Pedestrian Accidents

Phoenix Pedestrian Accident Attorney

The hot weather and large size of Arizona are conducive to personal motor vehicle transportation. Like many other spread-out Western cities, the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metropolitan area ranks near the bottom for public transportation usage. The city’s wide thoroughfares were designed with motor vehicle traffic in mind and are much more car, truck and bus-friendly than they are pedestrian-friendly.

That’s bad news for Arizonans who must, or simply prefer, to walk rather than drive to where they’re going. A recent national index of spots where pedestrians are most likely to be struck and killed by a vehicle ranked Arizona and the Valley in the top 10. Over a recent five-year period, an average of 144 pedestrians per year were killed in Arizona. The state’s pedestrian danger index is nearly double the national average.

Arizona walkers may not get much attention, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have rights. State law, in fact, is very specific about when and where pedestrians have the right-of-way. Vehicles that violate a pedestrian’s right of way and injure them can be held legally responsible for the resulting harm.

Pedestrian accidents tend to result in serious injuries and should be discussed with an experienced personal injury attorney. Resendez Injury Law Group handles accident and injury cases exclusively. During a free initial consultation, we’ll discuss what happened and explain your legal rights, including who may be liable for your injuries.

To schedule your free consultation call Resendez Law at (602) 824-9444 or submit a case evaluation form.

A Closer Look at Arizona Pedestrian Accidents

Cities across America are prioritizing investments aimed towards making them more pedestrian and bicycle friendly, and Phoenix is no exception. But while it’s moving in the right direction, Phoenix has a long way to go before it catches up with other western cities like Portland, Boulder and Seattle. As statistics make clear, walking in Arizona is no walk in the park.

A study by a national organization that works to improve community development looked at a decade’s worth of pedestrian traffic fatality data and ranked cities according to how dangerous they are for walkers. Over a ten-year span, Arizona had 1,434 pedestrian deaths—good for the 8th highest “pedestrian danger index”. During the same period the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metro area recorded 840 pedestrian deaths, making it the 9th most pedestrian-unfriendly area in the country.

A study by a national organization that works to improve community development looked at a decade’s worth of pedestrian traffic fatality data and ranked cities according to how dangerous they are for walkers. Over a ten-year span, Arizona had 1,434 pedestrian deaths—good for the 8th highest “pedestrian danger index”. During the same period the Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale metro area recorded 840 pedestrian deaths, making it the 9th most pedestrian-unfriendly area in the country.

Statistics provided by the Arizona Department of Transportation bring into sharper focus the state’s pedestrian accidents:

• Although pedestrian crashes account for just 1.43% of statewide crashes, 18.7% of all Arizona fatal traffic crashes involve a pedestrian death, while roughly 3% of persons injured in all crashes are pedestrians.
• 72% of AZ pedestrian fatalities and 91.3% of pedestrian injuries occur in urban areas.
• In 62% of all AZ pedestrian accidents, the person struck by a vehicle was crossing the road.
• Most pedestrian accidents take place during the day, but most fatal accidents happen at night.

Determining Pedestrian Accident Liability

Arizona law is rather favorable to personal injury victims, as it allows them to recover damages even if they bear some blame for the accident. If they bear no blame at all, the party who injures them stands to be held liable for 100% of the victim’s losses.

Both people on foot and those in cars are subject to Arizona traffic rules, which generally hold that pedestrians in crosswalks have right-of-way. Pedestrians must obey traffic control signals, but if there are none or if they aren’t working, vehicles are supposed to yield. And if a stopped vehicle yields for a pedestrian, another vehicle may not overtake and pass the stopped vehicle. Where there is no crosswalk, pedestrians as a rule should yield to vehicles.

As with all types of motor vehicle accident, driver error—in particular speed, inattention/distraction and drunk driving—plays a critical role in pedestrian accidents. For example, 43% of Arizona pedestrian traffic fatalities in a recent year involved a drunk driver.

Discuss Your Accident With an Experienced Arizona Personal Injury Attorney

Drivers have a duty to be aware of pedestrians and yield right-of-way where appropriate. When they fail to exercise caution and injure people on foot, vehicle operators can be held liable through a lawsuit for the pedestrian’s medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.

In addition to thoroughly investigating your pedestrian accident, Resendez Injury Law Group will provide the personalized representation you need and deserve. While you focus on a full recovery, Resendez Law will make sure that your case is handled in a competent, timely and professional manner.

Find out why Rudy Resendez puts the “personal” in personal injury law: call or contact us for a free case review.

From our Phoenix offices we serve clients in Peoria, Avondale, Goodyear, Buckeye, Surprise, Mesa, Scottsdale, Chandler, Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek and all other areas of Arizona including Flagstaff, Yuma and Gila Bend.

For More Information:

• Arizona Department of Transportation: Motor Vehicle Crash Facts (2013)
• azcentral.com: Arizona ranks among most dangerous for pedestrians
• Pima Association of Governments (PAG): Arizona Pedestrian Laws