Driver and Pedestrian Duties Under Arizona Law
Both drivers and pedestrians have legal duties of care under Arizona law. Determining who breached these duties is central to any Chandler pedestrian accident claim. Insurance companies and courts examine each party’s actions to assign fault and calculate compensation.
Driver Responsibilities
Arizona law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians in any marked crosswalk and at unmarked crossings at signalized intersections. Drivers must reduce speed to 15 mph in school zones near places like Hamilton High and maintain heightened awareness in residential areas. The hands-free law requires drivers to avoid cell phone distractions. Drivers must also exercise reasonable care at night when visibility is reduced.
Pedestrians Act Responsibly Too
Pedestrians must obey walk signal indicators and Don’t Walk signals at intersections. When a crosswalk is reasonably available within one block, pedestrians should use it rather than crossing mid-block. Darting suddenly into traffic violates Arizona law and can contribute to fault. At night, wearing reflective or light-colored clothing helps ensure visibility. Impairment near roadways is dangerous and can reduce a pedestrian’s ability to cross safely.
Arizona’s Pure Comparative Fault System
Arizona follows a pure comparative fault rule. This means that even if you were partly at fault for your accident—for example, crossing outside a crosswalk on Arizona Avenue—you may still recover compens
