Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Las Vegas
If a driver hit you while you were walking in Las Vegas, you may be able to bring a claim against the driver and their insurer, even if you weren't in a crosswalk. In Nevada, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (NRS 11.190(4)(e)).
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).
Free consultation.No attorney's fee unless we recover compensation for you. You may still be responsible for costs.
Why Pedestrian Accident Claims Are Different
Injuries can be serious, because a person on foot has no protection. A pedestrian crash can mean a hospital stay, time off work, and medical bills that keep coming.
Insurance companies sometimes argue that the pedestrian caused the crash. They may point to crossing outside a crosswalk, wearing dark clothing at night, or looking at a phone. Under Nevada's fault rules, being partly at fault does not by itself end a claim, and the facts of each crash matter. The Sookiassian Firm will work to pursue the full compensation the law allows.No attorney's fee unless we recover compensation for you. You may still be responsible for costs.
Nevada Pedestrian Right-of-Way Laws
Nevada law sets duties for both drivers and pedestrians. The main rules are:
- Drivers must use due care. Drivers must use due care to avoid hitting a pedestrian and must take proper caution near roads, bus stops, school zones and crosswalks (NRS 484B.280).
- Crosswalks without a working signal. When there is no working traffic signal, a driver must yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk (NRS 484B.283). Where signals are working, the signals control. A pedestrian must not step suddenly into the path of a vehicle that is too close to yield.
- Crossing outside a crosswalk. Outside a crosswalk, a pedestrian must yield to vehicles. Between adjacent intersections with traffic signals, pedestrians may cross only in a marked crosswalk. Crossing diagonally is not allowed unless the signals permit it (NRS 484B.287). A violation is not a misdemeanor; it carries a civil penalty.
- Pedestrians who are blind. A pedestrian who is blind and using a white cane or a service animal has the right-of-way (NRS 484B.290).
- Roads without sidewalks. Where there is no sidewalk, pedestrians should walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic (NRS 484B.297).
- School zones. When a school zone is in effect, the speed limit is 15 mph. In a school crossing zone, it is 25 mph (NRS 484B.363). Nevada law adds penalties for violating NRS 484B.280 and 484B.283 in an active school zone.
For more detail, read Nevada's pedestrian right-of-way laws explained.
Pedestrian Crashes on the Strip and in Central Las Vegas
Las Vegas Boulevard and the streets around it carry heavy foot and vehicle traffic day and night. Residents, Strip workers and visitors cross busy intersections on Las Vegas Boulevard, including at Flamingo Road, Tropicana Avenue and Sahara Avenue. Some Strip intersections have pedestrian bridges.
Crashes on Las Vegas and Strip-area streets are usually handled by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), while crashes on highways, including I-15, may be handled by the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP). If you can, ask the officer for the report number before you leave the scene.
Get medical care right away at the nearest emergency room or urgent care, and keep your records and receipts. Take photos of the crossing and the signal. Note any nearby businesses that may have cameras, because video can be overwritten.
If you were visiting and have gone home, you can still talk with us by phone. We serve people hurt in pedestrian crashes across central Las Vegas and the rest of the valley.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Las Vegas
Distracted Driving
A driver looking at a phone can miss a person in a crosswalk. Nevada law prohibits using a handheld phone to text or talk while driving (NRS 484B.165).
Speeding
Higher speeds make injuries more severe. A speeding driver also has less time to see a pedestrian and stop.
Impaired Driving
Impaired driving is a factor in some pedestrian crashes, especially at night. If an impaired driver hit you, see our drunk driving accident lawyer page.
Failure to Yield
A driver turning right on red, or turning left at an intersection, may not look for people in the crosswalk.
Poor Visibility
Darkness, glare and poor street lighting can make it harder for a driver to see a pedestrian.
Backing Up and Parking Lots
A driver backing out of a space or cutting across a parking lot or driveway may not see a person walking behind or beside the vehicle.
Who May Be Responsible for a Pedestrian Accident?
The Driver
When a driver fails to use due care and hits a pedestrian, the driver may be responsible (NRS 41.130). The driver's insurance company is usually the first source of payment.
The Driver's Employer
If the driver was working at the time, for example making deliveries, the driver's employer may also be responsible.
Government Entities
If missing crosswalks, poor lighting, broken pedestrian signals or road design contributed to the crash, the government entity responsible for the road may share liability. Claims against government entities are subject to special procedural rules and notice requirements under Nevada law.
When the Insurer Says It Was Your Fault
Insurers sometimes argue that the pedestrian was careless. We gather the facts of the crash, including traffic signal data, photos, video and witness statements, so the claim reflects what happened.
What If You Weren't in a Crosswalk?
Crossing outside a crosswalk does not by itself end a claim. A driver still has a duty to use due care to avoid hitting a pedestrian (NRS 484B.280).
You can recover compensation even if you were partially at fault — as long as your share of fault is 50 percent or less. Your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
Learn more about how comparative negligence works in Nevada, or see the pedestrian laws FAQ.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Economic Damages
Economic damages can include medical bills, future medical care, physical therapy, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and property damage, such as a phone or glasses broken in the crash.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages can include pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
If a pedestrian crash took a loved one's life: certain family members or the estate may be able to bring a wrongful death claim. In limited cases, Nevada law may allow punitive damages when the conduct involved oppression, fraud, or malice (NRS 42.005). See our wrongful death lawyer page.
Every case is different. To learn which factors matter, read how much a car accident case may be worth in Nevada.
The Statute of Limitations
In Nevada, you generally have two years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (NRS 11.190(4)(e)). For wrongful death claims, the deadline is two years from the date of death.
Claims against government entities are subject to special procedural rules and notice requirements under Nevada law. Read how Nevada's injury deadline works.
What to Do After Being Hit by a Car
- Call 911 and report the crash to the police.
- Get medical care right away, even if you feel okay. Some injuries show up later.
- Get the driver's information: name, phone number, insurance and plate number.
- Take photos of the scene, the crosswalk or signal, the vehicle, and your injuries.
- Get witness names and phone numbers.
- Keep records of medical visits, bills and missed work.
- Be careful with insurers. You are not required to give the other driver's insurance company a recorded statement. Talk with a lawyer before giving a recorded statement.
Working With The Sookiassian Firm
Attorney Jaklin Sookiassian can review your claim and explain your options in a free consultation. We explain the fee agreement in writing before you sign.No attorney's fee unless we recover compensation for you. You may still be responsible for costs.
We speak English, Armenian, Russian, and Farsi (Persian).
Frequently Asked Questions
Hit by a Car While Walking?
Get Your Free Consultation
Attorney Jaklin Sookiassian can review your claim and explain your options.No attorney's fee unless we recover compensation for you. You may still be responsible for costs.
The Sookiassian Firm, Ltd.
1980 Festival Plaza Dr, Suite 460, Las Vegas, NV 89135 (Downtown Summerlin)
Monday–Sunday, 8:00 AM–6:00 PM
Call (702) 518-8584
We speak English, Armenian, Russian, and Farsi (Persian).
1980 Festival Plaza Dr, Suite 460, Las Vegas, NV 89135