Jaywalking
When people find themselves in a hurry to get somewhere, or when they are simply impatient and unwilling to wait for their proper turn at an intersection, many individuals will choose to cross a street wherever they please, ignoring posted safety signs and traffic lights.
Most people are familiar with this act, known as jaywalking. In most places in North America, jaywalking is technically described as a pedestrian crossing a roadway outside of the prescribed crosswalks or other areas designated for pedestrian crossing.
The Legality of Jaywalking
However, it is important to distinguish that jaywalking only refers to this act when doing so is illegal. If a certain location has no laws regarding where pedestrians can cross a street, then doing so outside of provided crosswalks is not technically jaywalking. Nevertheless, nearly all urban areas in the United States have laws regarding appropriate intersection crossing locations for pedestrians. Punishments for breaking this law range from a verbal warning, to a required court appearance, to a $750 fine.
The Dangers of Jaywalking
Jaywalking laws were established to protect both pedestrians and motorists on the roadway. Accidents that occur between automobiles and pedestrians are typically very serious, and yet are almost always avoidable.
The danger of jaywalking is that it puts a pedestrian into a location on the road where drivers are not anticipating them. When a driver approaches a crosswalk at an intersection, they will typically check for people walking past, as it is an expected place to encounter people on foot. However, driving down the middle of a road or highway, drivers will oftentimes not notice a pedestrian until it is too late, as they were not anticipating the presence of anyone on foot at that location.
Collisions between pedestrians and automobiles can be devastating and costly. If you or someone you know has been involved in a pedestrian-automobile collision, contact the Minneapolis car accident lawyers of Terry, Slane & Ruohonen, P.L.L.C. today at 612-362-0000 to discuss your legal rights and options.
