Pedestrian Safety
Walking is great exercise and also a way around town. But you need to be prepared when walking. In 2023, Louisiana had 147 pedestrian deaths and over 1,000 pedestrians injured – all by vehicles. This number has risen since 2019, when 118 pedestrian fatalities were recorded. Drivers need to be aware of their surroundings at all times and pedestrians must follow certain rules of law and common sense to stay safe.
With our favorable climate and numerous neighborhoods, easy access to parks and outdoor activities, being visible is a key for pedestrian safety. Louisiana laws regarding pedestrian right-of-way may be different than most states.
PEDESTRIANS IN LOUISIANA
Did you know that pedestrians have certain laws that protect them? Even when you don’t have the right-or-way, drivers have a legal duty to avoid running into you. Basically, Louisiana law provides a greater duty of care that drivers must have for pedestrians.
WHERE TO WALK
If there is a sidewalk, you must walk on the sidewalk. But if the road does not have a sidewalk, you must walk on the left side of the road. That means, walk facing traffic. BUT DO NOT CROSS AN INTERSTATE, except during emergency situations.
WHERE TO CROSS THE ROAD
Pedestrians have the right-of-way in crosswalks. But outside of these marked areas, you must yield to cars. You, as a pedestrian, do not always have the right-of-way. So do not run out in front of passing cars, especially when they are too close to stop or avoid running into you.
What happens when you don’t follow the law? You can be partially at fault or 100% at fault for causing the crash. This is known as comparative fault. For example – a jury finds that because you tried to cross the road when a car was coming and you were not in a crosswalk, they may find you 20% at fault. Therefore, you are only able to recover 80% of the case value/jury award.
HOW TO BE SAFER
Pedestrian and vehicle collisions are increasing and there are many reasons why. The larger the vehicle, the greater the risk of injury and likelihood of death. So you want to make sure you are:
- Crossing at intersections, crosswalks, and if not in a crosswalk or at an intersection, when breaks in traffic allow you to safely cross the street.
- Wear light colored clothing.
- Walk on the sidewalks, or if no sidewalk is present, on the left side of the road, facing traffic. This will allow you to see the approaching cars adjust your position accordingly.
- If walking at night, wear reflective clothing.
CONCLUSION
You need to be aware of your surroundings and do all you can to stay safe when walking or jogging. Cross the road only when it is safe to do so. Be sure to look both ways and double check. Wear light colored and reflective clothing. When there is a sidewalk, use it. Otherwise, walk on the left side of the road.
Car crashes, motorcycle crashes, 18-wheeler crashes happen. When they do, we are here to help the victims maximize their recovery. We are here to help. We are a personal injury law firm in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana. For more than 50 years, we have been able to maximize results for our clients either through settlement or victories in the courtroom. Through teamwork and communication, I am able to effectively and efficiently maximize my client’s recovery. No two cases are exactly alike, and you should not be treated as a number on an assembly line. Hire an attorney who knows you by name and will spend the time with you to understand how your life has been affected, explain the law that applies to your case, the game plan, and to answer all of your questions. We work FOR our clients. Injured and have questions?