Pedestrian Accident Laws in Las Vegas: Your Rights After Being Hit

By Jaklin Sookiassian

Las Vegas is one of the most dangerous cities in the country for pedestrians. In recent years, Clark County has recorded approximately 80–85 pedestrian fatalities annually — and those numbers only account for fatal crashes, not the hundreds of additional pedestrians who suffer serious injuries after being struck by vehicles on local roads.

If you or someone you love was hit by a car, truck, or other vehicle while walking in Las Vegas, you have legal rights. Nevada law provides strong protections for pedestrians, and in most cases, the driver who struck you can be held financially responsible for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Las Vegas Has a Serious Pedestrian Safety Problem

Las Vegas consistently ranks among the most dangerous metro areas for pedestrians in the United States. Several factors make the city particularly hazardous for people on foot.

High-speed roads run through densely populated areas, creating dangerous conditions where vehicles travel at 45 mph or faster just feet from sidewalks and crosswalks. Many major roads like Charleston Boulevard, Sahara Avenue, and Tropicana Avenue were designed to move cars quickly with little consideration for pedestrian safety.

Tourism compounds the problem. Millions of visitors unfamiliar with local roads walk the Strip, downtown, and surrounding areas each year. Distracted driving from phone use remains a significant factor in pedestrian collisions, and Nevada's warm climate means pedestrians are on the roads year-round, including at night when visibility is lowest.

Between 2019 and 2023, more than 300 pedestrians were killed in Las Vegas-area traffic crashes — accounting for more than half of all vulnerable road user fatalities during that period.

Nevada Pedestrian Laws: What You Need to Know

Nevada's pedestrian laws are found in Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 484B.283 through 484B.297. Understanding these laws is important because they determine who is at fault — and who is entitled to compensation — after a pedestrian accident.

Drivers Must Yield to Pedestrians in Crosswalks

Under NRS 484B.283, drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing the road in any marked or unmarked crosswalk. An unmarked crosswalk exists at every intersection, even without painted lines. This means pedestrians have the right of way at virtually every corner in Las Vegas.

If a driver fails to yield and strikes a pedestrian in a crosswalk, that driver is almost certainly at fault for the collision.

Drivers Have a General Duty of Care

NRS 484B.280 requires every driver to exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian. This duty applies everywhere — not just at crosswalks. Even if a pedestrian is crossing outside of a crosswalk, the driver still has a legal obligation to try to avoid hitting them by slowing down, stopping, or sounding their horn if necessary.

Pedestrians Have Responsibilities Too

Nevada law also places some responsibilities on pedestrians. Under NRS 484B.287, pedestrians must not suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close it would be impossible for the driver to yield. Pedestrians are also generally required to use crosswalks where available and to obey traffic signals.

However, even when a pedestrian violates one of these rules, it does not automatically bar them from recovering compensation. That is where Nevada's comparative negligence law comes in.

Comparative Negligence: You Can Still Recover Even If Partially at Fault

Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence system under NRS 41.141. This means that even if you were partially at fault for the accident — for example, if you were crossing outside of a crosswalk — you can still recover damages as long as your fault does not exceed 50%.

Your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if a jury determines your total damages are $200,000 but you were 20% at fault for crossing against a signal, your recovery would be reduced to $160,000.

This is an important protection for pedestrians. Insurance companies frequently try to shift blame onto the pedestrian to reduce or deny claims. Having an experienced personal injury attorney on your side helps ensure that fault is properly assigned and that you receive fair compensation.

What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Las Vegas

The steps you take immediately after being hit by a vehicle can significantly impact the strength of your legal claim.

Seek Medical Attention Immediately

Your health is the top priority. Even if you feel okay at the scene, many pedestrian accident injuries — including concussions, internal bleeding, and soft tissue damage — may not show symptoms right away. Call 911 and let paramedics evaluate you. Go to the emergency room or see a doctor as soon as possible.

Medical records from the day of the accident create critical documentation that directly ties your injuries to the collision. Gaps in treatment give insurance companies ammunition to argue your injuries are not as serious as you claim.

Call the Police

A police report creates an official record of the accident, including the driver's information, witness statements, and the officer's observations about the scene. This report becomes key evidence in your claim.

Document the Scene

If you are physically able, take photos of the accident scene from multiple angles, including the crosswalk or intersection where you were hit, the vehicle that struck you, any visible injuries, traffic signals and signs, skid marks or debris, and weather and lighting conditions.

Get Witness Information

If anyone saw the accident, ask for their name and phone number. Witness testimony can be invaluable when the driver's insurance company disputes what happened.

Do Not Give a Recorded Statement to the Insurance Company

The driver's insurance company may contact you quickly and ask for a recorded statement. Politely decline until you have spoken with an attorney. Anything you say in a recorded statement can be used to minimize or deny your claim.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

Nevada law allows pedestrian accident victims to pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic damages.

Medical expenses including emergency room visits, hospitalization, surgery, physical therapy, prescription medications, and any future medical treatment related to the accident.

Lost wages if your injuries prevent you from working, including both past lost income and future earning capacity if your injuries result in a long-term or permanent disability.

Pain and suffering covering the physical pain, emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of life caused by the accident and your injuries.

Property damage for personal items damaged in the accident, such as a phone, laptop, clothing, or other belongings.

In cases involving fatal pedestrian accidents, surviving family members may be able to file a wrongful death claim to recover funeral and burial costs, loss of financial support, and loss of companionship. Nevada's statute of limitations for wrongful death is two years from the date of the victim's death (NRS 11.190).

The Statute of Limitations for Pedestrian Accident Claims in Nevada

Under NRS 11.190, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit in Nevada. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to pursue compensation in court.

Two years may seem like a long time, but evidence disappears, witnesses forget details, and medical records become harder to connect to the accident as time passes. The sooner you take action, the stronger your case will be.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Las Vegas

Understanding what caused your accident helps determine who is liable. The most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Las Vegas include:

• Distracted driving (texting, phone use, GPS)
• Failure to yield at crosswalks
• Speeding through pedestrian areas
• Running red lights or stop signs
• Impaired driving (alcohol or drugs)
• Making turns without checking for pedestrians
• Poor lighting or road design

In some cases, liability may extend beyond the driver. If a poorly designed intersection, broken traffic signal, or missing crosswalk contributed to the accident, a government entity could share responsibility. If the driver was working at the time of the crash — such as a commercial truck driver — their employer may also be liable.

How a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help

Pedestrian accident cases are often more complex than standard car accident claims. The injuries tend to be more severe, the medical costs higher, and the insurance companies more aggressive in disputing fault.

An experienced pedestrian accident attorney will investigate the accident, gather police reports, surveillance footage, and witness statements, calculate the full value of your claim including future medical needs and lost earning capacity, handle all communication with insurance companies, negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement, and take your case to trial if the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation.

At The Sookiassian Firm, we handle pedestrian accident cases throughout Clark County, including Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Summerlin. Attorney Jaklin Sookiassian brings experience from Fried Frank in New York combined with a personal commitment to every client's case.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pedestrian Accident Claims