If you were hit by a car while walking in Salt Lake City, you may have a pedestrian accident claim under Utah law. Robert J. DeBry & Associates has represented injured pedestrians from our downtown Salt Lake City office since 1981, and we handle every pedestrian accident case on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay no legal fees unless we recover maximum compensation for you.
Pedestrian accident victims face serious injuries because the human body has no protection against a motor vehicle. A person walking who is struck at 60 mph has a 90 percent chance of dying from the impact. Even at lower speeds, pedestrian accidents often involve catastrophic harm such as traumatic brain injuries and spinal damage. When you or someone you love is hurt in a Salt Lake City pedestrian accident, you need Utah pedestrian accident lawyers who understand local pedestrian laws, Salt Lake City streets, and the claims process in Salt Lake County courts.
Call us at 801-888-8888 or request a free consultation to discuss your legal options.
Pedestrian accident lawyers handle personal injury claims for individuals struck by vehicles while walking, jogging, or crossing the street. These cases differ from a typical car accident because the injuries caused to a person walking are almost always more severe. Pedestrians lack the protection of a vehicle frame, seat belts, and airbags, which means even a low-speed collision can produce broken bones, spinal cord injuries, or traumatic brain injuries that require months or years of medical treatment.
These pedestrian accident statistics show the scale of the risk: over 76,000 Americans are injured in pedestrian accidents annually, and nearly 5,000 pedestrians die from these accidents each year. In Utah specifically, the Utah Highway Safety Office reported 53 pedestrian fatalities in 2022. Over a five-year period from 2020 to 2024, the Utah Highway Safety Office documented 4,477 pedestrian-involved crashes statewide, with 219 involving deaths. Pedestrians accounted for only about 1.15 percent of all traffic crashes but represented nearly 16 percent of road fatalities.
Our law firm represents pedestrian accident victims across the full range of injuries and circumstances:
Many Salt Lake City pedestrian accidents involve pedestrian accidents drivers cause through negligence, including distracted driving and cell phone use, failure to yield at crosswalks, drunk driving incidents, speeding, and poor visibility conditions. According to the Utah Highway Safety Office, speeding was a primary contributing factor in 35 percent of fatal crashes statewide, and failure to yield right-of-way contributed to 11 percent. Parking lot accidents also frequently involve pedestrians being struck. Loss of control by drivers often leads to pedestrian accidents, and 33 percent of pedestrian fatalities involve alcohol in the victim’s system.
Robert J. DeBry & Associates is located at 35 West Broadway Suite 300, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, in the heart of downtown. Our central location makes our office accessible to injured clients throughout Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County.
We offer a free consultation at our downtown office, and if you are too injured to travel, we come to you. Pedestrian accident victims often face hospitalization, surgical recovery, and limited mobility. We understand that, and our attorneys will meet you wherever you are, whether that is your home, a hospital room, or a rehabilitation facility.
We have served Salt Lake City from this location since 1981, giving us deep familiarity with the streets, intersections, and conditions that contribute to pedestrian accidents here.
Salt Lake City’s urban layout creates specific risks for pedestrians. Salt Lake City’s Transportation Division maintains crash data and maps that help identify high-risk areas across the city. The following corridors and locations see a concentration of pedestrian accidents:
According to the Utah Highway Safety Office, pedestrian crashes are most frequent between 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and incidents involving pedestrians aged 24 or younger account for 43 percent of all pedestrian-involved crashes. Male pedestrians account for approximately 63 percent of those involved.
Several provisions of Utah law directly affect how a pedestrian accident claim proceeds. Understanding these rules helps accident victims protect their rights throughout the claims process.
Utah follows a modified comparative fault system under Utah Code section 78B-5-818. Under this rule, you can recover damages as long as your own fault does not exceed the combined fault of all other parties. If a jury finds you 50 percent or less at fault, your financial compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault. If you are found more than 50 percent at fault, you are barred from recovery entirely.
This matters for pedestrian cases because insurance companies often try to argue that the pedestrian was the at fault party, for example by claiming you were jaywalking or not paying attention. Even if you share some fault, you may still recover compensation. In appropriate cases, Utah law may also allow punitive damages for especially reckless conduct, such as drunk driving. For more on how Utah’s fault rules affect personal injury claims, our attorneys can walk you through the details during a free consultation.
Under Utah Code section 41-6a-1002, drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing within a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection. Pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks. The statute also requires vehicles to stop at school crosswalks when occupied by a person. Passing a vehicle that has stopped for a pedestrian in a crosswalk is a traffic violation.
Pedestrians also have responsibilities. Utah Code section 41-6a-1003 requires pedestrians to yield right-of-way to vehicles when crossing outside a marked or unmarked crosswalk. Diagonal crossing at intersections is only permitted where a traffic control device authorizes it. If you were hit crossing mid-block in downtown Salt Lake City, you may still have a claim depending on the circumstances, the driver’s speed, and whether the driver was paying attention, but the analysis of fault becomes more involved. Our guide on what to do after a pedestrian is hit by a car covers these situations in detail.
Utah operates under no-fault auto insurance rules, providing initial personal injury protection benefits. Under Utah Code section 31A-22-308, pedestrians injured in an accident involving a motor vehicle with PIP coverage may receive PIP benefits for medical expenses and lost wages, regardless of who was at fault. This provides immediate help with medical bills while a broader personal injury claim develops.
Uninsured motorist coverage also protects pedestrians. Under Utah Code section 31A-22-305, pedestrians injured by uninsured motor vehicles are “covered persons” and may recover benefits through an applicable UM policy. However, an insured driver may have rejected or reduced their UM coverage in writing, so careful policy review is necessary. If the at-fault driver does not have insurance, uninsured motorist coverage may be your primary path to financial compensation.
You have up to four years to file a pedestrian injury claim in Utah under Utah Code section 78B-2-307, measured from the date the accident occurred. Missing this deadline can permanently bar your personal injury lawsuit.
Claims against government entities, such as a city or transit authority responsible for dangerous sidewalk conditions or defective crosswalk design, require a formal Notice of Claim within a shorter, limited timeframe under Utah Code section 63G-7-301. These deadlines are strict and can be as short as one year. If you believe a government entity bears responsibility for the conditions that led to your accident, contact a personal injury lawyer promptly to preserve your rights. Understanding the statute of limitations for your claim is one of the most important steps you can take.
Pedestrian accident cases in Salt Lake County are filed in the Third Judicial District Court. Robert J. DeBry & Associates has handled personal injury cases in this court since 1981, and our familiarity with local court procedures, filing requirements, and deadlines helps us move your case forward efficiently.
Pedestrian accident claims can take several months to a few years to resolve. Many cases settle through negotiation with insurance companies or the at fault driver’s legal representation. When a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiation, trial representation may be necessary. Our attorneys prepare every pedestrian accident case as though it will go to trial, which strengthens your position whether we resolve the matter through settlement or before a jury.
Communication with your attorney regarding case management and updates is important during representation. We keep our clients informed at every stage of the process.
Pedestrian cases present distinct obstacles that require focused legal knowledge and thorough preparation.
Insurance companies may employ tactics to shift blame to pedestrians, affecting their claims. Insurance adjusters frequently argue that the pedestrian was jaywalking, entered the roadway suddenly, or was not visible. These arguments are designed to push a low settlement offer or deny your pedestrian accident claim altogether.
Lawyers may negotiate aggressively with insurance adjusters but must also be ready for litigation. Our approach involves building a thorough evidence file that establishes the at fault driver’s negligence before we enter settlement discussions, so the insurance provider understands that we are prepared to take the case to court if they do not offer fair compensation.
Collecting evidence such as police reports and traffic camera footage is essential in pedestrian accident cases. To prove fault, we gather evidence from multiple sources:
Call the police immediately after a pedestrian accident. Document the accident scene with photographs of injuries and vehicles. Gather contact information from witnesses at the accident scene. Do not discuss fault with anyone at the scene. This evidence forms the foundation of your personal injury case.
Pedestrian accidents often produce injuries that require years of ongoing medical treatment. Traumatic brain injuries can result in permanent cognitive changes. Spinal cord injuries may require lifelong rehabilitation. We work with medical professionals to project long-term care costs and ensure that any settlement or verdict accounts for future medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, and the full scope of economic damages.
Pedestrians can claim future damages in injury cases, and failing to account for these costs in a settlement means you could be left covering those medical bills on your own. Keep track of all medical expenses related to your pedestrian accident and preserve all medical records, as these documents support your claim.
Our primary service area includes all of Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County. We also represent pedestrian accident victims in nearby communities including Sandy, West Valley City, Murray, and Millcreek. For serious pedestrian injuries anywhere in Utah, statewide representation is available.
We maintain two offices for client convenience: our downtown Salt Lake City location at 35 West Broadway Suite 300 and our Sandy office. Whether your accident occurred on State Street, near a TRAX crossing in North Temple, or in a parking lot in West Valley City, our Salt Lake injury attorneys are ready to help.
Preserving evidence, such as medical records and witness information, supports potential legal claims. If you were recently involved in a pedestrian accident, take these steps:
The vast majority of pedestrian accident victims benefit from early legal consultation, before evidence disappears and before insurance companies lock you into a low settlement.
This is general information, not legal advice.
Yes. Robert J. DeBry & Associates represents pedestrian accident victims from our downtown Salt Lake City office at 35 West Broadway Suite 300, Salt Lake City, UT 84101. We have handled pedestrian accident cases in Salt Lake County since 1981.
Our Salt Lake City office is located at 35 West Broadway Suite 300, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, in downtown Salt Lake City. The office is centrally located and accessible to clients throughout Salt Lake County.
We work on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no legal fees unless we win your case. Your initial consultation is free.
You have up to four years to file a pedestrian accident claim in Utah under Utah Code section 78B-2-307. However, claims against government entities have shorter notice deadlines. Contact us promptly so we can preserve evidence and protect your filing rights.
You may still have a pedestrian accident claim depending on the circumstances. Under Utah’s comparative fault rules, even if you share some responsibility, you can recover damages as long as your fault does not exceed the combined fault of the other parties. Factors like the driver’s speed, whether the driver was distracted, and visibility conditions all affect the analysis.
Yes. We handle all types of pedestrian accidents in Salt Lake City, including incidents at TRAX platform crossings, light rail zones, and transit corridors along North Temple and other routes. Claims involving transit authorities may involve government entity notice requirements.
Yes. We travel to clients who cannot come to our office. We regularly meet pedestrian accident victims at their homes, hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities throughout Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County.