Motorists in Mooresville expect to encounter pedestrians on sidewalks or at crosswalks. However, a person may walk elsewhere such as the shoulder of the road or even the interstate. It is important for motorists to be aware that they can negligently cause an auto-pedestrian accident even in areas such as interstates, where they may not expect to find a pedestrian.
Pedestrians on interstate highways
There are times where a pedestrian will be on an interstate. For example, if their car breaks down or is in an accident, they may need to exit their vehicle to inspect the damage. Or, they may be walking on the shoulder of the interstate to seek help. Sometimes, a pedestrian is simply trying to cross it. Nevertheless, while pedestrians must exercise a certain standard of care to keep themselves safe, so must motorists.
North Carolina law on auto-pedestrian accidents
Under North Carolina law, if a pedestrian is not at a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, they must yield to a motorist’s right-of-way. If sidewalks are provided, it is unlawful for pedestrians to walk in the street. If sidewalks are not provided, such as upon a highway, pedestrians must walk on the left shoulder facing approaching traffic and must yield to a motorist’s right of way. However, absent these situations, every motorist must take due care to avoid hitting a pedestrian, and they must honk their horn if necessary.
Learn more about pedestrian accidents in North Carolina
Ultimately, this post is for educational purposes only and does not contain legal advice. Our firm’s webpage on motor vehicle accidents may be a useful resource to those who want to learn more about this topic.
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