Acworth’s poor walkability spells danger every time a driver fails to pay close attention to their surroundings. While many Acworth residents choose to drive to their destination because of its car-focused infrastructure, there are times when walking makes more sense — or is the only option for people who do not have access to a car.
However, the last thing you’d expect while crossing the road or walking through a parking lot is to come face-to-face with a car. Pedestrian accidents are awful and have catastrophic results; they most often happen when they are least expected.
One fortunate silver lining is that pedestrian victims have the right to seek compensation for damages caused by the impact, including the costs of their medical treatment. If you find yourself a pedestrian accident victim, you may have a claim and should reach out to a personal injury lawyer in Acworth immediately.
The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm team has helped many pedestrian accident victims navigate the legal hoops of Georgia Law. Give us a call today at (470) 828-4288 or contact us online to schedule your free initial case review.
How an Acworth Pedestrian Accident Attorney Helps
The US has seen a recent spike in pedestrian-related accidents over recent decades. Pedestrian accidents can be brutal and lead to tremendous injuries that alter lifestyles and the ability to do the things you love.
In the worst cases, a collision of that magnitude with a human body leads to fatal results.
Call an professional pedestrian accident attorney right after an accident. Pedestrian accident lawyers have many years of experience handling personal injury accident claims and know the ins and outs of Georgia law.
When you choose to work with an attorney, you can focus your energy on recovery and reacclimating what once was normal. Throughout the process, you can expect the following from your legal team:
- Legal guidance, resources, representation, and professional strategy throughout your case
- Calculation of all loss of wages, future earnings, and medical expenses
- Calculation of pain and suffering costs that involve emotional suffering
- Understanding and Counsel throughout your case
When you choose to work with an Acworth pedestrian attorney, you will have access to decades of legal experience, negotiation skills and strategies with insurance companies, and representation on your behalf in court.
What Is a Pedestrian Accident?
A pedestrian accident occurs when a person is struck by a moving vehicle. These accidents happen in streets, sidewalks, parking lots, parks, and anywhere a pedestrian will share a lane with cars or other moving vehicles.
Depending on the speed of the impact, the victim will find their body slamming into the moving vehicle multiple times before the accident is over. It is all but impossible to avoid injuries when you come face-to-face with a moving car.
Although most pedestrian accidents are not at high speeds, a car moving at 40 mph is fast enough to have fatal consequences. Injuries take a long time to heal, some months, if not years, to fully recover.
When the pedestrian survives the accident, the road to recovery is long and complicated. In the worst accidents, some injuries are so bad that they are life-altering for the victim.
Pedestrian accident injuries lead to inability to work, brain damage, nerve damage, permanent disabilities, and more.
The medical costs associated with pedestrian accidents total over $500 billion in the United States. Victims will need to attend multiple doctor appointments and therapy sessions to heal and work to what was once normal.
Pedestrian accidents usually fall into one of these three types:
- Crosswalk accidents
- Hit-and run accidents
- Parking lot accidents
Crosswalk Accidents
Road rules and local Acworth and state laws encourage crosswalk use wherever available to prevent accidents from happening. Crosswalks are built to provide safe passage for pedestrians crossing from one side of the street to the other.
But even if pedestrians follow the law, there is a risk that they may be struck by a moving car. Any of these negligent behaviors or mistakes lead to a direct impact on a pedestrian using a crosswalk.
At crosswalks, cars often:
- Roll through stop signs
- Run red lights
- Speed
- Fail to look before entering the intersection
A common occurrence with crosswalk pedestrian accidents is when a driver intends to turn right. They are often so focused on oncoming traffic that they do not see someone in the perpendicular crosswalk once they start moving.
In these cases, the driver negligently failed to see if a pedestrian was in the right of way and accelerated just as the victim stepped in front of them.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
These kinds of pedestrian accidents receive the most media coverage. Reported hit-and-run accidents end with deadly results that include sights too upsetting to be shown on news channels.
In hit-and-run accidents, the negligent driver left the scene of the accident, leaving the pedestrian severely hurt and fending for themselves.
By state law, all drivers involved in a car accident cannot leave the scene and should call the authorities immediately. Leaving the scene of an accident, even a “minor” one, is against the law and has serious legal repercussions.
Parking Lot Accidents
Parking lots are often much busier than people think. Pedestrians use walkways, crosswalks, and the parking lot to get from one destination to another.
Add to the mix moving cars, shopping carts, and drivers moving in reverse and running stop signs, and there it is the perfect storm for a pedestrian-related accident. When drivers in parking lots are distracted or speeding too quickly, they are likely to make costly mistakes and create a parking lot that is too dangerous for pedestrian use.
The Cause of Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents happen more often than one would think. Even with laws that enforce safe driving, in 2022, the Governors Highway Safety Association reported that Georgia has one of the highest fatality rates in the entire country, with an increase of 57.8% between 2019 and 2022.
Although law enforcement and local governments are working on initiatives to reduce that number, part of the prevention is knowing what can cause a pedestrian accident to begin with.
Pedestrian accidents are potentially lethal and happen quickly. A person hit by a car moving at 40 mph will face life-threatening injuries and potentially death.
Unfortunately, the root cause is often negligence. Although law enforcement works hard to ensure the rules of the road are followed, it is impossible to enforce every driver at every instance.
Pedestrians Have a Duty to Prevent Pedestrian Accidents
It is not always possible to avoid a collision with a moving car, but as a pedestrian, you can adopt different tips and techniques to protect yourself. Pedestrians must adhere to road rules and take protective measures, whether exiting their broken-down car, going for a run, or taking their young child for a stroll around the block.
Pedestrians should be cautious of their surroundings and take protective measures whenever possible when using streets or crosswalks.
The moment you exit your car, you are also considered a pedestrian. This includes any incidents where you are having car trouble and need to pull to the side of the road to see what went wrong.
Exiting a vehicle in the middle of a highway or even on the shoulder has proven dangerous. If your car is broken down on the side of the road, only exit when it is safest, and if possible, remain in the car until help arrives.
Proving Liability
Georgia is an at-fault state, meaning that in accidents, all parties involved may be held liable for damages to property and injured parties. One of the most important steps to securing compensation is to prove that your actions did not cause the accident.
You may be considered partially at fault if you:
- Jumped in front of the car that hit you
- Crossed the road where there was no crosswalk
- Acted carelessly or recklessly, like not looking before crossing, distractions, etc.
The police at the scene determined who was at fault for the accident. After 911 is dispatched and the authorities arrive at the scene, police will investigate the scene of the accident.
They will talk to witnesses who can testify on what happened, study the accident, and take statements from both parties before preparing a police report and determining fault.
If the police determine that the victim of the pedestrian accident acted in a way that contributed to the causing the accident, they will be liable for whatever portion that is determined to be. That assignment of blame can reduce the total amount of compensation they are eligible to receive.
Because of this risk, it is vital to speak with a pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible after you have received medical treatment.
The CEO Lawyer Can Be Your Trusted Acworth Pedestrian Accident Law Firm
If you were the victim of a pedestrian accident in Acworth, you have the right to request compensation. Let a legal team that you trust help you find compensation after one of the most terrifying moments of your life.
With assistance from the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, you can expect outstanding service, extensive experience, and guidance throughout the process. Call us today at (470) 828-4288 or contact us online to speak to one of our attorneys for free, and let us show you how we can help.
