Arkansas Pedestrian Traffic Laws

Title 23 of the Arkansas Code Subtitle 3 Chapter 89 § 23-89-202 states that every automobile liability policy must cover any pedestrians struck by the insured motor vehicle. By law, pedestrians who are injured in car accidents can receive medical benefits and aid for up to $5,000 for injuries. They are also entitled to income disability benefits for up to 52 weeks at a maximum of $140/week, and accidental death benefits.

While this law does help injured pedestrians obtain some compensation after a crash, these benefits are typically exhausted quickly. As such, injured pedestrians in Arkansas will need to file an insurance claim, or personal injury lawsuit to collect the maximum compensation they deserve. Medical expenses alone after a pedestrian accident can easily reach into the millions, especially for catastrophic injuries that result in disability. For this reason, pedestrians injured in car accidents in Arkansas need to turn to a pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Crosswalks & Intersections

Pedestrians have a responsibility to follow all traffic rules and signals, especially at traffic signals. AR Code §27-52-1201 all pedestrians must follow the traffic signals and road signs at interactions. This means waiting for a green light or a walk sign. If there is no traffic signal in place, then all motor vehicles must yield to pedestrians who are crossing within a marked crosswalk.

AR Code § 27-51-1201 addresses what pedestrians are to do when attempting to cross the road outside a crosswalk. If a pedestrian needs to cross the road and there is no crosswalk, the pedestrian must yield to the vehicles on the roadway. Pedestrians should watch for no traffic before attempting to cross the street, or continue further to a designated crosswalk. Car drivers, however, must still use extreme caution to avoid hitting a pedestrian even when not in designated areas.

After a pedestrian accident in Arkansas, there may be many fingers pointing the blame. Drivers may claim the pedestrian darted out in traffic. Pedestrians, however, may have a different story to tell. Perhaps the driver was speeding or distracted and on their phone. Due to the severity of injuries and the complexities surrounding these accidents, it is imperative to seek legal representation. You will need an experienced law firm on your side to investigate all angles of your case.

Your attorney will need to clearly establish who is to blame for your accident and your injuries. In some cases, multiple parties may share the blame, including:

• The driver of the vehicle
• Other vehicles
• The city or county responsible for maintaining the roads and traffic signals
• Employers of the driver