A Minnesota pedestrian accident lawyer should be contacted right away, when a motor vehicle strikes a pedestrian. Walking on the street can be potentially dangerous, especially in city centers where there is traffic and pedestrians in large numbers.

Pedestrians are seriously injured every day in Minnesota. In 2018, 1,016 people were injured in pedestrian accidents in Minnesota, and the number of pedestrian-fatal crashes has increased by 35 percent in the past decade. Please note that pedestrians include people on their bicycles as well as people who are walking.

It Is Important to Know Your Rights as a Pedestrian in Minnesota.

When you are struck by a vehicle, you are entitled to no-fault medical and wage loss benefits regardless of how the injury occurred. No-fault benefits typically come from your own car insurance, but often times, pedestrians in the city do not own a vehicle. In those instances, the insurance company from the vehicle that struck you is required to extend benefits to you.

Pedestrian injuries tend to be more severe than typical motor vehicle accidents, because you are simply less protected. If the driver that struck you is at fault for your injuries, you can bring a claim against their insurance company for your pain and suffering as well as any excess medical bills or wage loss that no-fault benefits did not cover. You should also check with your own insurance to see if your uninsured or underinsured policies apply when you are a pedestrian. Those policies do not always extend to pedestrians, but it is important to check.

If you or a loved one is involved in a pedestrian accident involving a motor vehicle, it is imperative that you contact a Minnesota pedestrian accident attorney. An attorney can help you identify the best approach and help you get the financial compensation needed to cover medical bills.

How Do Pedestrian Accidents Happen in Minnesota?

The majority of pedestrian injuries or fatalities are due to driver negligence. This would include texting and driving, speeding, failing to yield right of way to pedestrians at crosswalks, and failing to use stop signs or traffic signals. Often times, drivers are looking out for vehicles, especially when they are turning, and forget to look for pedestrians in crosswalks.

Determining Negligence in Pedestrian Accidents 

In general, if you are crossing from one corner of an intersection to another corner and are struck by a car, they are going to be at fault. Naturally, your actions may shift some negligence to you, for example, if you step off of the sidewalk immediately in front of a motor vehicle. If you are crossing in a crosswalk, regardless of whether it is marked, a driver that strikes you is going to be responsible for the accident as a matter of law and must show that something you did would shift responsibility to you.

There are some local ordinances that may impact your rights, especially as a bicyclist. For example, in downtown Minneapolis, there is an ordinance that prohibits bicyclists to use the sidewalk in areas of the city that are zoned for business, so if you are riding your bicycle on the sidewalks you may be partially blamed for the accident.

Preventing Injured Pedestrians in Minnesota

  • Drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing streets in marked or unmarked crosswalks in most situations.
  • Pedestrians need to be especially careful at intersections where the failure to yield right-of-way often occurs when drivers are turning onto another street and a pedestrian is in their path.
  • When possible, cross the street at a designated crosswalk. Always stop and look left, right, and left again before crossing.
  • If a parked vehicle is blocking the view of the street, stop at the edge line of the vehicle and look around it before entering the street.
  • Increase visibility at night by carrying a flashlight when walking and by wearing retro-reflective clothing that helps to highlight body movement.
  • It is much safer to walk on a sidewalk, but if you must walk in the street, walk facing traffic.

Contact Minnesota’s Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

Losing a friend or a loved one to negligence can be devastating. If you, a family member, friend, or loved one is involved in this type of accident, it is crucial that you contact an experienced Minnesota pedestrian accident attorney today to assist you with your case. Give us a call or text at (612) 465-8733 for a free consultation.

Please check out this short video for the most important rules to know as a pedestrian in Minnesota.