Injured in a Pedestrian Accident?
Here’s What You Need to Know
Pedestrians have no vehicle frame, airbags, or seatbelt to absorb the force of a collision, which is why pedestrian accidents so often produce catastrophic injuries. Nevada’s mix of heavy tourist foot traffic, wide surface streets, and drivers rushing between casinos and resorts creates conditions where a single moment of inattention behind the wheel can change a victim’s life permanently. If you or a loved one was struck while walking anywhere in Nevada, a Nevada pedestrian accident lawyer from The Paul Powell Law Firm will fight to make sure the driver who hit you and their insurance company are held fully accountable.
The Nevada personal injury lawyers at The Paul Powell Law Firm have recovered more than $500 million for victims across the state. Our legal team brings decades of combined experience and a track record backed by nearly 1,000 five-star Google reviews.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Injuries in Nevada
The pedestrian accident cases our attorneys handle most often result from one or more of the following:
- Collisions in rideshare and taxi pickup and drop-off zones
- Drivers failing to yield at marked and unmarked crosswalks, as required under NRS 484B.283
- Distracted driving in high foot-traffic corridors like the Strip, Fremont Street, and areas surrounding UNLV
- Left- and right-turning vehicles that fail to check crosswalks before proceeding
- Drunk or impaired driving near casinos, resorts, and entertainment districts
- Speeding through school zones and posted pedestrian safety zones
- Poor lighting and inadequate crosswalk infrastructure along Las Vegas surface streets
- Reversing and low-speed collisions in casino and resort parking garages
Injuries Our Nevada Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Team Handles
A pedestrian struck by even a slow-moving vehicle can suffer injuries far more severe than either party involved in a typical car accident. Note: If your accident involved a government-operated roadway, transit vehicle, or public facility, strict notice of claim deadlines may apply, sometimes as short as six months. The Paul Powell Law Firm represents Nevada pedestrians dealing with all of the following injuries:
- Wrongful death
- Traumatic brain injuries and skull fractures
- Spinal cord injuries, including partial or complete paralysis
- Multiple bone fractures, particularly of the legs, pelvis, and hips
- Internal bleeding and organ damage from blunt-force impact
- Degloving injuries and severe soft-tissue trauma
- Traumatic amputations
Nevada Pedestrian Right-of-Way Laws and Comparative Fault
Nevada law gives pedestrians substantial protection. Under NRS 484B.283, drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and in unmarked crosswalks at intersections, and a driver who is the proximate cause of a collision while violating this duty faces enhanced penalties. Pedestrians who are visually impaired and using a cane or guide dog are granted an even stronger, near-absolute right-of-way under NRS 484B.290.
Pedestrians also carry some responsibilities. NRS 484B.287 requires a pedestrian crossing outside of a marked or unmarked crosswalk to yield to vehicles, and insurance adjusters frequently seize on jaywalking or mid-block crossings to shift blame onto the victim. Nevada also designates pedestrian safety zones near schools, casinos, and downtown corridors, where posted speed limits drop and traffic fines double.
Even when a pedestrian bears some responsibility, Nevada’s modified comparative negligence rule under NRS 41.141 allows recovery as long as the pedestrian’s fault is not greater than the driver’s, with the final award reduced by that percentage. Because pedestrians are so vulnerable to having fault shifted onto them, understanding how comparative negligence applies to your specific accident is critical before speaking with any insurance adjuster.
Contact a Nevada Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
Whether you were struck in a crosswalk, hit by a turning vehicle, or injured by a distracted or impaired driver anywhere in Nevada, The Paul Powell Law Firm is ready to take your case. We work on a contingency basis, so you pay nothing until we win (court fees may still apply). Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
To speak with a Nevada pedestrian accident lawyer from The Paul Powell Law Firm today, call (702) 728-5500, communicate with our LiveChat agents, or submit your case details through our encrypted contact form. Great Results. Lightning Fast.™
Frequently Asked Questions
Pedestrians in Las Vegas have significant legal protections. Drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, exercise due care to avoid hitting pedestrians anywhere on the road, and cannot pass vehicles stopped for pedestrians. If you were hit by a car while walking, you likely have the right to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Even if you were jaywalking or partially at fault, Nevada’s comparative negligence law may still allow recovery. A pedestrian accident lawyer can evaluate your specific situation.
Las Vegas has several high-risk areas for pedestrians and bicyclists including the Las Vegas Strip with its heavy foot and vehicle traffic, intersections near casinos and resorts where tourists cross unpredictably, areas around UNLV with student pedestrian and bicycle traffic, major intersections on Charleston, Sahara, and Tropicana Boulevards, and crossings near shopping centers and transit stops. Poor lighting, high speeds, and distracted drivers contribute to pedestrian and bicycle accidents at these locations.
Pedestrian and bicycle accident victims can recover comprehensive compensation including emergency medical care and ongoing treatment costs, surgery, hospitalization, and rehabilitation expenses, lost wages during recovery and reduced future earning capacity, property damage such as bicycle replacement, pain and suffering and emotional trauma, permanent disability or disfigurement, and in cases involving drunk or grossly negligent drivers, punitive damages. Because pedestrians and bicyclists lack vehicle protection, injuries are often severe, justifying substantial compensation.
In most cases, drivers who hit pedestrians or cyclists are liable if they failed to yield the right-of-way, were speeding, driving distracted, or driving under the influence. Nevada law requires motorists to maintain safe distances and exercise caution in areas with foot and bicycle traffic. Even if you as a pedestrian or cyclist were partially at fault, Nevada’s comparative negligence law may still allow you to recover compensation. The Paul Powell Law Firm works with accident reconstruction experts to establish liability.
Pedestrian and bicycle accident victims in Nevada can recover economic damages including medical bills, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages, as well as non-economic damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In wrongful death cases, families may also recover funeral expenses and loss of consortium. With over $500 million recovered for injured clients, The Paul Powell Law Firm fights to maximize compensation for vulnerable road users.