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Every year, thousands of Georgia pedestrians suffer serious injuries as the result of motor vehicle collisions. Many of these injuries require lengthy recovery times and others result in death. In busy cities like Atlanta, negligent driving behaviors pose severe risks to pedestrians. If you suffered serious injuries from a pedestrian-motor vehicle collision, you may be eligible for financial compensation for your losses.
The Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyers at Butler Prather LLP can help you determine your legal options and find the optimal pathways toward a successful outcome. Our clients trust our award-winning firm for our significant experience litigating multiple types of personal injury cases, including pedestrian accidents.
In determining eligibility for compensation, one must first consider civil liability for the pedestrian accident. “Pedestrians always have the right of way” is a common misconception in Atlanta. While drivers do have to yield to pedestrians in most cases, walkers must still obey traffic signals and walk signs. Stepping out into traffic without waiting for the walk signal can lead to liability for a subsequent collision – at least in part.
To succeed with a personal injury lawsuit, the plaintiff will need to prove the negligence of the defendant and that the defendant’s negligence directly resulted in the plaintiff’s damages. It is the plaintiff’s responsibility to establish that the defendant owed a duty of care under the circumstances and then show the court how the defendant violated their duty. Next, the plaintiff will need to provide evidence that shows the extent of his or her losses and proof they resulted directly from the defendant’s negligence and not some other cause. While a pedestrian accident involving a driver striking a pedestrian may seem like a straightforward case, this isn’t always true. It’s possible for a pedestrian to share some of the liability for a pedestrian accident.
Comparative negligence is a common defense tactic in pedestrian accidents in Atlanta. The vehicle driver could allege that the pedestrian was texting and walking, then stepped into the crosswalk without looking for oncoming traffic. In the event that the courts split liability between the plaintiff and the defendant, this does not bar the plaintiff from financial recovery. Georgia’s modified comparative negligence laws offer the opportunity for compensation as long as the plaintiff is less than 50% at fault for the incident.
If a plaintiff shares any fault for the accident in question, a jury assigns a fault percentage to all parties involved. The plaintiff then loses his or her fault percentage of the case award. For example, in a $50,000 case in which the plaintiff is 10% at fault, the plaintiff loses 10% or $5,000 of the awarded compensation, receiving $45,000 instead.
Minimizing your own degree of fault for a pedestrian accident can require help from an attorney. A Georgia pedestrian injury lawyer can investigate the collision, gather eyewitness statements, and hire expert witnesses to testify on your behalf. These measures may help prove the driver of the vehicle was mostly or entirely at fault for your injuries.
You have two options for pursuing legal action for a pedestrian accident. You can file a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company or you can file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court. You have two years from the date of your injuries to file a personal injury lawsuit against a driver in Georgia.
If you receive an insurance settlement from the at-fault driver, you cannot file an additional lawsuit. If you have significant injuries that exceed an insurance company’s policy limits, we recommend that you file a personal injury claim to increase the maximum compensation you could collect.
Through a personal injury lawsuit, you can collect compensatory damages for economic and non-economic damages:
Your personal injury attorney will have to prove liability in order to effectively argue for the optimal settlement amount. Georgia courts follow a modified comparative negligence rule to determine liability and the final settlement. If the jury finds you to be responsible for a portion of the accident, the court will reduce your final settlement amount by that percentage. If you are responsible for 50% or higher, you will not receive a settlement.
For example, say that you receive a settlement for $200,000 at the end of your case. However, the courts discover that you entered the street on a roadway that had traffic-control signals. The jury can find you to be responsible for 40% of your accident. You will receive a settlement of $120,000.
Multiple factors can cause pedestrian-motor vehicle accidents in Georgia. Causes range from purely accidental to reckless and negligent. Similar common causes lead to pedestrian injuries and fatalities on United States roads as well as local roads in Georgia.
• Excessive speeding
• Failure to yield or stop at a crosswalk
• Drowsy driving
• Large SUVs and high horsepower vehicles
• Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs
• Low visibility
• Busy roads
• Vehicle design
• Road design
• Distracted driving
• Failure to follow traffic laws
• Failure to come to a full stop at an intersection
• Failure to slow down at a crosswalk
• Driving in reverse without checking behind the vehicle
The sheer size and force of an oncoming vehicle can cause serious damage to an unprotected pedestrian. Many of these accidents end in severe, life-threatening injuries that can cause disability and death.
Injuries from pedestrian accidents can require expensive medical treatments, surgeries, medications, and special mobility equipment. In addition, some victims will require months or even years of recovery time. Many people permanently lose functions in some body parts and have to mitigate their injuries for the rest of their lives.
Georgia statutes give different rights and protections to pedestrians in accidents. Depending on the location of the accident and the presence of crosswalks, pedestrians receive certain right of way privileges on Georgia roads.
Pedestrians have the right of way in crosswalks. Drivers of motor vehicles must stop and wait for a pedestrian to complete crossing before continuing to drive. According to a 1995 statute, Georgia drivers cannot simply yield for a pedestrian. They must come to a full stop.
Jaywalking is not a crime in Georgia. If a pedestrian enters a street that does not have a crosswalk, he or she will need to yield to oncoming traffic and cross safely. The pedestrian has the right of way if he or she enters the intersection safely prior to a vehicle approaching.
However, courts may hold pedestrians liable for an accident if they perform any of the following actions:
Pedestrians have to follow pedestrian control signals and use marked crosswalks whenever available. However, a pedestrian is not liable for an accident simply for not using a crosswalk in Georgia.
Pedestrian accidents are unfortunately common on Georgia streets. Many people lose their lives due to negligent drivers and sudden accidents. According to the most recent NHTSA data, 253 people died from pedestrian collisions in 2017 alone. The state government is attempting to implement safety measures to reduce these statistics.
Here is the breakdown of pedestrian deaths in Georgia in the last decade.
Year | Pedestrian Fatalities | Total Fatalities | Total % is Pedestrian |
2007 | 154 | 1641 | 9.38% |
2008 | 147 | 1495 | 9.83% |
2009 | 152 | 1292 | 11.76% |
2010 | 168 | 1247 | 13.47% |
2011 | 130 | 1226 | 10.60% |
2012 | 167 | 1192 | 14.01% |
2013 | 176 | 1180 | 14.92% |
2014 | 163 | 1164 | 14.00% |
2015 | 194 | 1432 | 13.55% |
2016 | 232 | 1554 | 14.93% |
2017 | 253 | 1540 | 16.43% |
According to the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, pedestrian accidents and deaths are increasing in Georgia at an unfortunately high rate.
If you suffered injuries in a pedestrian accident in Georgia, contact a personal injury attorney from Butler Prather LLP today. Our attorneys can provide numerous services and benefits for your personal injury lawsuit, allowing for a simpler litigation experience.
For help with pedestrian accident claims in Georgia, call the Atlanta personal injury lawyers at Butler Prather LLP in Atlanta at (404) 321-1700 or toll-free at (800) 242-2962 or get in touch online.