KATY PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS
Katy Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Maida Law Firm represents people hit by vehicles while walking in and around Katy, Texas, from our Houston office on the Southwest Freeway. Katy-area roads such as Morton Road carry 45 mph traffic, sidewalks are still being added on some of them, and a crash may be worked by Katy police, a Harris County agency or Texas DPS. A pedestrian generally has two years to sue (Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003(a)).
Call (713) 785-9484 to talk about what happened at no cost. We work on a contingency fee, so you owe us no attorney’s fee unless we recover for you.
The short version
- Reported Katy-area pedestrian crashes happened on suburban roads: a child hit at Morton Road and Morton Creek Ranch Road (DPS, March 2026) and a man killed on a dimly lit stretch of Fry Road (Harris County deputies, 2018).
- Harris County registered a project to add sidewalks and curb ramps on Morton Ranch Road, scheduled July 20 to September 30, 2026 (TDLR TABS2026024010). With no sidewalk, a pedestrian walks on the left, facing traffic (§ 552.006(b)).
- Outside a crosswalk the pedestrian yields (§ 552.005(a)), but the driver must use due care and extra precaution around a child (§ 552.008). Recovery is barred only above 50% fault (§§ 33.001, 33.012(a)).
- The driver may carry only $30,000 per person (§ 601.072(a-1)); household UM/UIM coverage stays unless rejected in writing (§ 1952.101(c)). A county, city or school-district vehicle means six-month notice (§ 101.101).
- Two years to sue in most cases (§ 16.003). We serve Katy from our Houston office; there is no Katy branch. Free consultation, contingency fee.
KATY STREETS AND SIDEWALKS
Where are pedestrians being hit around Katy, and who investigates?
Reported Katy-area pedestrian crashes have happened on wide suburban roads rather than downtown streets: a child struck on Morton Road at Morton Creek Ranch Road in March 2026, and a man killed walking in a dimly lit stretch of Fry Road in 2018. Texas DPS worked the first and Harris County deputies the second, so the report is not always with Katy police.
On the evening of Sunday, March 29, 2026, a westbound car hit a 6-year-old boy near the intersection of Morton Creek Ranch Road and Morton Road. The Texas Department of Public Safety said the boy ran into the road, that the driver was going through a green light at 40 mph in a 45 mph zone and tried to stop, and that the driver stayed at the scene. The boy was taken to the Texas Medical Center with minor injuries (ABC13, March 30, 2026). In December 2018, a 21-year-old man walking south in the right lane of Fry Road near Park Row Drive was struck and killed by a southbound SUV at about 12:30 a.m.; Harris County deputies said the area is dimly lit and other drivers had swerved to miss him (KPRC 2, December 25, 2018).
Sidewalks are part of the picture. In June 2026 the Harris County Engineering Department registered a project with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation to add sidewalks and curb ramps on Morton Ranch Road in Katy, about 23,290 square feet of work scheduled from July 20 to September 30, 2026 (TDLR project TABS2026024010, registered June 29, 2026). Where a sidewalk exists and can be used, Texas law keeps the pedestrian on it; where none is provided, the pedestrian walks on the left, facing traffic (Transportation Code § 552.006(a), (b)). Whether a usable sidewalk was there on the day of the crash can change how fault is argued.
Closer to Houston, the Katy Freeway itself is a separate danger. Houston police reported that on March 21, 2026, a westbound driver struck and killed a man trying to cross the main lanes at 10100 Katy Freeway (Houston Police Department, March 23, 2026). Statewide, TxDOT counted 695 pedestrian deaths in Texas in 2025 (TxDOT, Texas Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Facts 2025, read November 5, 2026). We were not involved in any of these cases and do not say who was at fault in them.
For the full set of Texas right-of-way rules at crosswalks and signals, see our Houston pedestrian accident page. If the driver left, our hit-and-run claims page explains the next steps.
FAULT, INSURANCE & DEADLINES
Who is at fault, and who pays, when a pedestrian is hit on a Katy road with no crosswalk?
Away from a crosswalk the pedestrian must yield, and between two working traffic signals may cross only in a marked crosswalk, but the driver must still use due care and take proper precaution on seeing a child. Fault is then split by percentage, and the driver’s liability policy may be as small as $30,000 for one injured person.
The rules are in Chapter 552 of the Transportation Code: the yielding rule for crossing outside a crosswalk is § 552.005(a), the marked-crosswalk rule between signalized intersections is § 552.005(b), and the driver’s duty of due care, including toward a child, is § 552.008 (Transportation Code ch. 552). A pedestrian also may not suddenly leave a curb into the path of a vehicle too close to stop (§ 552.003(b)), which is the argument an insurer makes in a case like the Morton Road crash. A jury weighs all of it: a person more than 50 percent responsible recovers nothing, and below that the damages are reduced by the person’s share (Civil Practice and Remedies Code §§ 33.001, 33.012(a)). Whether and how a young child can be assigned fault is a question we review case by case.
Where children walk to a bus stop, one more rule matters. A driver approaching a stopped school bus with its signal operating must stop and wait until the bus moves, the driver signals, or the signal goes off (Transportation Code § 545.066(a)). A driver in a crash that injures someone must stop, give information and render aid (§§ 550.021, 550.023).
Insurance. The at-fault driver’s policy pays first; the Texas minimum is $30,000 for one person’s injuries (Transportation Code § 601.072(a-1)). A pedestrian can often also claim the uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on an auto policy in the household, which stays in the policy unless a named insured rejected it in writing (Insurance Code § 1952.101(c)). We ask for the declarations page before accepting that it is not there.
Deadlines. The general limit to sue is two years, and in a death case two years from the death (Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003). If the vehicle belonged to a county, a city or a school district, notice of the claim is due within six months, and a city charter can set a shorter period (§ 101.101(a), (b)). Around Katy a suit is usually filed in the county where the crash happened: Harris, Fort Bend or Waller. Our Katy personal injury page covers the other cases we take for Katy clients, and our Katy car accident page covers crashes between vehicles. If someone was killed, see our wrongful death page.
KATY PEDESTRIAN QUESTIONS
Katy Pedestrian Accident Lawyer FAQs
It depends on where it happened. Inside the City of Katy, the Katy Police Department. In the unincorporated Harris County neighborhoods around Katy, usually the Harris County Sheriff’s Office or a constable precinct. The March 2026 Morton Road crash involving a child was worked by Texas DPS. Fort Bend and Waller County crashes outside city limits go to those counties’ agencies or DPS. We find the right agency and request the report.
Yes, possibly. Where no sidewalk is provided, Texas law expects a pedestrian to walk on the left side or shoulder facing traffic (Transportation Code § 552.006(b)), and the driver still owes due care (§ 552.008). Which side you were on, the lighting and the driver’s speed all go into the share of fault a jury assigns.
Get your child examined, even if the injuries look minor, and write down the time, the bus or school involved and anyone who saw it. A driver must stop for a school bus with its signal operating (§ 545.066). If the vehicle belonged to a school district or county, the six-month notice rule in § 101.101 can apply, so call us early.
The driver’s policy may cover as little as $30,000 for your injuries. After that, underinsured motorist coverage on an auto policy in your household is often the next source, along with your health insurance. We check every policy that could apply before you sign any release.
Only if it belongs in Harris County, where cases are heard at the Harris County Civil Courthouse, 201 Caroline St, Houston. A Fort Bend County case goes to the Fort Bend County Justice Center in Richmond, and a Waller County case to the Waller County Courthouse in Hempstead.
No. Maida Law Firm has an office at 8313 Southwest Fwy Ste 102 in Houston, and we handle Katy clients’ cases from there. Most cases start with a phone call to (713) 785-9484, and we can meet you where you are recovering.
Nothing. The consultation is free, and we take pedestrian cases on a contingency fee: no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you. The percentage is written into the agreement you sign at the start.
Hit While Walking in Katy?
Tell us the street, the time and which agency came to the scene. We will find the report, look for video and witnesses before they are gone, and identify every insurance policy that could pay. Call (713) 785-9484 for a free consultation.
Katy car accident claims: key facts
| Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Law firm | Maida Law Firm — Houston personal-injury firm |
| Practice on this page | Houston Car Accident Claims |
| Area served | Katy, Texas — served from the Houston office; the firm has no Katy office |
| Office | 8313 Southwest Fwy Ste 102, Houston, TX 77074 · (713) 785-9484 |
| Author | Sam A. Maida, Jr. — Texas Bar No. 00787950 |
| Reviewer | Bernard G. Johnson III — Texas Bar No. 00796832 |
| Consultation and fee | Free Consultation; Contingency Fee — no attorney’s fee unless there is a recovery |
| Google rating | 4.9 stars from 370 reviews (Google, 21 September 2026) |
| Deadline to file | Two years from the day the cause of action accrues — Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a) |
Which Texas rule applies where a Katy pedestrian was hit?
The rule turns on where the person was: on a road with or without a usable sidewalk, crossing between two working traffic signals, near a stopped school bus, or at a driveway. In every one of them the driver still owes due care to avoid a pedestrian and proper precaution on seeing a child (§ 552.008).
| Where the pedestrian was | What Texas law says | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Walking along a road that has a usable sidewalk | The pedestrian may not walk on the roadway; the sidewalk is to be used. | § 552.006(a) |
| Walking along a road with no sidewalk | Walk on the left side or shoulder, facing oncoming traffic, unless that side is obstructed or unsafe. | § 552.006(b) |
| Crossing mid-block between two working traffic signals | Cross only in a marked crosswalk. | § 552.005(b) |
| Crossing away from any crosswalk | The pedestrian yields to vehicles. | § 552.005(a) |
| Stepping off the curb into a crosswalk | A pedestrian may not suddenly leave a place of safety into the path of a vehicle too close to stop. | § 552.003(b) |
| A school bus stopped with its signal operating | Drivers from either direction stop and wait until the bus moves, the bus driver signals, or the signal goes off. | § 545.066(a) |
| A child, or a confused or incapacitated person, near the road | The driver must exercise proper precaution on seeing them. | § 552.008 |
Source: Texas Transportation Code chapters 545 and 552 (read November 5, 2026)
Which deadline and which coverage apply to a Katy pedestrian claim?
Most pedestrian claims are paid first by the driver’s liability policy and then by household uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. The suit deadline is generally two years, but a claim involving a county, city or school-district vehicle needs written notice within six months, or sooner under a city charter.
| Situation | What applies | Texas rule |
|---|---|---|
| Injury claim against a private driver | Suit within two years of the day the claim accrues | Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a) |
| A pedestrian was killed | Wrongful death suit within two years of the death | Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(b) |
| The vehicle belonged to a county, city or school district | Notice within six months; a city charter may set a shorter period | Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101(a), (b) |
| The driver was insured | That driver’s liability policy, minimum $30,000 per person and $60,000 per crash for injuries | Transp. Code § 601.072(a-1) |
| The driver fled or carried too little insurance | Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage on a household auto policy, unless rejected in writing | Ins. Code § 1952.101(c) |
| The insurer says you share the blame | Award reduced by your percentage; barred only above 50% | Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code §§ 33.001, 33.012(a) |
Questions people ask after a Katy crash
Tap a question to open it.
What evidence should be collected after a pedestrian is hit in Katy?
The crash report and the agency’s case number, photographs of the spot before it changes, and the names of anyone who stopped. Many Katy roads are lined with shopping centers, gas stations and neighborhood entrances, and their cameras often record over themselves within days, so a request for footage has to go out quickly. Keep the shoes and clothing you were wearing, and note whether there was a sidewalk, a crosswalk and working street lights.
Does it matter that the road was dark?
It can. Lighting goes to what the driver could see and what the pedestrian could expect a driver to see, and both sides will use it. In the 2018 Fry Road crash, deputies noted the area was dimly lit. Photographs taken at the same time of night, the position of street lights and the driver’s speed are what settle the argument, not general claims about visibility.
Can a parking lot or driveway crash in Katy be a pedestrian claim?
Yes. A driver coming out of or going into a driveway, alley, building or private road must stop and yield to a pedestrian approaching on the sidewalk across it (Transportation Code § 552.006(c)). Crashes in store lots can also raise questions about the property’s lighting and layout, which are separate from the driver’s conduct.
What if the driver who hit me is charged with a crime?
The criminal case and your injury claim are separate. A prosecutor decides whether to charge the driver, and a charge or conviction is not required for you to recover. The criminal file can still help, because it often contains statements, photographs and measurements taken at the scene.
How is a Katy pedestrian claim valued?
From the medical records once the doctors can describe the lasting effects: the cost of treatment so far and expected in the future, lost income, the pain and limits the injury causes, and any share of fault assigned to you. The insurance actually available, from the driver and from your household policies, sets a practical limit. No one can give a fair figure before reading those records.
What if a road defect or missing sidewalk contributed to the crash?
A claim may then involve the government body responsible for the road as well as the driver. Claims against a county, city or other governmental unit fall under the Texas Tort Claims Act, which requires notice within six months under § 101.101(a) and limits what can be recovered. The location and condition need to be documented early.
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What pedestrian crashes have been reported in the Katy area?
ABC13 reported a 6-year-old hit at Morton Road and Morton Creek Ranch Road in March 2026, Houston police reported a pedestrian killed crossing the Katy Freeway main lanes at 10100 Katy Freeway the same month, and KPRC 2 reported a man killed walking on Fry Road near Park Row Drive in December 2018.
Each incident is linked to the news outlet that reported it, newest first. We were not involved in these cases, describe them only as published and do not assess who was at fault.
- Katy 6-year-old hit by car after running into intersection: DPS ABC13, March 2026
- Investigation into Fatal Crash at 10100 Katy Freeway Houston Police Department, March 2026
- Man hit, killed by vehicle in Katy KPRC 2 / Click2Houston, December 2018
Related claims we handle
Video: Maida Law Firm: Personal Injury Lawyers in Houston, TX
An introduction to Maida Law Firm, the Houston personal injury firm Sam A. Maida, Jr. founded in 1993. Watch on YouTube
Where we are in Houston
Maida Law Firm
8313 Southwest Fwy Ste 102, Houston, TX 77074
We are on the Southwest Freeway, minutes from the 610 Loop and Sharpstown, and we see clients from across Harris County.
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About the authors
Sam A. Maida, Jr.
Owner and Managing Attorney
Sam A. Maida, Jr. has represented injured Texans in the greater Houston area since the firm opened in 1993.
State Bar of TexasAvvoMartindale-HubbellLawLinkThatCarHitMeLinkedIn
Bernard G. Johnson III
Litigation Managing Attorney
Bernard G. Johnson III is a board certified trial lawyer licensed in Texas since 1996 and a graduate of South Texas College of Law.
Areas We Serve
Maida Law Firm has represented injured Texans across the greater Houston area since 1993. Beyond Katy, we handle cases in:
- Baytown — ExxonMobil refinery workers, Houston Ship Channel mariners, and accident victims.
- Galveston — Jones Act, cruise injury, Longshore Act, and offshore platform claims.
- Pasadena — Refinery, petrochemical, workplace, and auto accident claims.
- Sugar Land — Serving Sugar Land and Fort Bend County.
- The Woodlands — Serving The Woodlands and Montgomery County, including auto, truck, and wrongful death claims.
Serving Katy from our Houston office
Maida Law Firm
8313 Southwest Fwy Ste 102, Houston, TX 77074
We take Katy cases from this Houston office. There is no Katy branch — the consultation is free, and nothing is owed unless we recover for you.
Which court handles a Katy injury case?
Katy lies in parts of 3 counties — Harris, Fort Bend and Waller. A Texas injury suit is normally filed in the county where the crash or incident happened or where the defendant lives, so the courthouse that handles your case depends on which side of the county line you were on.
| County | Courthouse | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Harris County | Harris County Civil Courthouse | 201 Caroline St, Houston, TX 77002 |
| Fort Bend County | Fort Bend County Justice Center | 1422 Eugene Heimann Cir, Richmond, TX 77469 |
| Waller County | Waller County Courthouse | 400 Sheriff R Glenn Smith Dr, Hempstead, TX 77445 |
Texas injury deadlines and limits at a glance
| Question | Texas rule | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Deadline to file most injury lawsuits | Two years from the day the cause of action accrues. | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(a) |
| Deadline when an injury causes death | Two years, running from the date of death. | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003(b) |
| If you were partly at fault | You recover nothing if your share of responsibility is greater than 50 percent. | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 33.001 |
| Claim against a city, county or state agency | The governmental unit must receive notice within six months of the incident — and a city charter may require notice sooner. | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 101.101 |
| Cap on exemplary (punitive) damages | The greater of $200,000, or twice economic damages plus noneconomic damages up to $750,000. | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 41.008(b) |
| Cap on noneconomic damages against a physician or provider | $250,000 per claimant on a health care liability claim. | Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 74.301(a) |
Where a Katy case is filed
Harris County Civil Courthouse
201 Caroline St, Houston, TX 77002
Katy sits in Harris County and 2 more — see the table above, so this is normally where a suit arising there is filed.
Deadlines are shorter than most people expect, and some are shorter than the two years above. The figures here are the general statutory rules, verified against the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, and are general information — not legal advice about your case. Ask a lawyer about your own deadline before you rely on any of it.