Dallas Pedestrian Right-Of-Way Laws You Need To Know

No one should ever have to worry about getting struck by a vehicle when they are walking around the roadways of Dallas. However, pedestrian accidents are not uncommon in this area. According to the latest reporting year of data from the Texas Department of Transportation, there were nearly 6,000 total pedestrian crashes. Out of these incidents, there were:

• 660 fatalities
• 1,260 suspected serious injuries
• 2,095 non-incapacitating injuries
• 1,954 possible injuries

Here, the Dallas pedestrian accident lawyer at Williams & Cannon, PLLC want to discuss the right-of-way laws that both drivers and pedestrians need to know when they are operating around this area.

Does A Pedestrian Have The Right-of-way?

If you are driving a vehicle, it is a good rule of thumb to understand that pedestrians generally have the right-of-way in most situations. If you are a pedestrian in or around the roadway, this should not mean that you have free reign to do what you want. You still need to take precautions, as a collision with a vehicle can they cause serious injuries or death, as indicated by the statistics above.

Just because a vehicle is much larger and faster than a pedestrian, this does not mean that it has the right-of-way. Here, we want to discuss a few scenarios you may encounter concerning pedestrians in vehicles.

• Control signal present: If a traffic control signal displaying the words “walk,” “don’t walk,” or “wait” is present, the control sign tells you everything you need to know. Pedestrians that have the “walk” signal may proceed across the roadway in the direction of the signal, and all vehicles need to yield to the pedestrian. A pedestrian may not cross if the sign says “don’t walk” or “wait.” If a pedestrian has partially crossed when the light flashes “don’t walk” or “wait,” then the pedestrian may continue across.
• At a crosswalk: There may be times when the pedestrian has a marked crosswalk but there is no crossing light in place. Operators of a vehicle are required to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway in a marked crosswalk.
• Sidewalk usage: If a vehicle is emerging into traffic from an alley, private roadway, driveway, or building, they need to yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian approaching on any sidewalk.

Even if there is no cross signal, crosswalk, or sidewalk, drivers are required by law to exercise due care to avoid collision with a pedestrian on the roadway.

We Can Help If You Are Injured In A Pedestrian Accident

If you or somebody you love has sustained a pedestrian accident injury caused by the careless or negligent actions of another driver, contact an attorney about your case as soon as possible. At Williams & Cannon, PLLC, we will conduct a full investigation into your claim in order to secure the compensation you are entitled to. This could include coverage of your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering damages, and more. When you need a Dallas personal injury attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or by calling us at 214-295-2900.