Mark Anderson | October 16, 2026 | Pedestrian Accidents
No, jaywalking is not legal in Texas. If you are caught jaywalking, you could face some penalties, such as a citation and a fine. Additionally, you are putting yourself at risk of getting struck by a vehicle and being in a pedestrian accident.
Keep reading below to learn more about the jaywalking laws in Texas.
What Is Jaywalking?
Jaywalking is simply the act of crossing a street illegally. Each state has its own rules about how pedestrians may cross the street. An act that is considered jaywalking in Texas might not be illegal in another state.
Similarly, legal street crossing actions may differ from one type of intersection to the next.
Overview of Texas Jaywalking Laws
Jaywalking is illegal in Texas, and the law describes exactly what pedestrians should avoid when crossing the street. Pedestrians do have the right-of-way in marked crosswalks, but there are some times when a pedestrian must yield to vehicles.
When crossing outside a marked or unmarked crosswalk, pedestrians must generally yield the right-of-way to vehicles. This includes situations where:
- A pedestrian tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing is provided
- There is no marked crosswalk at the intersection
Pedestrians may cross only in a crosswalk between adjacent intersections that have traffic control signals. Also, a pedestrian may only cross diagonally at an intersection when authorized by a traffic control signal.
The law goes on to state when pedestrians have the right-of-way. Vehicles must yield to pedestrians when they are crossing the street in a crosswalk, and there is no traffic control signal in place. Pedestrians are not allowed, however, to dart quickly off the curb without allowing a vehicle enough time and space to stop safely.
Penalties for Jaywalking in Texas
Jaywalking is actually considered a criminal offense in Texas. If you are caught jaywalking, you could face a Class C misdemeanor. This can result in fines of up to $200. Some officers choose to educate pedestrians on the law rather than write a formal ticket, but the officer has the right to issue the citation.
Additionally, you put yourself at risk of getting into an accident. If you are hurt in a pedestrian accident, the driver or their insurance company may try to put the blame on you. They can argue that you would not have been hit if you weren’t jaywalking.
If you are found to be partially at fault, your financial recovery will be reduced by your portion of the blame. Victims who bear 51% or more of the fault will be barred from recovering any compensation for their injuries. Imagine that you are struck by a vehicle while jaywalking and suffer $10,000 in damages. If the jury finds that you were 40% at fault, then you would only be allowed to recover $6,000 of your damages from the driver who hit you.
Getting Help After a Pedestrian Accident
Pedestrian accidents can happen even when you are crossing the street legally. Negligent drivers who are not careful enough may strike a pedestrian and cause serious injuries. If that happens to you, you may be entitled to recover both economic damages and non-economic damages from the at-fault driver.
Taking the proper steps after your accident can help preserve your ability to recover compensation. You should:
- Call 911 to report the accident
- Take photos of the vehicle, intersection, and other relevant areas at the scene if possible
- Get immediate medical treatment for your injuries, even if you think you feel “fine”
- Obtain names and contact information from witnesses
- Keep all your medical records, bills, and other documentation
- Talk to a personal injury lawyer for legal help
Taking these steps can help protect your health and preserve important evidence for a potential personal injury claim. Even if you were jaywalking when the accident occurred, you may still be entitled to compensation depending on the circumstances and your share of fault.
Contact Anderson Injury Lawyers To Schedule a Free Consultation With a Fort Worth Personal Injury Attorney
At Anderson Injury Lawyers, we know how to defend you against the “blame the victim” tactics of the insurance company in Texas. We can fully investigate your accident and help you pursue maximum compensation for your injuries.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Fort Worth personal injury lawyer and put our experience to work for you.
We proudly serve Tarrant County, Dallas County, Travis County, and throughout Texas.
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About the Author
Mark A. Anderson is the founder of Anderson Injury Lawyers and a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer—an honor held by only a small percentage of Texas attorneys. He earned his law degree from Baylor University School of Law and has spent more than 20 years helping injury victims across Dallas, Fort Worth and Austin. Mark handles cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, product liability, wrongful death, catastrophic injuries, and more. Click here to view some of the successful case results Mark has achieved for his clients.
Location: Dallas, Fort Worth, and Austin, Texas
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