Las Vegas is one of the most walked cities in America — tens of millions of visitors a year on the Strip and Fremont Street, plus residents crossing wide, fast arterial roads in every neighborhood. It is also, year after year, one of the more dangerous places in the country to be on foot. When a vehicle strikes a pedestrian, there is no such thing as a minor impact: even at modest speeds, pedestrians suffer broken bones, head injuries, and internal injuries that can alter a life.
Why It Happens Here
The valley’s road design works against pedestrians. Arterials like Charleston, Sahara, Flamingo, and Tropicana are wide and fast, with long distances between marked crossings. Tourists cross mid-block after dark, sometimes after drinking. Drivers are distracted, watching for other cars rather than people, or turning right on red without looking at the crosswalk. Poor lighting and long blocks in residential areas add to the toll. None of this excuses a driver who fails to yield — Nevada law is clear about a pedestrian’s rights.
Nevada Law Protects Pedestrians
Drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and at intersections (NRS 484B.283), and must exercise due care to avoid hitting any pedestrian, everywhere, at all times. Pedestrians, for their part, must not suddenly step into the path of a vehicle. In real cases, fault is often shared — and Nevada’s comparative negligence rule (NRS 41.141) allows an injured pedestrian to recover as long as they were not more than 50 percent responsible, with the recovery reduced by their share of fault. Crossing outside a crosswalk does not automatically forfeit your claim, despite what an insurance adjuster may tell you.
If You Were a Visitor When It Happened
A large share of Las Vegas pedestrian injuries involve tourists. If you were hurt while visiting from another state or country, your claim is governed by Nevada law and usually must be pursued here — but you do not need to stay in Las Vegas or fly back and forth. Our office routinely represents out-of-state visitors, handling the claim while they recover at home. See our page for out-of-state visitors for more detail.
What We Do in a Pedestrian Case
Time matters: intersection and business surveillance video is often erased within days. We move quickly to secure footage, locate witnesses, obtain the police report and any available vehicle data, and document your injuries and losses. Because pedestrian injuries are frequently severe, we also look beyond the driver’s minimum-limit policy — to employer coverage if the driver was working, to your own uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and to any other responsible party.
Consultations are free, and you pay no fee unless we recover for you. If you or a family member was struck while walking in Las Vegas or anywhere in Clark County, call 702-737-0000. Hablamos español.