Pedestrians must be aware of their surroundings while walking with motor vehicles nearby. Although pedestrians have rights on the road, they also have the responsibility to follow safety rules.
If you regularly walk along the water or in town, you should know the traffic laws for Sandusky pedestrians, as well as for motorists. However, in the event that you are injured by a negligent motorist while you are walking responsibly, a skilled pedestrian attorney may be able to help you recover damages.
What are the Traffic Laws Regarding Pedestrians?
Ohio Revised Code Chapter 4511 includes laws and regulations pedestrians (including motorized wheelchairs) must follow as responsible citizens. Some common laws include:
- A pedestrian cannot walk on freeways, except near rest areas or in the event that his or her motor vehicle breaks down.
- Traffic control devices, including those operated by pedestrians, must be followed.
- A pedestrian on a sidewalk or crosswalk has the right of way but must yield if not on a crosswalk.
- A pedestrian must yield to public safety vehicles and funeral processions.
- Hitchhiking is generally forbidden.
- No dangerous articles, such as glass bottles, wire, or nails, should be dropped on any road or lane.
- A pedestrian must not circumvent railroad or drawbridge signals.
If a reckless motorist injures a pedestrian while walking, the law steps in to dictate what happens next. However, a local attorney can help an individual when traffic laws fail.
Why it is Important to Assess Pedestrian Accident Injuries Correctly
Traffic accidents involving motorists and pedestrians often cause catastrophic injuries because of the severe damage a vehicle can inflict on an unprotected individual.
Additionally, motorists who are at fault in a pedestrian accident should compensate the injured party for present damages and future needs associated with the accident. A pedestrian who faces years of rehabilitation or who will never walk or work again needs more than his or her current medical bills paid. Fortunately, a local personal injury lawyer understands that a thorough review of an accident is necessary to determine the defendant’s culpability.
What if the Plaintiff is Partly to Blame for an Accident?
Under state law, parties claiming injuries are subject to comparative negligence statutes, in which the percentage of blame for an accident is assigned to the appropriate parties. Pedestrians who are partly to blame for an accident, for instance, one who crosses a road outside a crosswalk when one is available, can still recover damages as long as he or she is less than 50 percent at fault. However, the damages award will be reduced by the percentage that the pedestrian is at fault.
For example, if a pedestrian crossing outside a crosswalk is hit and injured by a speeding driver, the court might find the pedestrian to be 10 percent responsible for the accident. In this case, if he or she is awarded $1,000,000 in damages, the award will be reduced by 10 percent to $900,000. Regardless of a plaintiff’s circumstances, a Sandusky attorney will fight for an individual’s right to damages, even if the pedestrian violated a state traffic law.
Sandusky Pedestrians, Traffic Laws, and the Right to Compensation
Motorists and pedestrians have a duty to obey state traffic laws. If a motorist was reckless and injured the pedestrian, the injured party should contact legal assistance to fight for compensation as soon as possible.
If you were injured while following the pedestrian traffic laws in Sandusky, an injury lawyer is available to help you fight for the compensation you might need to make you whole again. Call to schedule your initial consultation with Tittle & Perlmuter today.