Georgia Pedestrian Accident Attorneys

Getting Justice for Injured Pedestrians in Georgia

Walking is one of the most basic and fundamental human activities. It’s also a healthy, low-impact activity that provides essential exercise for people of all ages. Although motor vehicles dominate our cities, it’s important to accommodate foot traffic, and pedestrians have the right to get around safely.

The biggest threat to pedestrians is unsafe drivers. In a recent year, 279 pedestrians in Georgia were killed in traffic crashes, and 58 percent of all pedestrian crashes in Georgia happen in the greater Atlanta area. Pedestrians suffer catastrophic injuries when drivers refuse to follow traffic laws or fail to watch where they’re going.

If you were injured by a careless driver, you have the right to seek compensation. At Butler Prather LLP, we’ve been helping people in Georgia for over 35 years. Our firm gets justice for accident victims by holding people accountable for their actions.

We’ve won landmark cases for accident victims suffering from catastrophic injuries in Georgia and across the nation. Our firm has won over a billion dollars in settlements and verdicts for clients in over 30 states. We’ve won nine verdicts that exceed $100 million and over 60 verdicts and settlements of over $10 million.

Call our Georgia personal injury attorneys at (706) 322-1990 to learn more today.

Careless Drivers Cause Pedestrian Accidents

Cars, trucks, buses, and SUVs are heavy pieces of machinery that turn into dangerous weapons when they aren’t used properly. That’s why drivers need to be in the right frame of mind when they get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Drivers who are angry or preoccupied with personal matters should take a moment to compose themselves before they start the engine. And no one who is impaired by drugs or alcohol should ever operate any type of vehicle.

There is never a good excuse for exceeding the speed limit. Drivers must remember that getting to their destination quicker is never worth risking the lives of others, and they must never allow potential distractions to prevent them from devoting their full attention to the road. That means avoiding dangerous behaviors like fiddling with the radio or reaching for objects inside the cabin while driving.

It’s an unacceptable risk to use a handheld device while operating a motor vehicle for talking, texting, checking messages, or any other purpose. Georgia’s hands-free laws prohibit drivers from holding a cell phone or allowing it to touch any part of the body.

Careless behavior that causes drivers to crash into pedestrians includes:

• DUI
• Speeding
• Street racing
• Distracted driving
• Failure to obey traffic laws
• Ignoring traffic signals
• Refusal to yield to pedestrians
• Running stop signs
• Failure to slow down in icy, rainy, snowy, and foggy conditions

Negligence That Causes Pedestrian Accidents

Businesses, school districts, and government agencies that hire drivers have a special responsibility to make sure their vehicles and drivers are safe. Delivery services, trucking firms, and transportation authorities that use large vehicles such as buses, vans, and semi-trucks must exercise extreme caution to prevent deadly collisions.

Public officials and private contractors responsible for maintaining safe roadways have an important role to play in protecting pedestrians from accidents. Factors that contribute to the high number of pedestrian crashes include:

• Negligent hiring. When trucking, delivery, and rideshare businesses hire new employees, it’s important to make sure they have a safe driving record. Employers should check references to find out if jobseekers have a history of unsafe driving behavior.
• Inadequate infrastructure. Malfunctioning traffic signals, poorly designed intersections, lack of signage, and overgrown foliage that obscures traffic signs or a driver’s field of vision are all conditions that make pedestrian accidents more likely to occur.
• Vehicle maintenance. Businesses must inspect their vehicles and service them regularly to make sure brakes, safety lights, tires, and other equipment are functioning properly.
• Lack of oversight. Drivers should be required to submit their DMV printouts to their employers at regular intervals, and businesses should actively monitor drivers when they pick up and drop off vehicles. Dashcams, event data recorders (EDRs, a semi-truck’s “black box”), and other technology allow employers to know what their drivers are doing.
• Garages and parking lots are among the most dangerous places for pedestrians. Property owners can reduce the risk of pedestrian injuries by enforcing speed limits, providing clear directions, and making sure to have adequate lighting.

Injuries Resulting from Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians are extremely vulnerable to catastrophic injuries caused by unsafe drivers. These injuries can lead to chronic pain and serious disabilities:

• Bone fractures
• Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Amputation
• Lacerations
• Nerve damage
• Organ failure
• Paralysis
• Whiplash
• Crush injuries
• Broken hips

How Your Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help If You’ve Been Injured

It’s so important for drivers, employers, public officials, and contractors responsible for road maintenance to do everything they can to provide a safe environment for pedestrians. If you or a loved one is suffering from severe injuries caused by a pedestrian accident, contact Butler Prather LLP right away.

Our attorneys will investigate the accident and file a claim or lawsuit against anyone who committed a negligent act that contributed to your injuries. This may include:

• Careless drivers
• Public officials
• Private contractors
• Mechanics
• Delivery, rideshare, and trucking companies
• Manufacturers of defective vehicles

We’ve Won Over $1 Billion for Our Clients

At Butler Prather LLP, we are committed to getting justice for people who have been injured by the careless actions of others. After all, it’s only fair that the person who hurt you should have to pay for it. We treat all our clients with respect and compassion, and we will always be available to answer any questions you might have about your case.

Give us a call at (706) 322-1990 to learn more today.