Visitors and residents of the greater Las Vegas area enjoy year-round warm weather and dozens of tourist attractions. As a result, the city and suburbs have higher pedestrian traffic than many other parts of the country, from tourists experiencing the thrill of the Strip to the city’s many shopping centers and walkable recreation areas.
Unfortunately, this also means that there are plenty of areas where a Las Vegas pedestrian could be involved in an accident.
Knowing the most common causes of pedestrian accidents can help you take steps to avoid one and keep yourself safe. However, if the unthinkable happens and you are struck by a vehicle, an experienced Las Vegas pedestrian accident lawyer can help you recover compensatory damages.
Avoiding a Pedestrian Accident in Las Vegas
According to the U.S. Centers For Disease Control (CDC), children and teenagers are the highest-risk demographic for car collisions. In 2020, one in five children killed in a traffic collision were pedestrians.
But being young isn’t the only risk for a pedestrian accident. Elderly people tend to suffer the most serious injuries in pedestrian collisions because their bones may not be as strong as those of a younger adult.
Avoiding these common causes of pedestrian accidents in Las Vegas can help keep you and your loved ones safe:
Drivers Failing to Yield
Drivers may fail to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing an intersection at a crosswalk. Understanding when pedestrians always have the right-of-way and when pedestrians and cars must take turns using the street can help reduce these kinds of accidents.
Drivers Traveling at Unsafe Speeds
Speeding in residential areas can cause serious injuries to pedestrians taking a walk or children playing in the street and sidewalk. Many residential areas in Las Vegas have speed limits under 30 mph, but even a car going 30 mph can seriously injure someone.
The faster the car is going, the longer it takes to come to a stop to avoid hitting a pedestrian.
Drivers Turning Left or Right
When a driver is turning left or right, they may be turning into the path of a pedestrian in a crosswalk or who has the right-of-way to cross the street.
Drivers should look for pedestrians who may be at the corner and anticipate that the person may cross the street into their turning path. If the pedestrian has the right-of-way, the driver should wait to make their turn.
Perils in a Parking Lot
Parking lots are full of distractions and hazards. Drivers may be looking behind them when backing out of a spot or focusing on searching for a parking space, unaware of pedestrians nearby.
Both pedestrians and drivers should remain vigilant of their surroundings in a parking lot. Pedestrians must understand that a driver may not see them and pay attention to cars backing out or tuning. Drivers should also anticipate that a pedestrian may try to cross in front of them, and take care to drive slowly.
Drivers Under the Influence
Drinking or using drugs and driving is illegal, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t happen.
Drivers under the influence pose a serious threat to anyone on the road, including pedestrians. Their reflexes may be compromised, and their inhibitions may be lowered to the point that they take unnecessary risks.
Distracted Drivers
Texting and driving, or otherwise being distracted behind the wheel, is one of the leading causes of traffic collisions. If a driver is checking a message, rideshare information, or even looking at GPS directions, then they aren’t paying attention to the road.
Keep Safe While Walking in Las Vegas
Knowing the risks of being hit by a car in Las Vegas can help you stay safe. Always check before crossing a street, even if you have the right-of-way, and stay cautious at night, as the risk of encountering drunk drivers increases.
If you’ve been the victim of a catastrophic car accident injury in northern New Mexico, the compassionate and skilled team of personal injury lawyers of Hunt Law may be able to help. Contact us to schedule a consultation today.