The good news is that, no, it is generally not illegal to jaywalk in Arizona. However, pedestrians cannot simply cross the road wherever they want because they could face a citation for reckless behavior. Additionally, failing to cross the road at crosswalks or areas where it is safe to do so could lead to major injuries or even death.
Does Arizona Law Address Jaywalking?
When we examine Arizona law regarding pedestrian safety at crosswalks, we can see that pedestrians are required to follow certain rules of the road. This includes:
- Yielding when crossing the road at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. Pedestrians must yield the right of way to all vehicles on the roadway and only cross if they can do so safely without impacting traffic.
- Yielding to all vehicles on the roadway if crossing at a point where a pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing has been provided.
- Not crossing at any place except a marked crosswalk when going between adjacent intersections where traffic control signals are in operation.
Pedestrians do not have the right of way when jaywalking or crossing where there is no marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. Pedestrians have a reasonable expectation that vehicles will stop at a crosswalk, but this expectation does not exist when a person crosses in the middle of the street, where no drivers should not expect a crosswalk.
If you regularly walk around the roadways in the state of Arizona, our experienced Phoenix pedestrian accident lawyers encourage you to only cross in areas where there is a marked crosswalk or an intersection. Pedestrians should only cross a road when traffic allows them to do so safely without the risk of coming into contact with other vehicles.
What if You’re Injured in a Pedestrian Crash?
Pedestrian accidents are, unfortunately, not uncommon. Information from the Arizona Department of Transportation shows that there were 1,888 total pedestrian collisions during the most recent reporting year across the state.
As a result of these incidents, there were 302 fatalities and 1,669 injuries. Looking at these results, it is clear to see that the vast majority of all pedestrian incidents result in some sort of injury for those involved.
If you or somebody you care about has been harmed in a pedestrian accident caused by the negligent actions of another driver, we encourage you to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. A skilled Phoenix car accident lawyer can examine the facts of your pedestrian accident claim and help determine the best steps moving forward toward recovering compensation. Ultimately, an attorney will strive to recover the money needed for your medical bills, lost income, property damage expenses, and pain and suffering caused by the incident.
Even if the at-fault party or the insurance carrier for the at-fault party tries to shift some or all of the blame onto you as the pedestrian, this does not mean that you are necessarily at fault for the incident. This is a tactic to limit how much compensation these other parties pay. Your personal injury attorney in Phoenix will understand your case and will be able to push back against any allegations of shared fault.