According to statistics provided by the Governors Highway Safety Association Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, North Carolina suffered 160 pedestrian fatalities during 2011.
North Carolina legislators have come to recognize that pedestrians are one of the most vulnerable potential victims on the road. In this vein, a number of rules have been developed with the goal of keeping pedestrians safe from motorists.
Motorists’ duties
Some of the rules that apply to motorists under North Carolina statutory law include the following:
- Motor vehicle drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and driveways.
- Motorists emerging from or entering an alley, building entrance, or private road must yield to any pedestrian approaching on any sidewalk or walkway.
- At intersections, motorists must come to a complete stop and yield to pedestrians when making a right turn on a red light.
- Motorists must exercise caution to avoid striking pedestrians, and must sound their horns to warn pedestrians on the road, when necessary.
- Motorists must exercise extra caution if they see any child or incapacitated person on the road.
Pedestrians can be seriously injured when hit by a motor vehicle, and the effects of the injuries can be debilitating. If you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle accident, it is essential to first seek medical attention and to listen to the advice of your doctors. Because many of these injuries can have long-term consequences, you will want to make sure your personal injury lawyer is knowledgeable about the rules that apply in North Carolina and has experience in tough negotiations with insurance companies.
If you were injured in a motor vehicle-pedestrian accident, contact Hensley Cloninger & Greer, P.C. for a free consultation. We will carefully review the facts of your case and advise you on your rights under North Carolina law.