Conyers Crosswalk Accident Attorney
Far too many people are injured in pedestrian collisions in the state of Georgia. According to the latest information from the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, approximately 160 people are killed in pedestrian accidents in an average year. Many more innocent victims sustain severe, sometimes life-changing injuries.
One of the most common places that pedestrian accidents occur is at or near a crosswalk. Unfortunately, Georgia drivers frequently disobey the state’s crosswalk regulations, failing to stop for a pedestrian who has the right of way. Negligent drivers put the safety of pedestrians at serious risk.
Victims of crosswalk accidents need to be able to get full and fair financial compensation to pay for their medical bills and to support their families. At MG Law, our skilled Conyers car accident lawyers have extensive experience handling crosswalk injury claims. We are committed to fighting for the rights and interests of injured victims.
If you or a family member was hurt in an accident that occurred at or near a crosswalk or intersection in Conyers, GA, please contact our law firm to get immediate assistance with your claim.
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Crosswalk Regulations in Georgia
Everyone in Conyers understands the state’s rules and regulations regarding crosswalks. Under the Georgia code (§ 40-6-91), drivers in the state must “stop and stay stopped” for pedestrians who are crossing the street within a crosswalk. It is not simply enough for drivers to give pedestrians the right of way. Instead, drivers must go the extra mile to ensure that they are looking out for pedestrians’ safety at all crosswalks.
When a pedestrian is within a crosswalk on the half of the road in which a driver is traveling, that driver must stop and remain stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross the roadway. Once again, ‘stop’ is the operative word. Yielding is not always sufficient to comply with the law. Georgia drivers are not permitted to ‘squeeze’ around pedestrians who are still in the road, even if they believe that there is sufficient room to do so. Pedestrians’ rights come first at crosswalks in Conyers.
Crosswalks in Conyers, Georgia
While there are certainly marked crosswalks in Conyers, and in other communities throughout our region, not every crosswalk in the state is marked. In fact, many intersections have unmarked crosswalks. The Georgia state legal code (§ 40-1-1) defines a crosswalk as being one of the following two things:
- The part of the road at an intersection that allows for a walking connection between the sidewalks or travelable road edges; or
- The distinctly marked lines for a pedestrian crossing that can exist both at or away from intersections.
These definitions can be somewhat confusing, so it is important to be clear on what they mean: Crosswalks that are away from intersections will be marked in a way to indicate that they exist, but crosswalks at intersections are only sometimes marked. Georgia drivers must always keep in mind that not all crosswalks are at intersections and not all crosswalks are marked.
Who Is Liable In A Crosswalk Accident?
After a pedestrian accident, an in-depth investigation of the collision will be required. Georgia is an ‘at fault’ car insurance fault. While most crosswalk accidents are the fault of a motorist, you will still be required to prove that fact to the insurance company.
There are some cases in which insurers will attempt to blame all or part of an accident on the injured victim. Crosswalk injuries occur for a wide variety of different reasons. Some of the most common reasons why crosswalk accidents happen are as follows:
- Aggressive drivers attempting to get a jump on a light;
- Drivers running a red light, stop sign, or yield sign;
- Drivers making an illegal u-turn or an unsafe lane change;
- Distracted driving, including texting or talking on the phone while driving;
- Drunk or drugged driving;
- Speeding or driving too fast for road conditions.
Georgia operates under comparative fault rules. This means that liability for an accident is divided following each party’s level of fault for that crash. A driver who was at fault for 100 percent of a crosswalk accident will be responsible for 100 percent of the victim’s damages. However, a driver who was at fault for only 60 percent will only be liable for 60 percent of the victim’s damages.
This frequently becomes an issue in crosswalk accident cases. The big insurance companies are known to try to push some of the blame for the collision onto the injured pedestrian. If they can get away with this, the pedestrian’s total compensation will be reduced, possibly by a significant amount. If you were hurt in a crosswalk accident, and the opposing insurance company is trying to blame you for the collision, you need to speak to an experienced Conyers pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Compensation Available For Injured Victims
If you or your family member was hurt in a crosswalk accident in Conyers, you may be wondering how much financial compensation will be available. In Georgia, pedestrian accident victims are entitled to compensation for the full value of their damages. Unfortunately, obtaining a full settlement offer from the insurance company is often very difficult.
Our Conyers crosswalk injury attorneys can help. We work tirelessly to ensure that injured pedestrians can recover every dollar that they deserve. You may be able to recover for:
- Emergency medical bills;
- Long-term medical treatment;
- Visits to specialists;
- Physical therapy;
- Required counseling;
- Long-term disability;
- Lost wages;
- Diminished ability to earn a living;
- Pain and suffering;
- Mental anguish;
- Disfigurement;
- Loss of limb; and
- Wrongful death damages.
Contact Our Crosswalk Accident Lawyers in Conyers
At MG Law, our Conyers, GA car accident lawyers have extensive experience handling pedestrian collisions claims, including crosswalk accident cases. If you or a loved one was hurt in a pedestrian accident in Rockdale County, we are here to help.
Please do not hesitate to contact our Conyers, GA office today at (770) 766-0935 to schedule a free legal consultation. Our law firm takes on all pedestrian injury claims on a contingency basis — that means that we only get paid if we win or successfully settle your personal injury case.
