Pedestrians have come to expect a measure of safety when they walk in a crosswalk. After all, they are not jaywalking, which is illegal. Instead they are crossing where they should cross. Unfortunately, thousands of people are injured in crosswalk accidents every year. If you or your loved one was injured in a crosswalk accident, you need compensation to pay your bills and support your family. Negligent drivers and insurance companies must be held accountable.
At MG Law, our lawyers are here to help anyone who has been struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk. Even the most careful pedestrian can be mowed down when a trucker or motorist plows through an intersection or makes a right-hand turn on red without properly checking that the way is clear. Please contact our firm today to gain a better understanding of your legal rights. We offer free, strictly confidential initial consultations to injured victims.

Georgia Has a Terrible Pedestrian Safety Record

According to the Governor’s Highway Association, Georgia has one of the worst states for pedestrian safety. It had the fifth highest number of pedestrian fatalities in 2019, behind only California, Texas, Florida, and New York. The state consistently ranks in the top 5 annually.
These accidents kill. A pedestrian is completely unprotected when a 4,000-pound vehicle comes barreling through the intersection and slams into them. Even when vehicles are going slower, they can clip a pedestrian and send him sprawling.
Despite our state’s terrible safety record, Georgia has not yet made the kinds of changes necessary to bring these fatality numbers down. It is up to all of us to make pedestrian safety a priority.

Why Crosswalk Accidents Happen In Atlanta, GA

You are waiting patiently for the signal telling you it is safe to cross, and when the signal comes on you confidently stride into the crosswalk. Unfortunately, whether you make it to the other side safely is largely out of your hands.

Many crosswalk accidents are caused by negligent or reckless drivers. These motorists are engaged in dangerous activities, and the consequences are deadly for pedestrians:

  • Texting and driving
  • Distracted driving
  • Speeding
  • Running a red light
  • Trying to maneuver around pedestrians
  • Impaired motorists

Crosswalks often give pedestrians a false sense of security. They assume that motorists are coming to a complete stop and that they can walk across the road unmolested. Unfortunately, many motorists are rolling through a red light or making a right-hand turn on red without checking to see if any pedestrians are crossing.

Sometimes, a crosswalk itself is dangerous. For example, it might be missing the necessary lights or markers on the road. In these types of cases, the government has allowed a dangerous crosswalk to exist, endangering people’s lives.  While most pedestrian accident claims are filed against negligent motorists and their insurers, you may also be able to bring a crosswalk accident injury claim directly against a government entity.

Common Crosswalk Accident Injuries

Sadly, pedestrian collisions can lead to some of the most severe types of motor vehicle accident injuries. Even when a crosswalk collision occurs at a relatively low speed, the consequences can still be devastating, even life-threatening. At MG Law, our Atlanta crosswalk accident lawyers have the skills and experience to handle the full range of injuries.  Our clients experience the type of traumatic injuries we see in many types of car accidents, including:

  • Fractures
  • Head injuries
  • Concussions
  • Back injuries
  • Abrasions and friction burns
  • Soft-tissue injury
  • Spinal cord damage

Because a pedestrian is so exposed, their injuries are often worse than anything suffered by people sitting buckled up in a car. It is vital that accident victims contact our crosswalk accident lawyers in Atlanta as soon as possible.  You need immediate medical attention, competent follow-up care, and financial compensation to pay your bills and support your family.

Crosswalk Accident Liability: Your Guide To Georgia Law

All motorists and pedestrians should have a basic understanding of Georgia’s crosswalk laws. Our state has put clear regulations in place to help promote and protect pedestrian safety. While more should be done to reduce accidents, these laws matter. The regulations impose responsibilities on both drivers and pedestrians. Here are the most important things you need to know about Georgia’s crosswalk and pedestrian laws:  

  1. Right-of-Way in Crosswalks: First and foremost, pedestrians have the right-of-way when in a crosswalk. Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-91), all motorists should “stop and stay stopped” when approaching a pedestrian who is crossing in a marked crosswalk. It is imperative that drivers are exceptionally careful when around crosswalks, especially in areas with children. 
  2. Pedestrians Should Follow Signals: Pedestrians have clear responsibilities as well. In Georgia (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-22), both pedestrians and drivers should follow any active traffic signals. If a pedestrian is crossing against the signals at a crosswalk, they could potentially be held partially responsible for an accident. Insurance companies are always looking for a way to reduce their liability by blaming a crash on the injured pedestrian. Our Atlanta crosswalk lawyers will protect your rights. 
  3. Crossing Outside of a Crosswalk: Of course, not every intersection in Atlanta has a marked crosswalk. Quite the contrary, many places lack crosswalks. Under Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-92), there are guidelines for pedestrian crossing outside of a crosswalk. Generally, pedestrians should yield the right-of-way to motorists if they are not crossing at a crosswalk or at an intersection. 

Georgia is a fault-based pedestrian accident state. Every serious motor vehicle accident should be investigated by an experienced attorney. Sorting out liability after a crash is not always so straightforward. To hold a negligent driver legally liable for a crosswalk accident, you need evidence that proves that the defendant was at fault for the crash. In investigating your accident, our Atlanta crosswalk accident lawyers will secure all of the evidence and information you need to prove fault and recover full financial compensation.

Compensation in Your Time of Need

In Georgia, pedestrian accident victims can recover financial compensation for the full extent of their losses. Unfortunately, the big insurance companies are not eager to pay claims. At the end of the day, big companies are most interested in protecting their profits. They fight aggressively to resolve claims for the minimum amount of compensation. At MG Law, we know how to hold negligent motorists and large insurance companies accountable.   Our attorneys have brought successful claims against motorists and government officials because we understand that accident victims and their families need compensation after a devastating crash. To that end, we have sought damages for:

  • Medical care, including future medical care for permanent injuries
  • Lost income, including lost future earning capacity when a client is permanently impaired
  • Property damage
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress and other intangible losses

You May Be Entitled To Punitive Damages

When a motorist engages in outrageous conduct—running a red light, for example, or driving while high or intoxicated—our clients might qualify for punitive damages. These damages are designed to punish the defendant for his reprehensible conduct and to discourage others from committing similar acts.  Although punitive damages are only available in a limited number of crosswalk accident claims, our attorneys always explore every available option.  At MG Law, we remain committed to doing everything possible to help our clients get the maximum financial recovery after a crash.

Let Our Crosswalk Accident Lawyers in Atlanta Help

No victim is automatically entitled to compensation, no matter how injured. Instead, our lawyers must prove that someone is at fault for a collision. Proving fault requires careful attention to the evidence in any case, such as what a motorist said when exiting a vehicle following a collision and what bystanders witnessed. Your own memories and medical records are also key, so we carefully go over everything that you know about that accident. 
At MG Law, our Atlanta crosswalk accident lawyers are ready to take immediate action to protect your rights. 

We know the personal injury claims process and we have a long, well-documented record of achieving successful case results for injured victims.  When it comes time to negotiate with an insurance company, MG Law does not back down. We don’t easily accept, “No,” but work continually to increase our client’s financial recovery.   As we represent injured pedestrians on a contingency basis, so you do not have to worry about the cost of hiring a lawyer. Our clients pay nothing unless we win their case.

Call Our Atlanta Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Today For A Free Consultation

At MG Law, our Atlanta pedestrian accident attorneys have the skills, knowledge, and experience to handle the full range of crosswalk accident claims. If you or someone you know was injured in a crosswalk collision, we are here as a resource. For help with your case, please meet with us for a free consultation. We can be reached by calling us or sending an online message. From our Atlanta law office, we handle crosswalk accident injury claims throughout the entire region, including in Fulton County and DeKalb County.

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