Las Vegas Injury Blog | Nevada Injury Attorneys

On February 9, 2009, Marcus Delon Harris died when struck by a pickup truck while crossing East Sahara Avenue in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to reports, a 1998 GMC pickup truck traveling west on Sahara in the center lane struck the pedestrian as he attempted to cross Sahara Avenue from the south to the north curb west of the intersection with South 17th Street. Unfortunately, Harris was pronounced dead at the scene. This was already the 6th traffic related fatal accident in Metro Police jurisdiction in 2009.

I offer my sincere sympathies to the family and friends of this young man for their tragic loss. We should all keep them in our prayers during this difficult time.

Pedestrian accidents are far too common throughout Las Vegas and Clark County. Motorists need to maintain a proper lookout as they drive. They need to be vigilant for pedestrians especially in the vicinity of busy intersections and high traffic areas such as Las Vegas Boulevard. Far too often, operators of motor vehicles are on the lookout for other cars but fail to pay attention to pedestrians, bicyclists, or motorcyclists. In this day of cell phones, Blackberries, and iPhones, drivers often believe that they can multi task while driving. In the blink of an eye, a momentary lapse in judgment or a moment of distraction can lead to tragic consequences.

Pedestrians also have a responsibility to use due care while walking across streets and to abide by traffic laws. At this time, there are not enough facts available to cast judgment on either the pedestrian or the driver in this tragedy. However, if a driver is found to have been negligent, then he could be held accountable for a pedestrian accident. If you believe that you or a family member is the victim of a negligent, careless driver, I would urge you to contact an experienced Las Vegas accident attorney as soon as possible. A skilled personal injury attorney can evaluate the evidence to determine if a negligence claim can be pursued. Time is often of the essence since evidence, including key witnesses, often disappear as time passes. In addition, Nevada has time deadlines to pursue negligence claims. There is a two year statute of limitations for wrongful death claims in the state of Nevada. Once the time passes, it becomes too late to successfully pursue a claim.