Arizona pedestrians need to follow more than just crosswalk rules. The Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS) explain what pedestrians and drivers must do, including when drivers should yield and what counts as jaywalking. These rules can affect legal claims after an accident. Understanding them can help you see how shared responsibility under comparative negligence might impact your injury claim and legal choices.
How Arizona Law Defines Pedestrian and Driver Roles
The ARS sets clear rules for both pedestrians and drivers, guiding how everyone should act on the road. These laws explain when drivers must yield, what counts as jaywalking, and how a pedestrian’s actions can affect who is at fault in an accident. Knowing these rules can make a difference in legal cases, especially since Arizona uses comparative negligence, where both sides may share responsibility. Understanding the statutes helps people who are seeking compensation after a pedestrian accident see how their actions at the time may affect their claim.
Five Arizona Pedestrian Laws You Might Be Breaking
Many Arizona pedestrians may break certain laws without realizing it, which can affect their safety and even lead to legal trouble. Learning these rules can help you understand your rights and stay safer on the road.
Pedestrian Right of Way: When Drivers Must Yield
ARS § 28-792 explains that drivers in Arizona must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks or at intersections without traffic signals. Pedestrians should not step into traffic suddenly, since this can affect who is at fault under Arizona’s comparative negligence laws. When deciding responsibility after an accident, authorities look at what both the pedestrian and driver did, which can impact injury claims.
Jaywalking Fine in Arizona
In Arizona, it is illegal to cross the street outside of designated crosswalks, and pedestrians must yield to cars under ARS § 28-793. Breaking this law can lead to fines and may affect your legal claim if you are in an accident. If you were jaywalking, you might be found partly at fault, which could lower your compensation under Arizona’s comparative negligence rules.
Arizona Crosswalk Laws
Arizona’s crosswalk laws, found in ARS § 28-792, are designed to keep pedestrians safe and traffic organized. Pedestrians have the right of way in both marked and unmarked crosswalks, but they still need to obey traffic signals and be careful. Not following these rules can put you at risk and may affect your legal claim if there is an accident.
Comparative Negligence and Pedestrian Duties
Arizona uses a comparative negligence system, which means that people involved in accidents can share the blame. If a pedestrian does not use a crosswalk, for example, their compensation might be reduced depending on how much they were at fault. Knowing these rules helps explain how courts or insurance companies decide who is responsible in personal injury cases.
Legal Implications of Being Hit by a Car as a Pedestrian
In Arizona, both drivers and pedestrians have responsibilities under state law when an accident happens. To prove liability, you usually need to show that the driver did not act with proper care. However, if the pedestrian crossed outside a marked crosswalk, this can also affect who is at fault under comparative negligence rules. Knowing these details can help you understand what might happen with your injury claim and what steps to take after an accident.
What to Do If You've Been Hit by a Car as a Pedestrian in Arizona
If you are in a pedestrian accident, acting quickly can help keep you safe and make sure you have the evidence you need for a possible legal claim.
Get medical attention as soon as possible, even if you feel fine, because some injuries may not show up right away.
Take photos of the scene, the vehicles, and any injuries you can see. Also, write down details about traffic signals, crosswalks, and the road conditions.
If anyone saw the accident, get their names and contact information.
Report the accident to the police so there is an official record of what happened.
Talk to a pedestrian accident lawyer. They can help you understand how comparative negligence might affect your case, collect evidence, and support your claim for compensation.
Seeking Legal Guidance for Pedestrian Accidents
Knowing Arizona’s pedestrian laws helps both pedestrians and drivers understand their responsibilities and how fault is decided in accidents. This knowledge can shape your legal claim and guide your next steps after an accident. If you need help with a compensation claim in the Phoenix area, reach out to us at The Husband & Wife Law Team for a consultation.
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