Car accidents in Georgia vary from simple parked car accidents to more complex semi truck accidents. Unfortunately, car accidents also involve pedestrians. Pedestrian accidents occur when a car strikes a person walking, jogging or simply standing on the sidewalk. The consequences of these types of accidents are disastrous for the pedestrian, especially as these persons–as opposed to drivers and passengers of motor vehicles–have no protection from the oncoming vehicle. This means that there is high potential for a serious injury or wrongful death. If you were in a pedestrian-car accident and suffered injuries, then you should understand the basics of pedestrian-car accidents so that you can fully recover for any losses you suffer.
Pedestrian Accidents Occur Often
In the U.S. alone, there are over 110,000 pedestrian accidents each year. Pedestrians are 1.5 times more likely to be involved in an accident than a passenger. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2012, 4,743 pedestrians were killed in car accident and 76,000 were injured. Pedestrian accidents are more common in high volume traffic areas. Some accidents occur at intersections but not all. Areas with higher speed limits are less safe for pedestrians since drivers are less likely to be expecting to need to slow down or stop.
What Causes Pedestrian Accidents?
There is no one factor that explains the frequency of pedestrian accidents. However, careless or distracted driving often plays a factor in pedestrian accidents. A driver who is distracted or pre-occupied may fail to notice a speed limit or fail to yield at a crosswalk. This also happens because drivers are unaware of Georgia laws that protect pedestrians at crosswalks.
Pedestrian Accidents Cause Serious Injuries
Pedestrian accidents are typically more serious and recovery can be expensive. Pedestrians who have been struck by a car may experience a wide variety of injuries that include:
- Traumatic brain injury,
- Spinal cord injury,
- Back injury,
- Paraplegia,
- Quadriplegia,
- Organ damage,
- Broken bones, or
- Coma.
These severe and devastating injuries that can arise from a pedestrian accident can also result in significant economic losses for the victim. Victims of pedestrian accidents should consider pursuing a personal injury lawsuit to seek damages for medical costs, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering and other non economic costs that result from a severe injury.
Atlanta Pedestrian Accidents Are Complicated
Pedestrian accidents are as complicated as accidents involving car or truck accidents. However, understanding how insurance coverage will operate for a pedestrian accident is critical to ensuring a pedestrian is able to begin recovering from a pedestrian-car accident. Pedestrians almost always suffer serious injuries after a collision with a car. The most important part of pursuing a personal injury lawsuit is to figure out the compensation that the victim will need to cover current and future medical costs. This type of analysis can be complicated and confusing; contacting the car accident attorneys at 1Georgia Injury Lawyers, PLLC will help simplify this process. We can analyze the facts of your accidents and advocate for an award to fully compensate you for your losses. Please contact us today to discuss how we can help you begin recovering compensation.
