Denver Accident Attorney: Pedestrian Injury

Attorney representation in Denver, Colorado since 2001

Pedestrian Accidents

On average, a pedestrian is killed in a traffic crash every 111 minutes. That indicates that over 4000 pedestrians are killed each year in the United States. Traffic safety is an inter-play between drivers and pedestrians, acting responsibly and obeying traffic rules. Sadly, it is human nature to act against rules at times, which can lead to devastating outcomes.

If you, or a loved one, have been involved in a pedestrian accident, contact me.

Pedestrian Action

Accidents between pedestrians and cars happen for different reasons in various situations. Consider the following circumstances:

Crossing, no signal or crosswalk causes 22.3 percent of accidents
Crossing, with a signal causes 21.7 percent of accidents
Crossing, against the signal causes 9.9 percent of accidents
Other actions in the roadway cause 9.8 percent of accidents
Emerging from a parked vehicle causes 6 percent of accidents
Crossing, no signal, marked crosswalk causes 5.7 percent of accidents
Going off/on a stopped school bus causes 0.2 percent of accidents

Traffic Safety Facts

71 percent of all accidents involving pedestrians occur in urban areas
64 percent of all accidents happen at night
68 percent of all pedestrians that are killed are male
23 percent of the children killed in traffic are pedestrians
17 percent of pedestrians killed are elderly citizens
48 percent of pedestrian accidents take place over the weekend
47 percent of all fatal crashes involve alcohol
31 percent involve intoxicated pedestrians
17 percent involve intoxicated drivers

Pedestrians’ Rights and Duties

Pedestrians are always subject to traffic-control signals and have to obey traffic lights at any time. When traffic-control signals are not in place or not functioning, a driver has to yield the right of way once a pedestrian has entered the crosswalk. At a point, however, where a pedestrian tunnel or overpass has been provided, pedestrians shall yield the right of way to all vehicles.

Pedestrians also exercise the right of way on sidewalks extending across alleyways, building entrances or driveways. However, once pedestrians leave the “right of way” zones and try to cross at unmarked points of the road, even if tunnels or overhead pedestrian crossing is provided, vehicles have the right of way. At the same time, it is prohibited to cross intersections diagonally unless authorized traffic-control devices indicate otherwise.

Hot Topics include:

Bus accidents
Right of way
Accidents and bicycles
Rules and regulations
Wrongful death