Please note: Triumph Attorney Connect is an attorney matching and referral service, not a law firm. This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and every situation is different; talk with a licensed Nevada attorney about your specific case. No outcome is guaranteed.
Pedestrian accidents in Southern Nevada
Pedestrian crashes are a persistent problem in the Las Vegas valley. Wide, fast arterial roads like Boulder Highway, Charleston, Flamingo, and Tropicana, long distances between marked crossings, heavy nighttime traffic, and large numbers of visitors all add risk. Common situations include:
- A driver turning right or left through a crosswalk without yielding
- Vehicles backing out in casino, hotel, and shopping center parking garages
- Rideshare and taxi pickups and drop-offs where people step into traffic lanes
- Hit-and-run crashes, especially at night
- Impaired or distracted drivers near the Strip and Downtown
Nevada crosswalk and right-of-way rules
Under NRS 484B.283, a driver generally must yield to a pedestrian crossing within a marked or unmarked crosswalk when the pedestrian is on the driver's half of the road or approaching so closely from the other half as to be in danger. When "Walk" signals are present, a pedestrian facing a "Walk" signal has the right-of-way. The same law also says a pedestrian shouldn't suddenly leave the curb and walk into the path of a vehicle so close that the driver can't yield.
In real cases, fault is rarely all-or-nothing. Nevada's modified comparative negligence rule (NRS 41.141) generally allows an injured person to recover damages if their share of fault isn't greater than the other side's, with the recovery reduced by their own percentage. If an insurer says you were jaywalking or not paying attention, don't assume you have no claim. An attorney can look at the evidence.
Who may be responsible
Depending on what happened, responsibility might involve:
- The driver and their auto insurance
- An employer, if the driver was working, such as a delivery or commercial driver
- A rideshare company's insurance, if an Uber or Lyft driver was on the app (see our rideshare accident guide)
- A property owner, for crashes in poorly designed or poorly lit parking areas (see hotel and casino injuries)
- A government entity, in limited situations involving road design or maintenance, which can involve special notice rules
If you were hit by an uninsured or hit-and-run driver, your own auto policy's uninsured motorist coverage may apply even though you were walking. Many people don't realize this, so it's worth asking an attorney to review your policy.
What to do after being hit by a car
- Call 911 and get medical care. Pedestrian injuries are often more serious than they first seem.
- Get the police report number. LVMPD covers the City of Las Vegas and unincorporated Clark County, including the Strip. Henderson and North Las Vegas have their own police departments.
- Photograph the scene, including the crosswalk, signals, lighting, the vehicle, and your injuries, if you can do so safely or someone can help.
- Note nearby cameras. Casinos, businesses, buses, and traffic systems may have recorded the crash, but footage is often overwritten quickly.
- Get witness contacts before people leave.
- Be careful with insurance calls and avoid recorded statements until you've had advice.
Visiting Las Vegas when you were hurt?
Many pedestrian accident victims are tourists. If you were injured in Las Vegas and have returned home, you may still be able to pursue a claim in Nevada. A Nevada-licensed attorney can often handle much of the process by phone, email, and video. The Nevada deadline generally still applies, so it helps to act soon.
How a pedestrian accident lawyer can help
A lawyer who handles pedestrian cases will typically secure video and the police report, identify every insurance policy that may apply, document medical care and lost income, and negotiate with insurers or file suit if needed. Most work on contingency with no upfront fee, under a written fee agreement. For tips on comparing attorneys, read how to choose a personal injury lawyer in Las Vegas.