Pedestrian Accident Laws in Las Vegas: Your Rights After Being Hit

By Jaklin Sookiassian

In Nevada, a driver must yield to a pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk where no traffic signal is working, and every driver must use due care to avoid hitting a pedestrian. Pedestrians crossing outside a crosswalk must yield to vehicles, but a pedestrian who shares some fault may still recover compensation if their share is 50 percent or less.

The Sookiassian Firm is a Las Vegas personal injury and business law firm in Downtown Summerlin. Attorney Jaklin Sookiassian is licensed in Nevada and New York. We speak English, Armenian, Russian, and Farsi (Persian).

Nevada law gives pedestrians important protections, and the driver who struck you may be responsible for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Why Walking in Las Vegas Can Be Risky

Pedestrians in Las Vegas often cross wide, busy roads such as Charleston Boulevard, Sahara Avenue, and Tropicana Avenue. Residents and visitors on foot share these streets with drivers every day.

Phone use, darkness and heavy foot traffic near the Strip and downtown can make crossings riskier, and people walk here year-round, including at night.

Nevada Pedestrian Laws: What You Need to Know

Nevada's main pedestrian rules are in Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 484B.280 through 484B.297. They can matter when fault is decided after a pedestrian accident.

Drivers Must Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalks

Under NRS 484B.283, when no traffic signal is working, a driver must yield to a pedestrian crossing in a marked or unmarked crosswalk. Where signals are working, the signals control.

If a driver fails to yield and strikes a pedestrian in a crosswalk, the driver may be found at fault.

Drivers Have a General Duty of Care

NRS 484B.280 requires every driver to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian. This duty isn't limited to crosswalks. Even if a pedestrian is crossing outside of a crosswalk, the driver still has a legal obligation to try to avoid hitting them by slowing down, stopping, or sounding their horn if necessary.

Pedestrians Have Responsibilities Too

Nevada law also places some responsibilities on pedestrians. Under NRS 484B.283, pedestrians must not suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close it would be impossible for the driver to yield. Under NRS 484B.287, a pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk must yield to vehicles, and between adjacent intersections with working traffic signals, pedestrians may cross only in a marked crosswalk. A violation of NRS 484B.287 is not a misdemeanor; it carries a civil penalty of up to $100.

However, even when a pedestrian violates one of these rules, it does not automatically bar them from recovering compensation. That is where Nevada's comparative negligence law comes in.

If a Driver Hits a Pedestrian in Las Vegas: What the Law Requires

Nevada law sets out what a driver must do after a crash in which a pedestrian is hurt. The driver must:

• Stop and stay. Stop at the scene, or as close to it as possible, and remain there (NRS 484E.010).
• Share information. Give their name, address, and vehicle registration number, and show their driver's license if asked (NRS 484E.030(1)(a)).
• Give reasonable help. Provide reasonable assistance to anyone injured. That includes taking the person, or arranging for the person to be taken, for medical treatment if treatment is clearly needed or the person asks for it (NRS 484E.030(1)(c)).
• Report the crash. If no police officer is at the scene, report the crash to the nearest police office or to the Nevada Highway Patrol (NRS 484E.030(2)).

These rules apply to every driver involved in a crash that injures a pedestrian.

If you were the person hit, our Las Vegas pedestrian accident lawyer page explains your options.

Comparative Negligence: You Can Still Recover Even If Partially at Fault

Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence system under NRS 41.141. This means that even if you were partially at fault for the accident — for example, if you were crossing outside of a crosswalk — you can still recover damages as long as your fault does not exceed 50%.

This is an important protection for pedestrians. Insurance companies frequently try to shift blame onto the pedestrian to reduce or deny claims. A lawyer can explain how fault may be assessed in your case.

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Las Vegas

The steps you take right after being hit by a vehicle can affect your claim.

Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Your health is the top priority. Even if you feel okay at the scene, many pedestrian accident injuries — including concussions, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage — may not show symptoms right away. Call 911 and let paramedics evaluate you. Go to the emergency room or see a doctor as soon as possible.

Medical records from the day of the accident create critical documentation that directly ties your injuries to the collision. Gaps in treatment give insurance companies ammunition to argue your injuries are not as serious as you claim.

Call the Police

A police report creates an official record of the accident, including the driver's information, witness statements, and the officer's observations about the scene. This report becomes key evidence in your claim.

Document the Scene

If you are physically able, take photos of the accident scene from multiple angles, including the crosswalk or intersection where you were hit, the vehicle that struck you, any visible injuries, traffic signals and signs, skid marks or debris, and weather and lighting conditions.

Get Witness Information

If anyone saw the accident, ask for their name and phone number. Witness testimony can be invaluable when the driver's insurance company disputes what happened.

Do Not Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company

The driver's insurance company may contact you quickly and ask for a recorded statement. Politely decline until you have spoken with an attorney. Anything you say in a recorded statement can be used to minimize or deny your claim.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

Nevada law allows pedestrian accident victims to pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.

Medical expenses including emergency room visits, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, and any future medical treatment related to the accident.

Lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working, including both past lost income and future earning capacity if your injuries result in a long-term or permanent disability.

Pain and suffering covering the physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life caused by the accident and your injuries.

Property damage for personal items damaged in the accident, such as a phone, laptop, clothing, or other belongings.

In cases involving fatal pedestrian accidents, surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim to recover funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship. For wrongful death claims, the two-year period begins on the date of death (NRS 11.190(4)(e)).

For a closer look at the factors that can affect a claim, see what a car accident case may be worth.

The Statute of Limitations for Pedestrian Accident Claims in Nevada

In Nevada, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (NRS 11.190(4)(e)). If you miss the deadline, you may lose the right to sue.

Evidence such as video and witness memories can fade, so it's best to talk to a lawyer promptly. You can read more about how Nevada's injury deadline works.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Las Vegas

Understanding what caused your accident helps determine who is liable. The most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Las Vegas include:

• Distracted driving (texting, phone use, GPS)
• Failure to yield at crosswalks
• Speeding through pedestrian areas
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Impaired driving (alcohol or drugs)
• Making turns without checking for pedestrians
• Poor lighting or road design

In some cases, liability may extend beyond the driver. If a poorly designed intersection, broken traffic signal, or missing crosswalk contributed to the accident, a government entity could share responsibility. Claims against government entities are subject to special procedural rules and notice requirements under Nevada law. If the driver was working at the time of the crash — such as a commercial truck driver — their employer may also be liable.

How a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help

Pedestrian accident cases are often more complex than standard car accident claims. The injuries tend to be more severe, the medical costs higher, and insurers may dispute fault.

An experienced pedestrian accident attorney will investigate the accident, gather police reports, surveillance footage, and witness statements, calculate the full value of your claim including future medical needs and lost earning capacity, handle all communication with insurance companies, negotiate with the insurance company, and take your case to trial if the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation.

At The Sookiassian Firm, we handle pedestrian accident cases throughout Clark County, including Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Summerlin. Attorney Jaklin Sookiassian spent 2 years at Fried Frank, an AmLaw 100 firm in New York, and brings a personal commitment to every client's case.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accident Claims