Many community members are asking if poor roadway design may have been a factor in a string of fatal pedestrian accidents on Las Vegas valley roads, CBS News reports. Most recently, a 30-year-old woman who was using a crosswalk near Cedar and Eastern avenues was hit by the driver of a truck. Police said the driver should have yielded the right-of-way to the pedestrian, but it appears that the driver may have been trying to beat oncoming traffic. Safety advocates say that the city needs to start designing roadways for everyone who is using them, not just motor vehicles.
The most recent pedestrian death is similar to others, including one at Desert Inn Road and Rainbow Boulevard and another at Tropicana Avenue and Jones Boulevard. Safety advocates believe that better road design, speed reduction, and landscaping can help reduce the number of fatal pedestrian accidents on these roadways significantly. The Nevada Highway Patrol is starting a new driver and pedestrian initiative this month to help create public awareness about traffic safety.
Both drivers and pedestrians have a duty to observe the rules of the road. Pedestrians have a responsibility to use only areas designated for them, such as sidewalks and crosswalks, while drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections. It is always a driver’s duty to exercise due care and caution. Pedestrians who are injured by a negligent driver can seek compensation for damages from the at-fault motorist. Families of deceased pedestrians can seek compensation for damages as well. If the accident occurred as a result of a dangerous or defectively designed roadway, the city or governmental entity responsible for maintaining the roadway can also be held liable.
The experienced Las Vegas pedestrian accident injury attorneys at Shook & Stone have a long and successful track record of helping injured victims and their families. If you have been injured in a pedestrian accident please contact us at 1(877) 910-2220 to find out how we can help you.
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