Pedestrian Accident Attorney in Reno

Pedestrians have no structural protection when a vehicle strikes them, which is why these collisions so often produce life-altering injuries. Under Nevada law, drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and exercise due care to avoid hitting anyone on a roadway, including in areas without a marked crosswalk. When a motorist fails that duty, injured pedestrians in Reno may be entitled to legal compensation.

If you were hurt while crossing a road, we can guide you through the process and pursue the compensation available under the law. We’ve represented injured Nevadans since 1988, and Attorney Steven J. Klearman is Board Certified as a Personal Injury Specialist by the State Bar of Nevada, a designation held by fewer than one percent of Nevada attorneys.

Call (775) 573-0229 or contact our office online to request a free consultation with Attorney Klearman. There’s no charge and no obligation.

Who Is Liable in a Pedestrian Accident?

Motorists are most often at fault in pedestrian accidents. Common negligent behaviors include backing out of parking spaces without checking for foot traffic, failing to yield in crosswalks, speeding through residential areas, rolling through a right-turn-on-red without a full stop, distracted driving, impairment, and low-visibility conditions such as nighttime or wet weather.

Fault isn’t always clear-cut. Nevada’s modified comparative fault rule (NRS 41.141) allows a pedestrian who bears some responsibility to still recover compensation, provided their share of fault stays below 51 percent. Any award is reduced by their fault percentage. Insurance adjusters are well aware of this rule and routinely attempt to assign partial blame to the pedestrian to reduce the payout. When fault is disputed, having an attorney who understands how insurers use comparative fault can make a significant difference in how your claim is presented and pursued.

Injuries Pedestrians Commonly Suffer

Because pedestrians absorb the full force of a vehicle impact, their injuries tend to be far more severe than those sustained by occupants inside a car. The consequences can reshape every aspect of a person’s life.

Common pedestrian accident injuries include:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Broken bones and fractures
• Internal organ damage
• Severe lacerations and road rash

Many of these injuries require surgery, extended rehabilitation, and ongoing care. Some result in permanent disability or a reduced ability to return to work. The severity of your injuries directly affects the value of your personal injury claim, which is why documenting all medical treatment from the outset and following your treatment plan consistently are both important steps.

Nevada Law & Your Pedestrian Accident Claim

Two legal rules shape nearly every pedestrian accident claim in Reno. First, Nevada’s statute of limitations gives injured pedestrians two years from the date of the accident to file a claim in court (NRS 11.190). Missing that deadline typically bars any recovery, regardless of how clear the driver’s fault may be. Second, the modified comparative fault system under NRS 41.141 means partial fault on the pedestrian’s part doesn’t automatically eliminate a claim, but it does reduce any award proportionally.

Nevada law also places an affirmative duty on drivers to exercise care around all pedestrians on a roadway, even where no marked crosswalk exists. Fatal pedestrian accidents may support a wrongful death claim brought by surviving family members. Separate filing deadlines can apply to wrongful death cases, so consulting an attorney promptly after a fatal accident is important.

Acting quickly after any pedestrian accident protects the claim itself. Surveillance footage is often overwritten within days, witness recollections fade, and physical evidence at the scene disappears. The sooner we can begin documenting the facts, the stronger the foundation for your claim can be.

Recovering Full Compensation for Your Pedestrian Accident Injuries

When a motorist’s carelessness puts you in the hospital, you deserve a real fight for the compensation you may be entitled to pursue. At Law Offices of Steven J. Klearman & Associates, we’re committed to pursuing compensation available to you, including medical bills, rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other accident-related expenses.

Attorney Steven J. Klearman has fought for personal injury clients for more than 37 years and has recovered millions of dollars in compensation for injured Nevadans. As one of fewer than one percent of Nevada attorneys Board Certified as a Personal Injury Specialist, he brings a verifiable standard of mastery to every pedestrian accident case we handle.

Call (775) 573-0229 or contact our office to schedule your free consultation with a Reno pedestrian accident attorney today.

Steps to Take After a Pedestrian Accident in Reno

The actions you take in the hours and days after a pedestrian accident can protect both your health and your ability to recover compensation. Each step below serves a concrete purpose in building your claim.

Call 911 Immediately
A police report creates an official record of the accident, documenting the location, conditions, and the parties involved. This report becomes a foundational piece of evidence.

Seek Medical Evaluation Promptly
Even injuries that seem minor at the scene can worsen significantly. A prompt medical evaluation creates documentation connecting your injuries to the accident, which insurance adjusters might otherwise dispute.

Photograph the Scene
Photos of vehicle damage, your visible injuries, road conditions, crosswalk markings, and traffic signals give your attorney concrete evidence to work with before conditions change.

Collect Witness Contact Information
Independent witnesses provide accounts that can be harder for insurance adjusters to challenge than statements from the parties involved.

Avoid Discussing Fault
Statements made to the other driver, bystanders, or insurance adjusters before you speak with an attorney can be used to reduce your claim’s value under Nevada’s comparative fault rules.

Contact a Pedestrian Accident Attorney
Reaching out to a Reno pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible can help preserve evidence and help ensure the two-year statute of limitations doesn’t expire before your claim is filed.

Speak Directly with Attorney Klearman

At Law Offices of Steven J. Klearman & Associates, clients communicate directly with Attorney Steven J. Klearman. You won’t be passed to an associate or a case manager when you have questions. That direct line of communication matters especially in pedestrian accident cases, where the facts and the law are both in motion in the early weeks after an accident.

We offer free consultations by phone or in person, with no obligation, and we serve injured pedestrians throughout Reno and northern Nevada. Call (775) 573-0229 today to speak with Attorney Klearman directly and find out how we may be able to help with your case.