Everyone should feel safe when they are walking. Whether you’re crossing the street to grab coffee, strolling through your neighborhood, or heading to work, you deserve protection from careless drivers. Missouri has created specific laws to avoid pedestrian accidents, but serious injuries still happen when drivers ignore these rules.
What Rights Do Pedestrians Have at Crosswalks?
Missouri law gives pedestrians the right of way when they’re crossing the street at marked or unmarked crosswalks at intersections. This means drivers must yield to you when you’re walking across these areas.
If there are no traffic signals controlling the intersection, vehicles must slow down or come to a complete stop to let you cross safely. Drivers who fail to do this violate state law and put your life at risk.
When pedestrian control signals are present, you must follow the “Walk” and “Don’t Walk” indicators. If you start crossing during a “Walk” signal, you have the right to finish crossing even if the signal changes while you’re still in the street. This protection ensures you won’t be stranded in traffic or forced to rush.
When Must Pedestrians Yield to Vehicles?
While Missouri law provides strong protections for pedestrians, there are situations where you must yield the right of way to vehicles. If you’re crossing the road outside of a marked or unmarked crosswalk, cars have the right of way. In such situations, you must wait for a safe gap in traffic.
Similarly, if a pedestrian tunnel or overhead crossing is available, you should use these safer alternatives rather than crossing at street level. In business districts or on streets with specific local ordinances, you’re prohibited from crossing outside of crosswalks when traffic control signals are being used at nearby intersections.
These rules exist to create predictable patterns that keep everyone safe. Accidents become less likely when pedestrians and drivers know and follow the rules.
What Responsibilities Do Drivers Have?
Missouri places serious obligations on drivers to protect pedestrians. The law requires drivers to exercise the utmost care to avoid colliding with people on foot. This standard is higher than the ordinary care required in other situations.
Drivers must give warnings when necessary, especially near children, individuals with disabilities, or anyone who appears unaware of approaching vehicles. A simple honk of the horn can prevent a tragedy.
When drivers turn at intersections, they must yield to pedestrians who are crossing. This applies even when the driver has a green light. Failing to yield at these moments causes many serious injuries each year.
What Injuries Do Pedestrians Typically Suffer?
When a vehicle hits a pedestrian, the results are often catastrophic. Unlike drivers who have airbags, seat belts, and a metal frame protecting them, pedestrians have no barriers between their bodies and the car.
Common injuries from pedestrian accidents include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries, leading to paralysis
- Internal injuries to organs like the liver, spleen, or kidneys
These injuries create enormous medical bills, force you to miss work, and cause tremendous physical pain and emotional suffering.
How Can an Attorney Help After a Pedestrian Accident?
If you’ve been hit by a vehicle, Missouri’s pedestrian protection laws give you the right to seek compensation from the driver who hurt you. However, insurance companies often try to minimize what they pay by claiming you violated right-of-way rules or contributed to the accident.
An experienced lawyer can investigate what happened and fight for full compensation that covers all your losses. At Ryan R. Cox & Associates, LLC, we understand how a pedestrian accident can devastate your life. We’re ready to work tirelessly to hold negligent drivers accountable for the harm they’ve caused. Contact our law firm today for a free consultation.