Crosswalk Accident Lawyer in New Orleans

A New Orleans pedestrian accident attorney can fight for your rights

You were walking, you had the light, and you were doing everything right. You stepped into the crosswalk, just like the city expects you to. Maybe it was on Canal, maybe it was Decatur, maybe it was somewhere quieter such as Magazine or Elysian Fields. You were simply trying to get across the street. Then, you’re hit by a driver who wasn’t paying attention. Maybe they turned too quickly. Maybe they were on their phone. Maybe they just didn’t care. Now you’re hurt, confused, and unsure about where to turn.

If you’ve been hit by a car while using a crosswalk in New Orleans, you have rights. Louisiana law is on your side, but that doesn’t mean the insurance company is. That’s why you need a strong legal advocate who can help you level the playing field. The Law Offices of John S. Williams knows how to recover the money you’re owed and hold negligent drivers accountable after pedestrian accidents. To find out how we can help, contact us online or call to book a free consultation.

“Attorney John Williams is not only a great attorney, he’s also a man of great character and integrity! John is reliable, trustworthy, and always keeps his client’s best interest at heart. He maintains an open line of communication at all times, and is always eager to assist. John is a skilled professional and I found him to be extremely well-versed in various aspects of the law. He went above and beyond to assist me. I highly recommend The Law Offices of John S. Williams! John is the absolute best!” – T.V., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What is a crosswalk?

Most people think of a crosswalk as the white painted lines you see at intersections. But under Louisiana law, there’s more to it.

A crosswalk is any part of a road that connects one side of a sidewalk to the other, typically at an intersection. It can be marked, like you’d see near a traffic light, or unmarked, such as at a quiet corner with no paint but sidewalks on both sides.

In legal terms, a crosswalk doesn’t have to be painted. The state recognizes both:

Marked crosswalks, which are clearly indicated with lines or signage
Unmarked crosswalks, which exist at most intersections where two roads meet

If you were hit while crossing at an intersection, even if there were no painted lines on the ground, you may still have been in a legal crosswalk. That matters. It can determine whether the driver who hit you was breaking the law.

Where do New Orleans crosswalk accidents happen?

In New Orleans, pedestrian crashes can happen almost anywhere. Pedestrians often walk through the French Quarter, along Canal Street, around the Superdome, and across St. Charles Avenue. The streetcar tracks, the narrow lanes, and the mix of pedestrians and impatient drivers make for a dangerous combination.

But the problem isn’t just limited to downtown. Pedestrian accidents happen in residential neighborhoods, around schools, near parks, and at bus stops. Any place where people walk and cars drive is a potential danger zone.

Crosswalks are supposed to provide safety. They are meant to be spaces where pedestrians have the right of way and where drivers are expected to stop. But too often, drivers ignore the rules, roll through turns, or simply fail to look.

What laws protect pedestrians in crosswalks?

Louisiana has a number of laws that deal specifically with pedestrians and crosswalks. These laws exist to make walking safer, but they’re only effective when drivers follow them.

Here’s what the law says:

Drivers must yield to pedestrians who are in a crosswalk when they are on the same half of the road or approaching closely from the opposite side.
If a vehicle is stopped at a crosswalk to allow someone to cross, other vehicles cannot pass that stopped car. This prevents situations where a pedestrian is hidden from view by one vehicle and then struck by another.
Pedestrians must obey traffic signals. If a light says, “Don’t Walk,” a pedestrian cannot legally enter the street, even if no cars are coming.
Pedestrians cannot suddenly leave the curb and walk into the path of an oncoming car if that vehicle does not have enough time to stop.

These rules are set out in Louisiana Revised Statutes, particularly sections 32:212 through 32:214. They reflect a balance of responsibility. Drivers have the primary duty to yield, but pedestrians also have obligations.

If you were crossing in accordance with these rules and a driver hit you, they were likely at fault. Even if you may have made a misstep, you could still be entitled to compensation under Louisiana’s comparative fault rules.

What causes most crosswalk accidents?

Drivers are usually the ones who cause crosswalk collisions. Here are some of the most common causes:

Distracted driving: Texting, looking at GPS, adjusting the radio, or even just chatting with a passenger. It only takes a few seconds of distraction to miss a pedestrian in the road.
Speeding: When drivers go too fast, they don’t have enough time to react. This is especially dangerous in areas with heavy foot traffic or limited visibility.
Turning at intersections: A large number of pedestrian crashes happen when a driver makes a right or left turn and fails to check for people in the crosswalk. Many drivers focus on other vehicles and forget to look for someone walking across the street.
Poor visibility: Nighttime crashes are common. Rain, fog, and poorly lit streets only make things worse. While pedestrians are encouraged to wear bright clothing, it’s ultimately the driver’s responsibility to see what’s ahead.
Impaired driving: Drunk or drugged drivers have slower reflexes and poor judgment. In a city known for nightlife and festivals, this risk is higher than in other areas.
Rolling stops: A driver may roll through a stop sign or red light without coming to a full stop. These rolling stops are dangerous because they limit the driver’s chance to see a pedestrian before entering the crosswalk.

Who is at fault in a crosswalk accident?

In most cases, the driver is at fault. If a pedestrian was in a marked or legally defined crosswalk and had the right of way, the law places the responsibility on the driver to stop.

But even when pedestrians don’t follow the rules, drivers still have a duty to stay attentive and avoid a crash. The state uses what’s called a pure comparative fault rule. That means your compensation is reduced based on your percentage of fault. So if you were found 20 percent at fault, your damages would be reduced by that amount. You could still recover the remaining 80 percent.

This is why it’s important to have an experienced New Orleans pedestrian accident lawyer on your side. Insurance companies love to argue that the pedestrian was partly responsible. They’ll use photos, traffic reports, or even clothing choices to try to shift blame. The Law Offices of John S. Williams will fight to protect your side of the story.

What if the crosswalk was unmarked?

If you were crossing at an intersection, even if there was no paint on the road, you may still have been in a legal crosswalk. In Louisiana, reporting a pedestrian accident that involves an injury is the law. Louisiana law recognizes that many older intersections don’t always have clear markings. But the law still protects pedestrians at those corners. If the intersection connects sidewalks, it counts as a crosswalk under the law.

Proving that can sometimes be tricky. That’s where local knowledge and legal skill come in. Attorney John S. Williams can use traffic diagrams, city records, and expert witnesses to show that you were exactly where the law says you should be.

What kind of compensation can you get?

If you were injured in a crosswalk accident, you may be able to recover money for a wide range of losses. This includes both financial and non-financial harm. Here’s what that might look like:

Medical expenses: These include ambulance rides, hospital stays, physical therapy, surgeries, and future care needs. If your injuries require long-term treatment, those costs can be enormous.
Lost wages: If you had to miss work, or if you can no longer do the job you had before, you can be compensated for that income. This includes future earnings if your injury is permanent.
Pain and suffering: This includes both physical pain and emotional distress. Anxiety, trauma, and depression are common after a pedestrian crash. You deserve to be compensated for that, too.
Disability or disfigurement: Serious pedestrian injuries can lead to amputations, scarring, or long-term mobility issues. These lasting effects deserve full and fair recognition under the law.
Wrongful death damages: If a family member was killed in a crosswalk crash, surviving relatives may have a right to bring a wrongful death claim. This can cover funeral costs, loss of companionship, and emotional pain.

Insurance companies want to pay you less. We don’t let them!

If you’ve been hit by a car while walking in New Orleans, the insurance company is already building a case against you. They may say you weren’t in a crosswalk, that you crossed against the light, or that you should’ve been more careful. But none of that excuses a driver from their responsibility.

Attorney John S. Williams knows how to counter these tactics. He’s seen it all; drivers who deny fault, insurance companies who stall, and adjusters who lowball injury victims. That’s why he builds strong, evidence-backed cases that expose negligence and demand full compensation.

Don’t accept less than you deserve. If your injuries are serious, your case is serious, and so is our commitment to getting results. Contact us today for a free consultation and find out what experienced, no-nonsense legal representation really looks like. Because we operate on a contingency fee basis, you don’t pay us a dime unless we win your case.