Whether you are visiting Las Vegas or call the city home, getting around Las Vegas without a car is an important consideration. Perhaps you don’t have a car, or perhaps you just realize that with the city’s traffic, car-free options are often more convenient and enjoyable. Of course, walking and biking are also good for your health as a form of exercise and help to reduce pollution. If you have questions about how to get around Las Vegas without a car, our lawyers at the office of Ladah Law have answers. Here are the answers to a few frequently asked questions our team hears about getting around Las Vegas car-free. For more information, please feel free to reach out to our team directly.
Getting around Las Vegas without a car is easy, and there are plenty of options.
First, walking is one of the primary ways that people like to explore the city and the Las Vegas strip. Walking is convenient because traffic and parking can make traveling by car very difficult. If you’re walking, you won’t be alone – there are large groups of pedestrians throughout the city.
Another option is traveling by bike. The city actually has a lot to offer in terms of bike trails outside of the downtown and the strip, including a paved bike path that runs the 40 km of the 44 km distance between downtown Las Vegas to Boulder City. Of course, it’s possible to bike downtown, but one has to be careful as bike lanes are limited and levels of motor vehicle traffic are hi.
In addition to walking and biking, which are certainly the two most common alternatives to getting around Vegas without a car, it’s also possible to use/rent a scooter, or to use a rideshare service to get from one location to the next.
While walking may be one of the most common ways to get around in Las Vegas, and is relatively safe when done in a large group, you have to be careful not to get hit by a car when walking around in this city. The vast majority of pedestrian accidents that happen in Nevada take place in Clark County. And Nevada is one of the least friendly states to pedestrians nationwide; in fact, the state is 11th in pedestrian fatalities. Data shows that in Clark County, where the rate of pedestrian accidents is the highest, pedestrian-involved accidents disproportionately affect those in lower-income, minority communities. This is explainable in large part because of a lack of pedestrian infrastructure in these neighborhoods.
If you are walking in Las Vegas, try to make yourself visible by wearing bright colors or reflective material. Walking in a group is best when possible, as it’s easier for a driver of a car to see multiple people vs. just one person. Of course, always follow the law when walking as it pertains to right-of-way and yielding, and cross at a crosswalk whenever possible. Put distractions, like music and a cellphone, away.
If a pedestrian accident does occur, it’s important to understand how liability for an accident and injuries will be determined and who will have to pay for damages. Liability for a pedestrian accident in Las Vegas is based on fault, which is determined by negligence (the failure to exercise the proper degree of care) or negligence per se (the breach of a statute). Don’t make the mistake of assuming that a driver is always at fault for a pedestrian crash – a driver will only be found at fault if they caused the crash. But if a pedestrian stepped in front of a motor vehicle or crossed when a traffic signal indicated that they should not, for example, then the pedestrian could be found to blame.
Like walking, biking can be pretty unsafe in Las Vegas, and a lot of cyclists get hit by cars. While data shows that the numbers are trending down slightly, even one cyclist’s death is one too many. In 2019, there were seven bicyclist fatalities reported in the state, compared to eight in 2018 and nine in 2017. While fatalities may be slightly decreasing, the actual number of bicycle crashes, just not fatal crashes, is actually up in the state.
If you’re biking in Las Vegas, try to choose roads that have low levels of vehicle traffic, use bike lanes and paths when available, follow the law and don’t assume that you have the right of way, wear bright colors to help drivers be able to see you, and always wear a helmet. Wearing a helmet could save your life in the event that you are in a bicycle accident and hit your head.
If you’re in a bicycle accident, it’s important to get medical care immediately. If you are able to–that is, if your injuries do not preclude you from doing so–you should collect as much evidence at the accident scene as possible, including the driver’s information, notes about how the crash occurred, and pictures of the accident scene and evidence (such as damage to your bike or dents in the driver’s car). You also need to file a police report immediately.
As soon as you are able to after the crash, you should report the accident to your insurance carrier (if you have car insurance), as well as call an attorney who can help you to navigate your bicycle accident claim.
One of the options for getting around Las Vegas if you don’t have a vehicle yourself is to use a rideshare service, such as Uber or Lyft. A rideshare can be very convenient, but if you’re involved in an accident, the claims process can be complicated. While these types of services do carry insurance to help pay for your injuries in a crash, how and when the insurance is applied is complex. If you’re in a rideshare accident, a thorough investigation must be conducted to determine if liability should fall on the shoulders of the rideshare driver, the rideshare company, a third-party driver, or another third-party (like a vehicle manufacturer). If you are injured in a rideshare accident, we strongly recommend calling an attorney.
If you’re in an accident in Las Vegas, whether while you’re acting as a passenger in a motor vehicle, while walking, while biking, or while driving yourself, you have rights. If you believe that the accident was caused by another party, then you have the right to bring forth a claim for damages against that party. An attorney can help by investigating your case, preparing your claim documents, calculating your damages, issuing a demand letter, reviewing your settlement, negotiating your claim, and even litigating your case in court if need be.
At Ladah Law, we know that getting around Las Vegas, especially the downtown, may not be easy, especially if you don’t have a car. While other options, such as walking and biking, do exist, you need to be careful. If you are injured in an accident, please call our law firm directly for the legal support and guidance that you can trust. We offer free consultations and can start working on your case immediately: 702-252-0055.