WHEN A DRIVER FAILS TO YIELD TO A PEDESTRIAN
Virginia law protects people on foot. Drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians crossing at intersections and marked crosswalks (Va. Code § 46.2-924), and a driver who ignores that duty — turning without looking, speeding through a crossing, or distracted behind the wheel — is responsible for the harm that follows. Because pedestrian injuries tend to be severe, these cases carry real weight, and proving the driver failed to yield is where they’re won.
Expect a fight over fault. Insurers routinely argue the pedestrian “darted out” or crossed where they shouldn’t have, and Virginia’s pure contributory negligence rule makes that argument dangerous — if they can assign you even a small share of blame, they can deny the claim entirely. Overcoming it takes evidence: crosswalk markings, signal timing, witness accounts, and often camera footage. We move quickly to gather it before it’s gone.
PEDESTRIAN CRASHES BY THE NUMBERS
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1,500+
pedestrians injured on Virginia roads each year
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130+
pedestrians killed on Virginia roads in recent years
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60+
years Decker Law has fought for the injured in Hampton Roads
PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENTS: WHAT TO KNOW
Who has the right of way in Virginia?
Drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing at intersections and marked crosswalks (Va. Code § 46.2-924). A driver who fails to yield, turns without looking, or speeds through a crossing can be held liable.
What if I was crossing outside a crosswalk?
You may still have a claim, but expect the insurer to argue you were at fault. Because Virginia follows pure contributory negligence, how that question is handled is critical — which is exactly where a lawyer helps.
What compensation can I recover?
Medical bills, lost wages, future care, and pain and suffering — and in the most tragic cases, a wrongful-death claim for the family. Pedestrian injuries are often serious, so the stakes are high.
What should I do after being struck?
Get medical attention immediately, and if you can, note the location, the crossing signals, and any witnesses. Then contact a lawyer before giving the driver’s insurer a statement.
WHY THE INJURED CHOOSE DECKER
CONTACT DECKER’S PEDESTRIAN ACCIDENT ATTORNEYS
Pedestrian cases often come down to right-of-way and evidence that fades fast. The sooner we start, the more we can prove. Reach us by text, chat, phone, or email — or call right now at 757-622-3317.