Does Lack of Infrastructure Affect Personal Injury Claims in the US Virgin Islands?

 Posted on March 17, 2026 in Car Accidents

The US Virgin Islands draws millions of visitors every year, almost all arriving without a car. Renting a vehicle on the islands is expensive; taxis can be even more so. The islands are small, and with public transit as a fallback, walking doesn’t seem so unreasonable.

Unfortunately for anyone who’s never been to the islands, there’s one important thing that’s often missing: sidewalks. If a USVI accident involves you or someone else walking along one of the island roads, a St. John personal injury attorney can help you understand whether you have a claim.

How Are Roadside Conditions in the US Virgin Islands Different from Other Tourist Destinations?

Not all the roads in the USVI are unsafe to walk along. St. John tends to be better maintained for foot traffic. This is probably due to it being more tourist-oriented and more than 60 percent national park, according to the National Parks Service. There aren’t sidewalks lining all the roads of St. John, but there are well-kept walking and hiking trails that can get you to many parts of the island.

St. Thomas also has walkable areas, like the downtown area and the cruise ship ports. On most roads outside of downtown Charlotte Amalie, though, there are few dedicated walking paths. Even well-used paths to local bus or safari truck stops can be dangerous, especially at night.

Tourists walking to beaches, restaurants, or other attractions are often forced to walk along road shoulders instead. Those shoulders, where they exist, are frequently:

• Covered in loose gravel, glass, debris, and broken asphalt

• Partially blocked by vegetation, drainage ditches, or retaining walls

• Narrow and very near moving traffic

• Poorly lit or completely unlit at night

On narrow, winding roads where (sometimes drunk) drivers are adjusting to new terrain and left-lane driving, walking along a roadside can be genuinely dangerous.

Are Pedestrians Legally Allowed to Walk on USVI Roadsides?

The USVI doesn't have a statute that prohibits pedestrians from walking on road shoulders or the edges of public roads. USVI Code Title 20, § 503 also makes it unlawful to operate a motor vehicle in a way that endangers any person on a public highway. So technically, pedestrians are protected as long as they’re also using reasonable care and obeying any traffic signals.

Will a Court Dismiss My Injury Claim If I Chose to Walk on a USVI Roadside?

Someone who gets injured while walking along a USVI roadside may wonder if the court will dismiss their claim on the grounds that there were other ways they could have gotten to their destination. They may worry that the court will say they "assumed the risk." A few things are in your favor in cases like this.

Taxis in the USVI are not metered and can be expensive, especially for short trips that tourists might reasonably expect to walk. Taxi availability is also inconsistent, especially outside of tourist hubs. 

Importantly, pedestrians regularly use road shoulders to walk places, and the government has long been aware of the lack of sidewalk infrastructure. This cuts against blaming individuals for choosing to walk. If the injury was caused by a negligent driver rather than a road condition, the "other transport" argument becomes even weaker.

The USVI uses a modified comparative fault system for awarding damages in personal injury claims. That means that multiple parties can be at fault. It also means that even if you contributed to an accident, as long as you’re not mostly at fault, you can still get compensation.

Questions that may affect your 2026 claim include:

• Was the road shoulder in a dangerous condition that should have been addressed?

• Did the government entity responsible for road maintenance know about the hazard?

• Was the driver who struck you operating negligently?

• Did you have any reasonable alternative to walking when you were hit?

• Were you behaving carelessly such that you caused or contributed to the accident?

Answers to these questions affect who may be liable and for how much.

Call a St. Thomas, USVI Personal Injury Attorney Today

Pedestrian injuries on USVI roads involve overlapping questions of road maintenance, driver conduct, and government liability. These are not simple cases, and the legal deadlines involved make it critical to act quickly. Colianni & Leonard LLC has a physical law office in St. Thomas where you can get your questions answered in real time.

Attorneys Colianni and Leonard bring serious legal experience to every case. Call a St. John tourist injury lawyer at 340-719-1766 today to schedule your free consultation with our team.