Columbus Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
When it comes to motor vehicle collisions, pedestrians are the most vulnerable group of potential accident victims, with absolutely nothing to protect them from catastrophic or fatal injury on impact. Sadly, pedestrian accidents have been on the rise since 2020, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). And we aren’t just talking about slight increases, either. Pedestrian accidents increased by 24.19% in Ohio according to NHTSA, far out of proportion to the already distressing 17% increase nationally. The NHTSA data show that pedestrian accidents have been trending upward significantly since 2010, and we see no signs of things getting better.
Walking to get around town is a necessity for many residents of Columbus, but tragically over 100 Ohio pedestrians are killed in collisions with motor vehicles every year, and thousands more are seriously hurt. You shouldn’t have to take your life in your hands and risk catastrophic injury or wrongful death just to cross the street. The Oliver Law Office fights to achieve justice and compensation for people injured in pedestrian accidents in Columbus and also advocates fiercely for families who needlessly lost a loved one in a preventable pedestrian crash. You can learn more about pedestrian accident laws in Ohio below, but if you or a family member has been hurt in a crash, contact our experienced Columbus pedestrian accident lawyer today for a free consultation to discuss your claims.
Ohio Pedestrian Safety Laws
Pedestrians in Ohio have the right of way whenever crossing the street inside a marked crosswalk or at an unmarked crosswalk in an intersection. If the intersection is controlled by traffic signals, these signals regulate when the pedestrian can lawfully cross, but if no traffic control signals are in place or if they aren’t working, then drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians.
Yielding the right of way includes slowing down or completely stopping as necessary to allow a pedestrian to cross the street safely. This rule applies whenever the pedestrian is on the same half of the roadway as the driver, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger if the driver were to proceed. If necessary, the driver should stop and stay stopped until the pedestrian has exited the roadway and stepped onto the curb or has crossed over to the opposite side of the road.
If a vehicle has stopped at a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection to permit a pedestrian to cross, it is illegal for another vehicle to pass the stopped car. This is a dangerous maneuver and a common cause of pedestrian accidents. Even if the driver doesn’t hit anyone, the driver is still guilty of a misdemeanor, with additional penalties if the driver was distracted at the time, such as by looking at their phone or texting.
Pedestrians for their part are not allowed to suddenly leave the curb and dart out into traffic, even when they have the right of way. Pedestrians must also yield the right of way to motorists outside of a marked crosswalk or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. Furthermore, it is illegal in Ohio for a pedestrian to cross in the middle of the street if there is no marked crosswalk; they must instead go down to the corner and cross at an intersection.
Regardless of whether drivers or pedestrians have the right of way, Ohio law is clear that drivers must still exercise due care to avoid colliding with a pedestrian, and they can and should be held liable for hitting a pedestrian when they could have reasonably avoided doing so.
Contact the Oliver Law Office Today
If you have been hurt as a pedestrian in a collision with a motor vehicle, or if you lost a loved one to a deadly encounter with a car, truck, or motorcycle, the attorneys at the Oliver Law Office will do everything we can to handle every aspect of your case and make sure you get everything you need. Call our experienced Columbus pedestrian accident lawyer today.
