Understanding Your Rights As A New Haven Pedestrian

The Elm City is always filled with folks who like to bike and run and walk throughout the spring and summer months. If you’re one of these people there are certain things you should be expecting to have the right to do if you’re spending your time on the streets and sidewalks of the city. Some of these rights are for you to help you avoid a New Haven pedestrian accident and others if you experience an accident and become injured. It’s important to know all of your rights so you can take care of your long-term interests either way.

First it is important for you to know what rights you have as a pedestrian when you take to the busy city streets of New Haven.

Right to Safe Roadways: Pedestrians have the right to expect reasonably safe roadways, including properly maintained sidewalks, clear crosswalks, functioning traffic signals, and adequate visibility for drivers. Negligence in maintaining these conditions can contribute to accidents.

Right of Way in Crosswalks (Generally): In marked crosswalks and at intersections without signals, pedestrians generally have the right of way. Drivers are legally obligated to yield to pedestrians who are in or clearly intending to enter the crosswalk. However, pedestrians also have a responsibility to exercise caution.

It is the responsibility of all parties involved throughout the city to make sure that everyone is safe. For instance, the folks who maintain the crosswalks, city officials, need to make sure they are adequately painted and visible for both pedestrians and drivers. Drivers need to take responsibility for following all posted street signs and proceeding with caution at any intersection that could be filled with pedestrians. Pedestrians need to proceed with caution and take steps necessary to make sure they are visible to drivers they are sharing the city streets with and exercise caution when crossing, even at posted intersections.

With that being said, even if everyone is completely locked in and taking all the steps necessary to make sure they are keeping each other safe, accidents do happen. If you’re a pedestrian and you are involved in an accident you have some rights you need to know about to make sure you are not missing out on any support you are rightfully owed. Some of the rights you should know about include;

• Right to Seek Compensation for Injuries: If a driver’s negligence (e.g., speeding, distracted driving, running a red light) causes injury to a pedestrian, the pedestrian has the right to pursue legal action to recover compensation for their damages. This can include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other related costs.

• Right to File a Claim Against Negligent Parties: Depending on the circumstances, multiple parties could be held liable for a pedestrian’s injuries, including the driver of the vehicle, the owner of the property where the incident occurred (in cases of unsafe premises), or even a municipality if poor road design or maintenance contributed to the accident.

• Right to Consult with a Legal Professional: An injured pedestrian has the right to seek legal advice from a personal injury attorney. A lawyer can help them understand their rights, investigate the accident, gather evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and represent their interests in court if necessary, especially when dealing with complex legal and insurance issues.

If you are consistently engaging in the city as a pedestrian you should know all of your rights. Once you know your rights you can maintain a feeling of safety and security and even if you do become involved in a New Haven auto accident you can feel confident knowing that you are going to be able to be fairly treated and be able to seek the right kinds of medical attention and compensation necessary to make a full recovery and return to some normalcy.

We hope that you are never involved in this type of incident, but these accidents do occur and if one occurs to you then you may wish to seek the advice of an experienced attorney. Contact our office and one of our experienced attorneys will review your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.