Las Vegas Pedestrian Accident Attorney

If you are an injured pedestrian or know somebody who is, contact a pedestrian accident lawyer in Las Vegas immediately for legal representation. Las Vegas is frequently listed in the top 10 cities with the most pedestrian accidents in the US. In the state of Nevada, over 300 pedestrians died and nearly 700 more were seriously injured between 2011 and 2015. It’s a very frightening idea that an individual could be severely hurt or even killed when crossing the street.

Why Are Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers Your Best Choice?

If you are injured in a pedestrian accident, you need to get help from an experienced Las Vegas pedestrian accident attorney you can trust both personally and professionally. When you turn to Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers, you are gaining help from a law firm that has been in the Las Vegas area for over 15 years.

  • We focus solely on personal injury law, which means our law firm has developed the expertise and experience necessary to win your personal injury case.
  • Our Las Vegas personal injury lawyers have a proven track record of success and have secured more than $100 million in compensation for our clients.
  • We are a client-oriented personal injury law firm, which means your needs always come first. We focus on developing relationships with clients so we can learn your needs and goals.
  • You will not pay any legal fees until we are successful in securing the compensation you deserve.

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How a Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Las Vegas Can Help

A pedestrian accident case can become incredibly complex. While it may seem obvious that someone else is at fault for the crash, that is not how the insurance company will portray the incident as they seek to limit settlement amounts. Your pedestrian accident lawyer will be your advocate. They will be responsible for:

  • Securing all evidence from the scene of the incident, including accident reports, photo and video surveillance footage, eyewitness statements, and more.
  • Ensuring you are examined by trusted medical professionals who can determine the extent of your injuries.
  • Working with financial experts to calculate your total damages as a result of the pedestrian crash.
  • Negotiating with aggressive insurance companies to obtain a fair settlement on your behalf.
  • Preparing your personal injury case for trial if that is what is necessary to secure the compensation you deserve for your pedestrian injuries.

What Damages are Recoverable in a Pedestrian Accident Case?

In Nevada, victims of negligent accidents, such as pedestrian accidents, may be entitled to compensation. These may include:

  • Financial losses
  • Costs of medical care
  • Lost income
  • Diminished earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering

If a pedestrian accident resulted in wrongful death, you may also be able to recover for funeral expenses and loss of consortium. Speak with a wrongful death attorney in Las Vegas to learn more about a wrongful death claim in Nevada.

Nevada Statute of Limitations on Pedestrian Accidents

Each state sets a statute of limitations, or time limit, in which personal injury claims must be filed. In Nevada, the statute of limitations for a pedestrian accident lawsuit is two years from the date the accident occurs. Any personal injury lawsuit filed after the two-year limit has expired will almost certainly be dismissed by the court.

Man using crosswalk and car is approaching

What are Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries?

Pedestrian accidents often result in severe and serious injuries for the victims. The human body has little protection from the force of a vehicle slamming into it, and it is not uncommon for our Las Vegas pedestrian accident attorneys to help clients suffering from the following:

These injuries require immediate and often extensive medical attention. This can result in victims incurring significant medical expenses. If a pedestrian accident victim cannot work while they recover, they could lose the income necessary to pay their regular household bills and the incoming medical bills.

Determining Liability in Las Vegas Pedestrian Accidents

There are several laws in Nevada regarding the interactions between cars and pedestrians. Drivers have a responsibility to ensure the safety of everyone on the road. If you have been hit due to driver negligence, call a pedestrian accident lawyer in Las Vegas as you may be entitled to compensation.

  • Pedestrians have the right of way. This includes unmarked crosswalks. Pedestrians do not have the right of way when walking against the crosswalk sign or jaywalking. Pedestrians do not have the right to just run out into the street and expect cars to stop for them.
  • Blind pedestrians have the right of way at all times.
  • Drivers must stop in the presence of a school crossing guard. They may not continue driving until all parties have exited the crosswalk.
  • Drivers must obey the speed limit.
  • Drivers must slow or stop when another driver has stopped within a lane. This stopped driver may be waiting for a pedestrian to cross, so all other drivers must be sure there is no pedestrian before proceeding. This could occur at a stop sign, crosswalk, or red light.

Other Liable Parties

In some cases, parties other than a driver may be liable for Las Vegas pedestrian accidents. There may be times when local municipal agencies may be at fault. This could be the case if:

  • Pedestrian crossing lights are not working or malfunctioning.
  • Pedestrian pathways, sidewalks, or crosswalks are not properly maintained.
  • There is broken pavement or other obstacles that road authorities are aware of but do not fix in a reasonable amount of time.

Keep in mind, Nevada is a partial fault state. This means that any individual involved in a car or pedestrian accident may be held responsible to some degree. For example, if a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle, but happened to be jaywalking, they could be 50% responsible for the accident. Partial fault laws can make it more difficult for injured pedestrians to be properly compensated. For this reason, it is important to seek legal advice as soon as possible. The opposing party will do everything possible to avoid responsibility for damages.

Las Vegas Pedestrian Accident Statistics

Research data shows that most pedestrian accidents that result in pedestrian death occur outside of marked crosswalks. This is probably because drivers don’t anticipate a pedestrian to be walking in undesignated areas, so they aren’t on the lookout or being especially careful.

The CDC also has data showing that around 20% of all fatal vehicular accidents involving children between 5 and 15 are pedestrian accidents.

Precautions for Pedestrians

There are many ways pedestrians can limit their likelihood of being a victim of a motor vehicle collision:

Use Marked Crosswalks Wherever Available

It may seem inconvenient to cross the street just to use the crosswalk and have to cross back later, but it’s much better to be inconvenienced than to be injured.

If there are no marked crosswalks, pay attention to the traffic lights and walk as directly from one corner to the next closest corner of the intersection, unless a diagonal crosswalk is clearly marked and the sign indicates your right of way. Be sure to watch for motor vehicles that are turning and act defensively! Cars can move very quickly and may have trouble stopping, especially in bad weather. Though it is the law to yield to pedestrians, it’s important to understand not everyone knows the laws or is paying enough attention to adhere to them properly.

Stay on the right side of the crosswalk.

Use Pedestrian Bridges and Tunnels When Available

Again this may seem unnecessarily inconvenient but in a match between a pedestrian and a 4,000-pound car, it’s easy to imagine the catastrophic effects.

Pay Attention to Traffic Signals

Many individuals get in the habit of following the person in front of them instead of making independent decisions. Even when an individual is acting independently, many don’t pay attention to the crosswalk signs and tend to jaywalk. This is very dangerous! When cars think they have the right of way, they are less likely to watch for pedestrians. It’s also harder to notice a lone walker, especially when wearing dark clothing.

Use Sidewalks Whenever Possible

When there are no sidewalks, pedestrians should walk on the left side of the road. Facing oncoming traffic is the safest thing to do so you can anticipate oncoming cars and they may anticipate your movements.

Be Aware of Visibility

If possible, wear bright or reflective clothing when walking, especially at night. When this is not available, using a flashlight or a light on one’s phone can help improve visibility.

Contact an Experienced Las Vegas Pedestrian Accident Lawyer

At Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers, our compassionate pedestrian accident attorneys in Las Vegas are dedicated to providing our clients with the best legal service possible after pedestrian accidents. We can maximize our clients’ compensation through negotiations or trial in Clark County. Give us a call at (702) 384-1414 for a free case evaluation with an accident lawyer in Las Vegas. You can also fill out our convenient online contact form here to learn more about how we can help your pedestrian injury claim during a free consultation.

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