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Walking across the street outside of a marked crosswalk is something many people do without thinking. While jaywalking may seem harmless, there’s often confusion about whether it’s actually against the law in Arizona.
While the state does not have a specific law that refers to jaywalking, pedestrians are still expected to follow general traffic safety rules. Violating those rules can lead to fines, and in some cases, it can affect who is considered at fault in the event of an accident.
Is jaywalking illegal in Arizona? The answer: Jaywalking is not a crime in every situation, but it can still be considered unlawful under certain city ordinances and state traffic laws. More importantly, jaywalking can increase the risk of serious pedestrian accidents.
At Shapiro Law Team, we know state and local laws inside and out. We’ll go over the basics of what jaywalking is and what your legal options are if you find yourself in a pedestrian accident.
The term jaywalking doesn’t explicitly appear in Arizona law, but it’s widely understood to mean crossing the street somewhere other than a designated crosswalk or intersection. Jaywalking can also include:
In everyday terms, jaywalking describes any pedestrian movement that doesn’t follow the rules of the road. Even if the word itself isn’t in the statute books, you can still be ticketed or held partially responsible if an accident occurs.
Arizona does not have a single statewide statute that says, “jaywalking is illegal.” Instead, pedestrian behavior is governed by both state traffic laws and local city ordinances.
So, while jaywalking may not lead to criminal charges in Arizona, it is considered a civil traffic violation in many places. More importantly, it can play a major role in determining fault if a pedestrian is hit by a car.
Arizona traffic statutes require pedestrians to act responsibly when sharing the road with vehicles. Some of the most important laws include:
Put simply, pedestrians have the right to walk, but they also have the duty to use reasonable care. When these laws are broken, police can issue a ticket, and fault in an accident may be shared.
Fault in pedestrian accidents isn’t always straightforward. Arizona follows traffic laws that assign responsibility based on the circumstances, and jaywalking adds another layer of complexity.
If a pedestrian is jaywalking and a driver hits them, the situation is not automatically the pedestrian’s fault. Courts and insurance companies look at several factors, including:
Even if the pedestrian violated a traffic law by crossing improperly, a driver who was texting or driving recklessly can still be held partially liable. In many cases, both parties share some degree of responsibility.
A Phoenix car accident lawyer can investigate the crash, gather evidence, and determine whether the driver, pedestrian, or both are legally at fault.
Many injured pedestrians assume they cannot file a claim if they were jaywalking at the time of the accident. Fortunately, that’s not always the case. Arizona law allows accident victims to pursue compensation even if they were partially at fault.
For example, a pedestrian may recover damages for medical bills if a driver was speeding or distracted, even though the pedestrian crossed mid-block. The amount of compensation may be reduced to reflect the pedestrian’s share of responsibility, but recovery is still possible.
Arizona uses a pure comparative negligence system. This means that an injured person can recover compensation even if they were 90% at fault for the accident. However, their compensation is reduced by the percentage of fault assigned.
For example, if a jaywalking pedestrian is awarded $100,000 in damages but found 40% responsible for the accident, they would still collect $60,000.
Comparative negligence ensures that victims are not barred from recovery simply because they made a mistake. However, it also means insurance companies will often try to shift as much blame as possible onto the pedestrian to reduce payouts.
An experienced attorney can push back against these tactics and work to prove that the driver’s negligence played a greater role in the accident.
Understanding the risks of jaywalking requires looking at pedestrian accident data across the state. Arizona consistently ranks among the most dangerous states for pedestrians.
These numbers highlight why safety laws exist. While jaywalking itself isn’t always criminal, it significantly increases the risk of severe injury or death.
Is jaywalking illegal in Arizona? While crossing the road outside of a designated crosswalk isn’t explicitly illegal, pedestrians still have a responsibility to follow basic traffic safety laws.
Being struck by a vehicle while jaywalking can leave you with painful injuries, mounting medical bills, and questions about whether you have any legal rights. The truth is that even if you were partially at fault, you may still be entitled to significant compensation under Arizona’s comparative negligence system.
At Shapiro Law Team, we understand the challenges pedestrians face in these instances. Our personal injury attorneys have extensive experience representing accident victims throughout Arizona, and we fight tirelessly to hold negligent drivers accountable.
Your first consultation is always free, and you pay nothing unless we win your case. Get in touch with us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step towards recovery.