Seeking Compensation for Pedestrian Injury Cases
Nashville’s downtown and many of its entertainment districts are walker-friendly, and many people take advantage of them. When you’re on foot, however, you have nothing to protect you from the immense impact generated by an accident, and you can suffer very serious damage as a result. If you’ve suffered an injury by a motorist’s negligence while on foot, our experienced Nashville pedestrian accident attorneys at Bednarz & Bednarz are standing by to help.
Pedestrian Laws in Tennessee
Nashville enforces state pedestrian rules and has its own city ordinances.
Rules for Motorists
The basic rules for motorists in Tennessee include all the following:
- Motorists must exercise the care necessary to avoid striking pedestrians on the roadway.
- Motorists must maintain appropriate control over their vehicles and must operate them at safe speeds.
- Motorists must dedicate their full attention to operating their vehicles safely.
- Motorists must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks and to pedestrians who emerge from driveways and alleys.
- Motorists must yield to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks in school zones.
Rules for Pedestrians
For their part, pedestrians must use unobstructed sidewalks whenever they’re available. When a sidewalk isn’t available, and whenever practicable, pedestrians are required to walk on the left side of the roadway. When crossing outside of a marked or unmarked crosswalk, pedestrians must yield to motorists on the roadway.
Pedestrian Laws in Nashville
The City of Nashville implements additional restrictions of its own.
The Three-Foot Residential Rule
If there are no sidewalks or usable shoulders in a residential area, pedestrians are afforded a three-foot section of the left side of a two-way street. This three-foot buffer zone is measured from the left edge of the road, and motorists are required to observe it, to slow down, and to exercise due caution whenever pedestrians are present.
Diagonal Crossing
Crossing a street from corner to corner diagonally is strictly prohibited in Nashville. Only if there is an official pedestrian crossing signal that explicitly authorizes it can pedestrians cross diagonally in the city.
Proximity to Transit Vehicles
Pedestrians are not allowed to cross the street within 10 feet of the front of a stopped transit vehicle that is in the process of loading or unloading passengers. A prime example is a city bus.
Walking on Highways
The City of Nashville prohibits pedestrians from entering access-controlled roadways, including interstate highways.
To further protect pedestrians, Nashville prohibits bicyclists from riding on sidewalks in designated business districts. And those on electric scooters are barred from riding on sidewalks throughout downtown Nashville and in other commercial zones that experience high traffic.
Our Experienced Nashville Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Are on Your Side
Our formidable Nashville pedestrian accident attorneys at Bednarz & Bednarz are committed to fiercely advocating for a favorable claim resolution that honors your rights, and we’ll spare no effort in the process. To learn more about how we can help, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call our firm at 615-623-8789 today.
