Pedestrian safety is a serious concern. The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that nearly 9,000 pedestrians were killed in traffic collisions nationwide in 2021. Many tens of thousands more sustained serious injuries. A significant portion of pedestrian collisions happen at intersections, either at marked or unmarked crosswalks. Here, our Kansas City auto accident lawyer explains the key things that you need to understand about crosswalk accidents claims in Missouri.
Crosswalk Accidents: The Right-of-Way Matters
Missouri is a fault-based state for motor vehicle collisions, including pedestrian crashes. In other words, the party at fault for a crash is legally liable for their share of the blame. A pedestrian could be deemed partially at fault for their own crosswalk accident. For this reason, “right-of-way” is an extraordinarily important concept in Missouri crosswalk accident claims. Here are the key things that pedestrians should know about right-of-way and crosswalk laws under Missouri law (RSMo § 300.375):
- A pedestrian has the right of way at a marked crosswalk when he or she is crossing with the traffic signals;
- A pedestrian does not have the right of way at a marked crosswalk when crossing against the traffic signals;
- A pedestrian is presumed to have the right of way at a marked crosswalk if there are no traffic signals; and
- Intersections are generally unmarked crosswalks in Missouri—a pedestrian is generally presumed to have the right of way.
Every Crosswalk Pedestrian Collision Should Be Carefully Investigated
Every pedestrian crash at a crosswalk in Kansas City or elsewhere in Missouri should be thoroughly investigated. It is crucial that injured pedestrians have access to the evidence that they need to prove exactly how and why a collision happened. Some of the most common causes of pedestrian collisions at crosswalks include:
- Distracted driving;
- Speeding;
- Failure to yield;
- Drunk driving; and
- Poorly designed or inadequately signaled intersections.
Recovering Financial Compensation for a Crosswalk Accident in Missouri
In Missouri, injured pedestrians have the right to seek money damages for economic and non-economic losses from the at-fault driver or other negligent party. Unfortunately, the big insurance companies do not make it easy to get full and fair compensation after a crosswalk accident At House Law LLC, we go the extra mile to help injured pedestrians secure the maximum financial support. Through a crosswalk accident claim, monetary damages may be available for:
- Property loss;
- Ambulance costs;
- Emergency room care;
- Hospital bills;
- Other medical expenses;
- Lost wages;
- Loss of earning power;
- Pain and suffering;
- Mental distress;
- Disability;
- Disfigurement; and
- Wrongful death.
Contact Our Kansas City, MO Pedestrian Accident Attorney Today
At House Law LLC, our Kansas City pedestrian accident lawyer is devoted to protecting the rights and interests of injured victims. If you or your loved one was hurt in a motor vehicle collision at a crosswalk, we are here as a legal resource that you can trust. Contact us right away to set up a free, fully private consultation. From our Kansas law office, we represent injured pedestrians throughout the area, including in Jackson County, Clay County, Platte County, and Cass County.
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