Fault and Right of Way in Right-Turn Pedestrian Accidents

It turns out, you may end up in a pedestrian accident even if you obey all traffic rules when using crosswalks to cross intersections. Some traffic rules that exist for pedestrians are less obvious than others.

For example, what if a crash occurred when a pedestrian began crossing a street when the traffic light was changing? What if the light went from green to red while a pedestrian was crossing the street? What happens when a vehicle hits a pedestrian while performing a right turn at an intersection?

Consult a West Palm Beach pedestrian accident attorney to determine fault in your case and pursue compensation via a personal injury claim.

Fact: In 2018, nearly 6,230 pedestrians died in traffic crashes across the U.S., the highest number in almost three decades, according to NPR.

A Pedestrian, 15, Killed After Being Struck by a School Bus

A 15-year-old girl died in a pedestrian accident just a few days before her 16th birthday. The girl was killed after being struck by a school bus in Palm Beach County, as reported by the Miami Herald.

The fatal collision occurred at the corner of Elmhurst Road and Haverhill Road near West Palm Beach on Wednesday at around 6:30 a.m. The school student was standing on the southwest corner of the intersection, while the bus was stopped at the intersection in the eastbound lanes of Elmhurst.

Then, the driver of the West Palm Beach school bus began a right turn when the light turned green for the traffic. The girl entered the crosswalk as the light was changing. As a result, the girl was run over by the school bus and was dragged a short distance. She died from the injuries at St. Mary’s Hospital.

Right of Way in Right-Turn Pedestrian Accidents at Intersections

Improper right turns are a common cause of pedestrian accidents in West Palm Beach and other parts of Florida. When a driver fails to exercise due care or check their surroundings carefully before making a right turn at an intersection, he or she can miss a pedestrian entering into the crosswalk or darting into the road.

But what if a pedestrian is still crossing the street when the traffic light changes from red to green for cars? In that situation, the drivers have a duty to allow the pedestrian to cross the road safely before turning.

Failure to yield is also another common cause of right-turn pedestrian crashes. Vehicles that are already on the roadways always have the right of way unless they have a stop sign, traffic signal, or light that tells them to stop. In these situations, when vehicles come to a stop, the right-turn driver has the right of way.

In certain intersections, right-hand turns are only allowed on green lights. Turning right on a red signal when a driver was supposed to wait for a green light will most likely result in the right-turn driver’s fault in the resulting crash.

Regardless of how your right-turn pedestrian collision occurred, talk to a West Palm Beach pedestrian accident attorney from Pike & Lustig, LLP, to determine fault and get compensated. Call at 561-291-8298 to discuss your particular case.

Resources:

miamiherald.com/news/state/florida/article238498823.html

.npr.org/2019/03/28/706481382/why-pedestrian-deaths-are-at-a-30-year-high

https://www.turnpikelaw.com/traveling-on-foot-can-be-catastrophic-in-florida/