Las Vegas, NV (February 17th, 206) – Las Vegas is deploying artificial intelligence (AI) at one of its busiest pedestrian corridors; a move that acknowledges the real and ongoing danger that pedestrians face on local streets. The city recently approved a plan to install 16 AI-powered “smart signals” along the five-block Fremont Street Experience, the iconic downtown corridor that draws roughly 26 million visitors each year.
While the technology represents a meaningful step forward, pedestrian accidents remain a serious problem in the Las Vegas Valley right now, and victims deserve to understand their legal rights. If you or someone you love was injured while crossing a street in Las Vegas, George Bochanis Injury Law Offices is here to help. Call us today at (702) 388-2005.
What the City of Las Vegas Is Actually Doing
The City of Las Vegas has moved forward with installing more than a dozen smart signals along the Fremont Street Experience. The system is designed to detect pedestrians and adjust traffic flow in real time, potentially ending the need to press a button and wait for a walk signal.
The project uses AI-powered pedestrian detection systems that are designed to allow “the appropriate amount of time for street crossings.” Using data on pedestrian volumes and speed, the system detects people waiting to cross and adjusts signal timing and unprotected crossing flasher durations in real time.
The program is specifically designed to address a well-documented vulnerability: pedestrians who move more slowly, including older adults and people with mobility challenges, who often cannot clear a crosswalk before traffic resumes. Traditional traffic signals calculate crossing time using a formula of 3.5 feet per second, a standard that does not account for the wide range of pedestrian speeds present in a real-world environment like downtown Las Vegas.
Pedestrian Injuries in Las Vegas Are a Real and Present Danger
The AI pilot is not a precautionary measure for some distant hypothetical risk. It is a direct response to a documented pattern of harm on Las Vegas streets.
The Fremont Street area was chosen for the pilot because it is one of the busiest pedestrian corridors in Southern Nevada, with more than 26 million visitors passing through each year. That volume, combined with nearby hotels, casinos, bars, and restaurants, creates constant pedestrian-vehicle interaction at multiple intersections, and with it, heightened risk.
Pedestrian accident injuries are frequently severe. Getting struck by a vehicle, even at low speed, can result in broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, internal injuries, and prolonged disability. The physical, financial, and emotional toll on victims and their families can be long-lasting.
Who May Be Responsible When a Pedestrian Is Hurt?
The city’s investment in AI safety infrastructure implicitly acknowledges something important: pedestrian accidents are not inevitable. They are often preventable. When they do occur, Nevada law provides a framework for determining whether another party’s negligence contributed to the harm.
Under Nevada personal injury law, a driver who strikes a pedestrian may be liable if they failed to exercise reasonable care. For example, by running a red light, failing to yield at a crosswalk, driving while distracted, or operating a vehicle while impaired. Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence standard. Therefore, an injured person may still recover compensation even if they were partially at fault, as long as their share of fault does not exceed 50 percent.
Responsibility does not always fall on drivers alone. Depending on the circumstances, other parties may also bear a degree of responsibility. A property owner or municipality could potentially face liability if a dangerous condition, such as a broken crosswalk signal, obscured signage, or inadequate lighting, contributed to the accident. These determinations are fact-specific and require careful investigation.
The city’s plans reflect an understanding that safer street design reduces harm. When that design fails, or when it has not yet been implemented, the consequences can fall directly on pedestrians who had every right to expect a safe crossing.
What the AI Pilot Does Not Yet Change
The Fremont Street AI system is still in the pilot phase. The city anticipates the technology will be in place and operational in the coming months. Until then, and across the many intersections citywide where no such technology exists, pedestrians remain exposed to the same risks that prompted the city to seek this solution in the first place.
Supporters of the technology argue it could reduce dangerous encounters at crowded crossings, while critics note that smarter signals need to be paired with clearer crosswalks and consistent enforcement. In other words, technology alone is not a complete solution. The human and institutional factors that cause pedestrian accidents, distracted driving, speeding, failure to yield, remain present and continue to injure people every day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a personal injury claim if I was hit by a car in a Las Vegas crosswalk?
Yes. If a driver’s negligence contributed to your injuries, you may have grounds to pursue a personal injury claim under Nevada law. This can include compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. The specific facts of your accident will determine the strength and value of your claim.
Does Nevada law protect pedestrians who may have been partially at fault for an accident?
Nevada follows a modified comparative negligence rule. An injured pedestrian can still recover compensation even if they share some responsibility for the accident, provided their percentage of fault does not exceed 50 percent. Their total recovery is reduced proportionally by their share of fault.
What if the accident happened at a crosswalk where the signal malfunctioned or was absent?
Depending on the circumstances, a defective or absent crosswalk signal could raise questions about the responsibility of the entity responsible for maintaining that infrastructure. These cases are complex and require a thorough investigation of the specific conditions at the time of the accident. An attorney can help evaluate whether a third party beyond the driver may share liability.
Injured in a Las Vegas Pedestrian Accident? Talk to an Attorney.
If you or a family member was struck by a vehicle while crossing a street in Las Vegas or anywhere in Nevada, you may have legal options. An experienced Nevada personal injury attorney can review the facts of your situation, identify potentially responsible parties, and help you understand what your claim may be worth.
George Bochanis Injury Law Offices has represented injured Nevadans for decades. We know this city, we know Nevada law, and we are committed to fighting for the compensation our clients deserve. Call us today at (702) 388-2005 for a free consultation.
