Continuing with Wisconsin pedestrian right of way rules the first thing to understand is the laws are very specific depending on the circumstances. Some states seem to give an unfettered right of way to the pedestrian, not so here.
Wisconsin jury instruction 1220 concerns right of way at a pedestrian control signal:
The Wisconsin statutes define “right of way” as the privilege of the immediate use of the roadway and, further provide, that no pedestrian may start to cross the roadway (or other vehicular crossing) in the direction of a “Don’t Walk” signal, but a pedestrian who has partially completed crossing on the “Walk” signal may proceed to a sidewalk or safety island while the “Don’t Walk” signal is showing.
If the jury finds that the pedestrian was facing a “Don’t Walk” signal, then it was pedestrian’s duty before entering into the roadway to yield the right of way to an approaching vehicle on the roadway. If, however, you find that (pedestrian) started to cross the roadway on a “Walk” signal and had partially completed crossing when the signal turned to “Don’t Walk” then the pedestrian had the right to proceed to the sidewalk or safety island.
Wisconsin jury instruction 1225 deals with right of way of a pedestrian at a controlled intersection or crosswalk:
The Wisconsin statutes define “right of way” as the privilege of the immediate use of the roadway and, further provide, that at an intersection or crosswalk where traffic is controlled by traffic control signals or by a traffic officer, the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right of way to a pedestrian who has started to cross the highway on a green or “Walk” signal and in all other cases pedestrians shall yield the right of way to vehicles lawfully proceeding directly ahead on a green signal.
If you find that at an intersection, where traffic was controlled by traffic control signals or a traffic officer, and the pedestrian was in the act of crossing the highway on the green light or a Walk signal, then the pedestrian was entitled to the right of way over an approaching automobile. However, if you find that the pedestrian was not crossing or had not started to cross the highway on a green or Walk signal, then it became the pedestrian’s duty to yield the right of way to an approaching automobile on the highway proceeding directly ahead on the green signal.
McCormick Law Office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin has experience representing injured pedestrians in right of way accidents in automobile accidents and car crashes in Wisconsin. Pedestrians injured in motor vehicle collisions are entitled to settlement money for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering.
