Georgia Pedestrian Injury Lawyer

Everyone is familiar with the phrase “pedestrians always have the right of way.” Although this is the ideal way to proceed when driving a vehicle, it is not always true.

Pedestrians are actually required to yield to vehicles in some situations. A pedestrian may enter the roadway at an intersection or a crosswalk when they can do so under safe conditions. This means that a pedestrian is not able to suddenly dart out into the roadway despite oncoming vehicles. This also means that a pedestrian is unable to enter the roadway absent an intersection.

Many people to not know that a pedestrian is legally allowed to cross the road even if there is not a cross walk at the intersection. The person has to enter the roadway safely and take the most direct route across the street. Once a pedestrian establishes themselves in the roadway, they have the right of way and vehicles must yield to the pedestrian.

If you were struck by a vehicle when crossing the street at an intersection, you probably have a case against the driver who injured you. Call (404) 565-1618 for a free, no obligation consultation with a pedestrian accident lawyer. We have offices conveniently located in Atlanta and Rome, Georgia. If your injuries prohibit you from meeting us at our office, we will come to you.

Leg injuries: The first pace that a vehicle impact upon striking a pedestrian is generally the legs/hip area. This frequently results in broken bones, abrasions and other serious injuries when the remainder of the body strikes the ground.

Fractured Bones: Probably the most common injuries found in pedestrian accidents are fractured bones. Fractures are painful injury that will disrupt your daily life. The bright side is this particular injury typically does not require much follow up medical care.

Head/Brain Injuries: Head and brain injuries are another very common type of injury experienced by victims of pedestrian accidents. Pedestrians struck by vehicles frequently wake up in the hospital not remembering anything that lead to their injuries. Head injuries can be very serious and sometimes fatal. If you were the victim in an accident and received a head injury, you should seek emergency medical attention immediately.

Neck and Back injuries:Due to a pedestrian victim’s body violently contorting and being thrown forward in an accident, pedestrian victims usually have lingering issues with their neck and back after a pedestrian collision. Neck and back pain can range from general soreness to serious injuries that require medical attention.

Scrapes and Abrasions: Collateral injuries that we typically see in pedestrian accidents are scrapes and abrasions all over the victim’s body. Thankfully, these injuries are not generally serious or life-threatening. Nevertheless, you should always photograph all of your visible injuries.

Nothing herein is meant to be medical advice or substitute a doctor’s care. If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, you should seek immediate medical treatment to rule out life-threatening injuries. Thereafter, call us at (404) 565-1618 for a free, no obligation consultation with a personal injury lawyer.

In general, personal injury claims must be brought within two years from the date of the accidents. Pedestrian accidents fall within this same time frame.

There are some circumstances that will extend the statute of limitations, but you should not wait to pursue your pedestrian injury claim. If you were involved in a personal injury accident, you should contact a lawyer who will preserve important evidence to support your injury claim.

If you were involved in a pedestrian accident, we recommend that you take the following steps:

• Call the police. A police report is an important tool that we use to prove liability in an injury claim.
• Take pictures and videos. If your injuries do not prevent you from doing so, take photographs of the scene of the accident, any vehicles involved as well as any visible injuries that you have.
• Get witness information. If you are physically able, get names and telephone numbers for anyone who saw your pedestrian accident.
• Go to the hospital. If you were struck by a vehicle as a pedestrian, you should always go to the hospital to ensure that you do not have any life-threatening injuries.
• Do not speak with the insurance company. The insurance company is hoping that you will make statements that hurt the value of your injury claim. Do not discuss anything with the insurance company without first speaking with a personal injury lawyer.
• Seek follow up medical treatment if you are in pain. If you are in pain, you need to seek medical treatment. If you do not have health insurance and you are unable to pay for necessary medical treatment, a pedestrian injury lawyer can help. We have relationships with doctors who will agree to treat you with no up-front cost to you.
• Contact a pedestrian injury lawyer who can help you navigate this complex process so that you can focus on recovering from your injuries.

Call us today at (404) 656-1618 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation with a personal injury lawyer.

If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, you are likely entitled to substantial financial compensation. We frequently are able to obtain the insurance companies policy limits in pedestrian accident – the maximum available to you under Georgia law.

Every injury claim is different. But usually the most important factor in a personal injury claim is the extent of your injuries. It makes sense that people who are severely injured generally receive more compensation than someone who was only slightly injured. Other components that determine the value of the claim is the extent of your property damage, any lost wages, the permanent nature of your injuries, and the policy limits available to you.

If you were injured in an accident, the best practice is to focus on your recovery. Once you recover from your injuries, a personal injury lawyer will create what is called a “demand package” consisting of photographs, medical records and bills, the police report and a narrative describing the accident and your treatment. We routinely receive policy limits from insurance companies when we send a demand to the insurance company.

We get the best results because not every injury firm is created equal. We know how to use a demand package to leverage the maximum settlement allowed by law.

Since 2008, pedestrian fatalities have steadily increased almost every year. On average, fifteen pedestrians are killed every day throughout the United States. A shocking 60,000.00 are injured per year in pedestrian accidents in the U.S. In 2018, 261 pedestrians were struck and killed in the State of Georgia. Due to the vulnerability of pedestrians, these accidents account for nearly 15% of all traffic fatalities. In Georgia, most pedestrian accidents occur in the metro-Atlanta counties of DeKalb and Fulton.

The Georgia Governor’s Office of highway Safety attributes distracted driving as the number one cause of pedestrian accidents in the state. This office recommends that drivers and pedestrians alike pay more attention to their surrounding in an effort to limit these tragic and avoidable deaths.

Should I speak with the insurance company if I was involved in a pedestrian accident?

As a general rule, you should never speak with the insurance company after any accident. This stands true for pedestrian injury claims.

The Insurance company will call you right after your accident and ask you for a recorded statement. Their hope is that you will say something that will limit or eliminate their liability for the accident. Do not help the insurance company!

The insurance company wants to pressure you into accepting far less than your case is worth. You should consult with a personal injury lawyer before agreeing to settle your injury claim.

Do I have a claim if the vehicle fled the scene after a pedestrian accident?

The only thing more frustrating than being injured in an accident is when the other driver quite literally runs away from responsibility by fleeing the scene of an accident. If you were injured by a driver who fled the scene, you still may have options.

Everyone in Georgia should have uninsured motorist protection. This is insurance that will cover you in the event that you are struck by someone without insurance, not enough insurance or by a driver who flees the scene of the accident. It is important you select “add on” uninsured motorist protection. This will give you the best protection against unforeseen events.

If you have uninsured motorist protection, you will be able to receive compensation as a victim of a pedestrian accident. If you do not have uninsured motorist protection but a relative in your same household does, you can become a beneficiary as a “resident relative.”

If you were injured by a vehicle who fled the scene of the accident, contact a Georgia personal injury lawyer to discuss your options.

What if I am partially at fault for my pedestrian accident?

If you are partially at fault for your pedestrian accident, it is still possible for you to recover for your injuries. Under Georgia law, as long as you are not more than 50% at fault, you are able to recover from your injuries.

In fact, we recovered $50,000.00 for a pedestrian partially at fault for their injuries. No matter who you believe was at fault for your pedestrian accident, you should speak with a personal injury lawyer for a free consultation.

Do I still have a case if I was not crossing at a crosswalk?

Georgia law requires that pedestrians cross at either a crosswalk or intersection. Therefore, you likely can still recover as a victim in a pedestrian accident even if you were not in a crosswalk. As long as a pedestrian enters the roadway at an intersection yielding to all existing traffic, they may lawfully cross the street without the presence of a cross walk.

If you were injured crossing the roadway, call us at (404) 565-1618 to discuss your personal injury claim. We recovered $50,000.00 for a pedestrian who was injured in a pedestrian accident outside of a cross walk. Call us today to see what we can do for you!