The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there is one fatal pedestrian accident about every 1.6 hours. The CDC advises pedestrians to stay safe by always crossing the street at designated crosswalks. But, it’s important for pedestrians to understand that accidents can happen at crosswalks as well. To protect yourself, it’s important to understand the crosswalk laws in Colorado. Here’s what every pedestrian should know about crossing at a crosswalk:
Pedestrians’ Right of Way
Many crosswalks do not traffic lights or crosswalk lights. At these crosswalks, drivers should yield the right of way to pedestrians who are crossing the street. However, this does not mean pedestrians should walk into the crosswalk and expect all approaching cars to come to a sudden halt. The law states that pedestrians should never enter a crosswalk if there is car approaching that is close enough to be considered dangerous. In this case, the pedestrian should wait on the curb until it is safe to move through the intersection.
Crosswalk Lights
There are three symbols that are used to indicate when it is and is not safe for a pedestrian to cross the street at a crosswalk. The first is an image of a person walking, which indicates it is the pedestrians’ turn to cross the street. The second is a red hand, which indicates that it is not safe to cross the safe. If the red hand is blinking, however, it means that the light is about to change, so pedestrians should not enter the crosswalk if they haven’t already. If you choose not to obey these signals, you could receive a ticket or even worse, get seriously injured.
Stopped Vehicles
If a car has stopped at a crosswalk to let a pedestrian cross the street, other drivers that approach the crosswalk must also stop. A driver cannot choose to speed up and pass the stopped vehicles simply because he does not want to wait for the pedestrian to cross. However, pedestrians should still play it safe and remain aware of their surroundings as they cross the street in case there is a driver who chooses to violate this law.
Have you been hit by a car while crossing the street? If so, contact Reisch Law Firm as soon as possible. Our personal injury attorneys will fight tirelessly to recover compensation for your devastating injuries. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 303-291-0555 or filling out this online form.
