Everyone Georgian is a pedestrian at one point or another, whether walking to a UGA game in Athens, a concert in Atlanta, or along the beach at Tybee Island. Though walking from one destination to another is generally low-risk, it is not risk-free. And unfortunately, pedestrian accidents happen frequently around the state.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a serious pedestrian accident, having an experienced pedestrian accident attorney at your side can help you recover the money you’ll need to pay for the bills and expenses you’ve accumulated as a result of the accident. The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm in Atlanta can assist you in seeking these damages right when you need it the most.
Ali Awad, the CEO lawyer, understands the best approach to seeking the compensation you need during these challenging times in your life. Filing an injury claim is not something any of us want to go through, but when it happens, you want someone trustworthy and experienced on your side. Please fill out our online contact form online or call (470) 323-8779 to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation consultation. During your free case review, an experienced injury and accident attorney will provide you with personalized advice on how to best move forward using legal strategies that give you the best chance to receive the compensation you need.
Advocating for Pedestrian Accident Victims in Georgia
Most Georgia communities aren’t exactly known for their walkability, but the truth of the matter is that at some point in time or another, we must all walk to get where we need to be. While the probability of being involved in an accident as a pedestrian is lower than if you were driving, there are still thousands of pedestrian deaths each year nationally. In fact, according to the Governers’ Highway Safety Association (GHSA) in 2020, Georgia ranked the state with the 4th highest number of pedestrian deaths, with only California, Texas, and Florida reporting more.
Given that the human body is no match for a vehicle, it isn’t surprising that many pedestrian accidents result in major injury to the pedestrian involved. Even accidents at low speeds can cause significant damage to an unprotected person. Those injuries can lead to expensive medical bills, long-term physical therapy, and lost wages, among other losses.
If you assume the insurance company will take care of everything and cover all of your costs, you might find yourself to be disappointed when (and if) you receive the settlement check.
To ensure that you’re in the best position to receive the compensation, you need to cover all of your expenses hire an accident attorney from the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm. Our lawyers want to meet with you and educate you about your rights so that we can develop a plan to help you seek fair compensation for all of your damages after your accident.
What Are Some Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents?
There are many different reasons why pedestrian accidents may occur. Here are some of the most common risks, as well as how to address them more safely:
Distracted Driving
Even though Georgia has a hands-free driving law, which states that drivers aren’t allowed to hold a cell phone while behind the wheel of a vehicle, it doesn’t always prevent drivers from becoming distracted. All it takes is one second of not paying attention to suddenly end up in an accident with a pedestrian.
Staying Safe: Never assume that a driver sees you as a pedestrian until they make eye contact. If a vehicle seems like it will not slow or yield as appropriate, wait for it to pass.
Inebriated Driving
Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol can cause delayed reaction times, as well as an inability to stay on the road or in the correct lane.
Staying Safe: Always be vigilant when looking to cross the street, and if you see any car driver erratically, wait until they are safely past you before attempting to cross.
Speeding/Reckless Driving
If a car is traveling at a fast speed, that greatly affects the amount of time it will take them to slow down or stop.
Staying Safe: Before stepping into the road, look several times in both directions to ensure you aren’t stepping out in front of a fast-moving vehicle. Additionally, try to cross the road only in designated crosswalks.
Disobeying Traffic Signs/Laws
Because of distractions, unfamiliarity with an area, or a general lack of care, many drivers can end up completely ignoring traffic signs, including indicators that someone is crossing at a crosswalk. Many pedestrian accidents happen when a vehicle completely fails to obey these traffic instructions.
Staying Safe: Always watch to make sure cars around you are acting accordingly in response to the traffic signs or laws around where you are. For instance, if you see a car approaching a stop sign, make sure they are slowing down significantly before starting to cross the street.
Poor Visibility
Drivers in vehicles don’t always have clear views of nearby sidewalks and pedestrian through-ways. This is especially true at night or during certain types of weather. Drivers are supposed to slow down and be extra vigilant around areas where there might be pedestrians, yet many fail to exercise the appropriate level of caution and fail to see a pedestrian until it’s too late.
Staying Safe: If you are traveling at night, make sure you are wearing reflective clothing so that drivers can see you in the dark. On days when it is foggy, or there are other weather conditions that might make it hard for drivers to see, exercise extreme caution when stepping into the road.
What Are Some Common Injuries from Pedestrian Accidents?
Pedestrian accidents are always dangerous; even low-speed collisions can cause grave injuries. Simply put, the human body has no protection against a vehicle, so any contact can result in major injuries to vital organs. Fatalities can easily result.
It is important to note that if you have been involved in a pedestrian accident, you should seek medical treatment as soon as you possibly can, even if you don’t appear to have any injuries. Many injuries may take time to show symptoms, and seeing a doctor is the only way that you can prove that your injuries were a result of the accident.
Here are some common injuries that are seen from pedestrian accidents:
Head and Brain Injuries
Head and brain injuries can easily happen during pedestrian accidents. After the initial impact, the pedestrian may strike the windshield, the hood of the vehicle, or the pavement nearby.
Even if you were in a minor accident, if your head was impacted in any way, you should immediately seek medical treatment. Brain injuries are not always externally obvious, and a doctor will be able to perform tests, like brain scans or neuropsychological exams, to help diagnose the injuries.
Neck Injuries
It is common to see cervical spine disc injuries in pedestrian accidents. These injuries may cause throbbing pain or numbness.
Back Injuries
Back injuries can be extremely painful and debilitating. In extreme cases, impacts from a heavy moving object can cause your spinal cord to sever, which would result in paralysis. Major injuries may require surgery, long-term rehabilitation, and even life-long care. For more-minor injuries, a doctor will be able to prescribe a course of action to help relieve the pain, such as steroid injections that can help reduce inflammation and cause some pain relief.
Broken Bones
It is not uncommon for broken bones to occur because of the impact of a pedestrian striking a vehicle or hitting the ground.
When You’re Hurt, Let Us Help Take Care of Your Needs
At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, our lawyers care about our clients and want to help them get back on their feet after an injury. In addition to talking you through your case and informing you about your options, we are also able to do the following to help you return to your regular life as soon as possible.
We would love to help you:
- Connect with a rental car provider
- Find a quality repair shop for your vehicle
- Get you paid for loss of use of your vehicle
- Locate a doctor who will not charge you out of pocket
- Access pre-settlement loans
- Receive the highest possible settlement
Insurance Companies Are Not on Fighting for You
With catchy slogans and theme songs, insurance companies want to make it seem like they exist to help you. By comparing themselves to family or neighbors, they make it seem like they have your best interests in mind. However, insurance companies are ultimately just that — a company. As such, they are generally concerned with maximizing their profits. Unfortunately for the victim of an accident, that also means that they will try to compensate you at the lowest level they can.
If you’ve been in an accident, you are likely dealing with many new stressors. You may have medical bills for hospital stays or procedures, you may have new medications to pay for, you may be out of work, and you still have all your bills from before the accident to worry about. Insurance companies know that this is a stressful time and that you might feel strapped for cash. They are hoping that if they make it easy for you to file a claim, you’ll quickly accept the first offer presented to you.
Unfortunately for you, that first offer may not be for the amount you deserve. Even if it feels easier to get the money and move on, this is when calling a lawyer to help fight for you can really pay off. We can help protect you against lowball offers from the insurance company. We will work to gather evidence so that we can determine the amount of compensation you will need to cover all of your losses from the accident, and then we will work to help you get that amount. We believe that our clients deserve their best shot at rebuilding their lives after a catastrophic accident, and the first step in that process is having the financial means to do so.
What Your Compensation Can Cover
When you are fighting for compensation from the insurance companies, you might just be thinking about money to cover your medical bills. However, your lawyer can help you determine all the ways the accident has affected your life.
We will look at getting you money for:
- Past medical bills
- Future medical bills and rehab
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Travel expenses
Choose Experienced Pedestrian Accident Attorneys
The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm has the knowledge and expertise to be able to fight for you after your pedestrian accident. Our sole aim is to help give you the best chance at recovering the compensation that you deserve.
We will help you put together your claim: we will gather evidence from your accident, including police reports, medical charts, and witness testimony, all of which will be used in calculating the amount of compensation you will need to recover from your accident.
Over the years, we have had many satisfied clients, as evidenced by the many 5-star reviews we’ve received. Call (470) 323-8779 or contact us today using our quick form so that you can schedule your free, no-risk consultation. Let us fight for you to get what you need to get your life back after your pedestrian accident!
