their own timeline: one year from the date of death or two years from the date of the injury that caused the death, whichever is later, under Civil Code Article 2315.2(B).

When a government entity may be liable for a defective crosswalk or malfunctioning traffic signal, an injured pedestrian may need to file a formal notice of claim within a shorter window before the prescriptive period even begins. Missing that notice may forfeit the claim against the government entirely, regardless of how strong the underlying facts are. Skid marks fade, surveillance footage gets overwritten, and witness recollections grow less reliable over time. Waiting to contact an attorney puts critical evidence at risk before your case even begins.

Steps to Take After a Pedestrian Accident

What you do in the hours and days after a pedestrian crash directly affects both your recovery and your legal claim. Seek emergency medical care immediately, even if you feel relatively okay. Traumatic brain injury, internal bleeding, and spinal damage can all present with delayed symptoms.

Practical steps that protect your claim:

Call the police and get a copy of the accident report.
Photograph the scene, including the vehicle, the crosswalk or roadway, traffic signals, skid marks, and your injuries.
Collect names and contact information for any witnesses.
Don’t give a recorded statement to the at-fault driver’s insurance company before speaking with an attorney.
Avoid posting about the accident, your injuries, or your condition on social media.

Contacting a pedestrian accident lawyer in Terrebonne Parish as soon as possible can help keep evidence intact and can help prevent insurers from shaping the narrative before you have representation.

Over Five Decades of Legal Practice Protecting Families for Generations

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Strength with Heart

Big-firm results, small-town heart—we treat every client like one of our own.
We Stand Firm

From oilfields to open waters, we fight for the injured and the families left behind.
One Shared Mission
Three generations strong, our family’s legacy is protecting yours when tragedy strikes.
Rooted in the Gulf Coast

Born from the region we serve, we stand with our neighbors through every storm and every fight for justice.

How We Handle Your Pedestrian Accident Case

From the first call, you speak directly with our attorneys, not a case manager. We explain your rights clearly, without pressure or legal jargon, and we keep you informed at every stage. We don’t push clients toward quick settlements that undervalue serious injuries. When an insurance company won’t make a fair offer, we can take the case to trial.

Over more than five decades, Waitz & Downer has guided Gulf Coast families through oil spills, offshore disasters, and catastrophic hurricanes. We bring that same commitment to pedestrian accident victims and their families. There’s no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

Talk to a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Terrebonne Parish at No Cost Today

If you were hurt in a pedestrian accident, or if you lost a family member, don’t wait to get legal advice. The consultation is free, confidential, and comes with no obligation. We serve clients throughout Houma, Terrebonne Parish, and the parishes of Assumption, Lafourche, and St. Mary.

Call Waitz & Downer at (985) 331-7832 or use our online contact form to schedule your free consultation today.

Wrongful Death & Catastrophic Pedestrian Accident Injuries

When a pedestrian accident produces traumatic brain injury, spinal cord damage leading to paralysis, amputation, or severe burns, the consequences extend far beyond the initial hospitalization. Accurately quantifying future medical needs requires life-care planning, and undervaluing those costs is one of the most damaging mistakes an unrepresented victim can make. We handle these cases with the investigative depth they require.

Your Team for High-Stakes Cases

Waitz & Downer focuses on cases involving severe bodily injury and wrongful death. Joseph L. Waitz III has achieved millions in judgments and settlements for seriously injured clients. Mary Waitz Riviere brings a 30-year career in complex serious personal injury cases and is an outspoken advocate for victims’ rights. When the stakes are highest, our team is built for it.

How Wrongful Death Claims Work in Louisiana

Under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.2, wrongful death claims may be brought by the surviving spouse and children of the deceased. Surviving parents may bring a claim only if the deceased left no spouse or child surviving. Those claims compensate survivors for their own losses, including loss of financial support, loss of companionship, and funeral expenses, separate from any survival action brought on behalf of the deceased’s estate. If your family is facing this situation, we’re here to walk you through your options.

fighting for the injured

With Generations of Strength

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