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Understanding Nevada’s Pedestrian Right-of-Way Laws

nevada-pedestrian-right-of-way-laws

Being a pedestrian in Nevada can be a risky prospect. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that Nevada had the eighth-highest pedestrian fatality rate in the nation for 2018 (the last year for which data is available). That year, 79 pedestrians were killed—an increase of nearly double over the last five years.

All but five of these pedestrian fatalities were in Clark and Washoe counties, many of them occurring along the casino and entertainment-studded strips in Las Vegas and Reno.

Many pedestrian accidents are caused by inattention or carelessness on the part of both drivers and pedestrians; pedestrians may not realize they’re not walking in a crosswalk, while drivers may be texting, speeding, or engaging in other risky behaviors that make it harder to react to a pedestrian in the road.

Below, we’ll explain more about Nevada’s right-of-way laws and other regulations governing pedestrian traffic and what you should do if you witness an accident involving a pedestrian.

What is a Pedestrian?

Under Nevada law, a pedestrian is defined as any person who is walking along a road or in a developed area. Although bike and scooter riders generally travel more slowly than the speed of traffic, for purposes of Nevada’s pedestrian right-of-way laws, they’re still considered vehicle drivers.

While a driver who strikes a pedestrian crossing the street legally—in a marked crosswalk and adhering to traffic signals—is likely to be liable for the pedestrian’s injuries, cases involving pedestrians who don’t have the right of way can be much more complicated.

If you’re involved in an accident involving a pedestrian, whether you’re the driver or the pedestrian, it’s important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney as quickly as possible.

Nevada’s Pedestrian Right-of-Way Laws

Nevada Statute 484B.287 provides pedestrians with the right-of-way in crosswalks and intersections. But this right-of-way isn’t unlimited, and pedestrians remain subject to restrictions on how and when they can enter the roadway. Jaywalking (or walking outside the crosswalk in an area where a crosswalk is provided) remains illegal, and pedestrians can be cited or fined if they’re caught jaywalking. Pedestrians also yield the right of way to drivers if they are crossing a highway “at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.”

What’s more, regardless of whether a pedestrian has the right-of-way in any particular situation, a pedestrian who collides with a vehicle is likely to be severely injured or killed. Even if you have the right of way, you must be aware of your surroundings and prepared to yield to traffic if a driver fails to yield (or simply doesn’t see you).

Las Vegas has its own restrictions on pedestrian traffic in its Municipal Code, Chapter 11.30.

Section 11.30.050 prevents pedestrians from crossing the roadway “at any place other than by a route at right angles to the curb or by the shortest route to the opposite curb”—except in a crosswalk. In other words, pedestrians can be cited for crossing outside the crosswalk or by walking at a diagonal on the roadway, even if no traffic is coming.

Section 11.30.070 requires pedestrians to use the crosswalk between adjacent intersections where traffic-control signals (either a stoplight or stop sign) are in operation or in any business district. This strictly confines pedestrians to the crosswalk in just about all the most heavily trafficked areas of Las Vegas.

Section 11.30.090 requires pedestrians to use sidewalks wherever they’re provided; it is illegal for a pedestrian to walk along the adjacent roadway.

Where sidewalks aren’t provided, Section 11.30.100 requires pedestrians to walk, where practicable, only on the left side of the roadway or the shoulder, facing traffic. This allows the pedestrian to see any vehicles that are traveling and reduces the risk that a vehicle will collide with the pedestrian from behind.

Although these laws are designed to protect pedestrians and reduce pedestrian-driver collisions, they’re not foolproof. Even if you have the right-of-way, pay attention to your surroundings and don’t assume that drivers are going to stop.

And for drivers, particularly those driving at night, it’s important to drive with caution in areas that attract pedestrians, as it can only take a split-second for a pedestrian to appear in front of your vehicle.

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Pedestrian Accident Statistics in Nevada 

In 2023, over 180 people lost their lives due to pedestrian accidents in Nevada, which is higher than the number of fatalities in 2022. Pedestrian deaths are up nationwide, and with these numbers on the rise, pedestrian safety has never been more important. 

With Nevada being one of the states with the highest rate of pedestrian deaths in the United States, it’s imperative to take action for not only legal compliance but safety improvements as well. 

Recently, Nevada has installed pedestrian safety zones, equivalent to a school or construction zone, with bright yellow safety zone signs representing a 20 mph zone. Fines within these zones for reckless driving, driving under the influence, or speeding will be doubled. 

These zones will hopefully save lives, bring awareness to pedestrian safety, and ultimately change behaviors.

Avoiding Accidents Involving Pedestrians

There are a few crucial steps that Nevada drivers and pedestrians can take to ensure the safety of themselves and those around them.

For drivers:

Slow down at crosswalks—and don’t even think about passing. Not only is it illegal to pass a car that has stopped at a crosswalk, but it can put you at far greater risk of striking a pedestrian. Be sure to scan the entire road (and sidewalk) before proceeding through a crosswalk to ensure that the road ahead of you is clear.

Don’t drive while distracted. If you need to check your phone, find a safe place to pull over first. In the one or two seconds you spend looking down at your phone screen, a pedestrian could enter the road in front of you.

Don’t drive under the influence. Alcohol and drugs impact your driving ability in every possible way, often with deadly and irreversible consequences.

Make sure your headlights are on. Many pedestrian accidents occur during dusk or dark. Because the bright lights of the Las Vegas Strip can make it tough for vehicles with automatic headlights to determine whether it’s dark, you may want to manually turn your headlights on as soon as the sun begins to set. The more visible you can make your vehicle, the less likely pedestrians are to enter the road in front of you.

Check the weather. What are the road conditions? If the weather is making visibility difficult in any way, pull over, or better yet, don’t start your vehicle until conditions have cleared.

For pedestrians:

Don’t walk alone while intoxicated. Though you may not need a designated driver to take you back to your hotel after a night out on the town, it’s a good idea to have a sober friend accompany you even if you’re walking. If you don’t have someone to accompany you, consider calling a cab or rideshare instead of walking. Many pedestrian accidents occur when someone who is tipsy or drunk inadvertently stumbles into the road in front of a passing vehicle.

Find the most well-lit spot you can. The brighter the lights around you and the surrounding visibility, the better you’ll be seen by any other drivers.

Don’t walk while distracted. Put your phone away, and be sure to pay attention to your surroundings. If you do need your phone for directions, stop walking and stand in a safe area while using your phone.

Assume that drivers may not see you. Wear brightly-colored or reflective clothing when possible, and don’t assume that drivers will see you, even if you’re in a crosswalk.

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Legal Recourse After a Pedestrian Accident

A consultation with a specialized attorney as soon as possible after an accident is imperative as they will be able to help you file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit if deemed necessary. A skilled pedestrian accident attorney will be able to not only protect your best interests but also help represent your case and assist you in the next best steps to take. If the other person was deemed at fault through their insurance agency, the insurance claim should cover losses such as lost income, medical bills, and potentially more. 

What You Should Know When Hiring an Attorney for Pedestrian Accidents 

When hiring an attorney for pedestrian accidents, it’s imperative to locate an attorney with experience, who will be able to provide expert legal advice and also who is fully experienced with the complexity of claims in Nevada as well as abroad. The team at Hale Injury Law is more than capable of handling these types of cases with years of experience and understanding of the local area while helping clients get what they ultimately deserve.

Set up a complimentary consultation as soon as possible after your accident. During the consultation, you will be able to discuss the attorney’s experience level, how they best communicate, and an understanding of what the next steps will be with a full overview of the legal process.

Doing the research matters when it comes to finding the right attorney for your personal case and situation.

What to Do After an Accident

If you’re involved in a pedestrian accident (even as a witness), there are a few important steps to take. The adrenaline and shock that can accompany one of these accidents can make it tough to think on the fly; the more you can familiarize yourself with these steps, the more equipped you’ll be to respond appropriately.

Get yourself (and others) to safety and seek medical attention.

If at all possible, move the vehicle to the side of the road so that it’s not blocking traffic (and increasing the risk that others may collide with it). However, it’s important not to try to move someone who has been injured or is unconscious; if the pedestrian has any spinal cord injuries, even something as simple as moving them out of the road could cause permanent damage. Call 911 immediately, and unless you have specific medical training, wait for EMS to arrive before you attempt to render any first aid.

If you’re the one who was injured in the accident it’s important to be checked out by a doctor before returning to your regular activities. Many injuries, especially traumatic brain injuries (TBI), can take some time to develop; you may feel and seem fine on the day of the accident but begin to develop symptoms later.

Call the police.

Often, calling 911 to report a pedestrian accident will also bring the police; but if not, it’s important to make this call so that police can survey the scene and create a police report. Be sure to provide your statement to the responding officer as part of this report, as this will ensure the final product gives your side of the story.

The initial police report is often the most important piece of evidence in the early stages of an accident investigation. Because police and city officials will do all they can to make the area safe for others—sweeping up broken glass or twisted metal, hosing away blood, or taking other steps to restore the road to its pre-accident condition—waiting even a day or two can mean that valuable evidence is lost.

Gather and preserve evidence.

If you’re able to gather any evidence after the accident, it’s a good idea to do so. This can include cell phone photos of the scene, photos of any injuries you sustained, and witness names, telephone numbers, and other contact information. The more quickly you can get this information after the accident, the better—memories can fade, and physical damage can be repaired, so it’s important to preserve this evidence as close to the accident as possible.

Remain circumspect on social media.

News of the accident will likely begin to circulate on social media, either through the police department’s Facebook page or other local gossip pages. But no matter how tempting it may be to respond to negative comments—either to correct incorrect information or defend yourself against unfair attacks—doing so is always a bad idea.

Any comments you make are likely to be held against you later, and what’s more, they’re unlikely to change the minds of anyone who is expressing an opinion on the situation without having all the facts.

You can also extend this advice to well-meaning friends or family members inclined to comment publicly on the accident. Even if you don’t make any objectionable comments yourself, they could later come back to harm your legal case.

Seek legal advice to preserve your rights.

After an accident, things can happen quickly. If you’re the injured pedestrian, you may be offered a settlement—and it can be tempting to accept it, especially if you’re facing medical bills or are out of work as a result of the accident. But it’s crucial to seek legal advice first; otherwise, you may not know how much your claim is really worth.

An initial settlement is designed to short-circuit any legal claims the person being offered the settlement might have. Insurance companies prefer to avoid litigation, and settlements offer a way for them to do that—but it also means that the person accepting the settlement may be leaving money on the table. An experienced attorney can assess the situation, determine the value of your claim, and help you recover the funds to which you’re entitled.

And if you’re on the other side of the situation, as the defendant, an attorney can ensure that you aren’t being short-changed by your own insurance company.

Even if you weren’t at fault, your insurance company might want to pay out a small settlement simply to avoid litigation, but this can increase your insurance rates or even result in the cancellation of your policy.

An attorney will go through the facts with you to help you decide whether to leave the claim in the hands of your insurance company or fight back.

The Right Attorney for YOU!

Being involved in a pedestrian accident is incredibly tumultuous. There are physical ramifications from these accidents as well as emotional ramifications. You may feel guilty, like you did something wrong, angry at what has happened to you, or anxious about the next steps to get the help you need.

A skilled pedestrian accident attorney from Hale Injury Law will be able to help you find your way through this dark time. Professional legal assistance is imperative in helping you take the right steps in these types of situations.

By contacting Hale Injury Law, you will receive a free consultation and outline of how they can help with the specifics of your case with no cost or obligation. The support you will receive from an experienced lawyer is invaluable in these types of situations. Legal action should be taken quickly to ensure that no steps are missed. Set up your consultation today.

Don’t go it alone. Let Hale Injury Law be your guide to securing the compensation you deserve while you recover physically, emotionally, and financially.

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