Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents are more common than you might think and are among the most serious accidents on our roads today. This is because, unlike other road users, pedestrians have no physical protection, meaning that they suffer the brunt of the impact of the collision.
A pedestrian accident can leave you with serious and debilitating injuries requiring long-term and expensive medical care. In addition, it can lead to many other unwanted consequences, drastically altering your life.
Most pedestrian accidents are completely avoidable and are often the result of the negligence of drivers who fail to yield the right way to pedestrians, fail to pay attention to pedestrians or fail to adhere to basic traffic rules. In the unfortunate event that you or a loved one is the victim of a pedestrian accident, our Tucker pedestrian accident lawyers can help.
Our expert team at Hurt Boss can help ensure that you get the financial compensation that you need to get back your life. Call our Tucker car accident lawyers today at 678-806-7715 to schedule a free appointment.
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Main Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
In an ideal world, drivers would adhere to all traffic rules and ensure the safety of all road users. However, this is far from the case. In this section, we are going to take a look at some of the common causes of pedestrian accidents:
Failure to Yield Right of Way
Most drivers fail don’t know about or fail to acknowledge the fact that pedestrians, like other road users, also have rights when using the road. And as a result, they end up hitting and seriously injuring or killing innocent pedestrians.
A good example and also a very common cause of pedestrian accidents is when a driver turns at an intersection and ends up hitting a pedestrian attempting to cross the road. It is important to note that at such crossings pedestrians usually have the right of way.
Speeding
Speeding is another common cause of pedestrian accidents. Not only does speeding make it harder for a driver to control the vehicle, but it also increases the stopping distance and makes it harder to spot a pedestrian on time.
All these factors significantly increase the likelihood of the driver causing a pedestrian accident. And what makes things even worse is the fact the impact of a speeding vehicle causes significantly more damage to the human body than a car moving at normal speed.
Driving Under the Influence
One of the biggest culprits when it comes to pedestrian accidents is drunk driving. There is a reason why almost all states treat drunk driving as a serious crime. Consuming alcohol beyond the legal limit compromises your judgment, slows your reaction time, and also leads to careless and reckless behavior that increases your odds of colliding with pedestrians.
Poor Lighting
It is important that drivers see and clearly identify pedestrians on the road, otherwise, the possibility of a serious accident will always be there. Faulty headlights at night and poor weather conditions diminish visibility and increase the likelihood of a driver hitting a pedestrian. If you or a loved one is hit by a motorist driving a car with faulty headlights, you can sue them for negligence.
Distracted Driving
This is by far one of the leading causes of pedestrian accidents. In fact, it is such a big problem that the state of Georgia has put in place various measures to try and curb accidents caused by distracted driving. Distracted driving puts the driver and other road users at serious risk of injury or death. Talking on a phone or texting while driving is the most common type of distracted driving.
If you’ve been involved in a pedestrian, our expert team of attorneys will conduct a thorough investigation into your accident and determine what exactly caused your accident. They will collect all the necessary evidence including working with accident reconstruction experts to prove that the driver was responsible for the accident.
What Should I Do After a Pedestrian Accident in Tucker, GA?
Knowing what to do after a pedestrian accident is crucial to ensure your health and wellbeing, and also the best chances of success in your personal injury case later on. So, here is what you need to do if you are ever involved in a pedestrian accident:
Seek Medical Assistance Immediately
Your health should your topmost priority after any type of accident, especially after a pedestrian accident. After all, nothing else will matter if you lose your health. Keep in mind that some types of internal injuries may take to manifest or might be masked by the spike in adrenaline levels in your system at the time.
So, to prevent any major complications, ensure your health, and also have your injuries documented by a licensed medical practitioner, it is imperative that you seek medical attention as soon as possible. It is typically recommended that you do so within 72 hours, consider doing so as soon as you leave the scene of the accident.
Document Your Injuries
This step is crucial as it will help to support your claims later on. If possible, use your smartphone to take photos and videos of the scene, and note down important details about the accident. Remember to take photos of any visible injuries that you may have suffered, alcohol bottles in the vehicle, presence of skid marks, and so on.
Call the Police
You should always report any type of road accident to law enforcement. Not only is it a legal requirement to call the police when involved in an accident involving injuries, death, and property damage over $500, but an official accident report from the police will form a crucial part of the evidence in your case.
Do Not Discuss Fault on the Scene or With the Motorist’s Insurance Company
While it is important that you remain respectful and polite to the driver, you should never apologize or admit fault for the accident. Remember, fault is only determined after thorough investigations. So, leave this task to the police, insurance adjusters, and your lawyer.
Contact Your Insurance Company
Any time you are involved in an accident, you should notify your insurance company as soon as possible, preferably within 72 hours of the accident. Provide them with all the details of your accident and let them start their investigations.
Seek Professional Legal Assistance
The next important step should be to get in touch with an experienced pedestrian accident attorney. An attorney will advise you on the best possible course of action and help to ensure that you get the justice and financial compensation that you deserve.
How Do You Determine Liability or Fault in a Pedestrian Accident in Georgia?
For the driver to be held liable for the accident and resulting damages, you need to prove the following elements of negligence:
- Duty of Care: The driver owed you a duty of care in that particular situation. Drivers are expected to follow all traffic rules and exercise safe driving while on the road.
- Breach of Duty: The driver violated their duty of care. For example, were overspeeding, driving while drunk, or were distracted at the time of the accident.
- Causation: You need to prove that your injuries were the direct result of the accident and not something else.
- Damages: You also need to prove that as a result of the accident, you suffered actual and compensable damages.
How Can a Tucker Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Help Me?
There is a lot that an attorney can do to help your case. The duties of a Georgia pedestrian accident attorney are many and diverse. Here is how an attorney can help:
Case Preparation
Your attorney will start by reviewing your case and launching a thorough and independent investigation into the case. They will advise you on your case and gather all the requisite evidence to prove your claims. They will also file all the necessary evidence ensuring that is done properly and on time.
Settlement Negotiations
You should refrain from submitting any recorded statements to the insurance company without legal representation. The last thing you’d want is to give the insurance company a reason to deny or devalue your claim. Your attorney will handle all communication and negotiations with the insurance company.
Trial Preparation & Representation
In case the negotiations fail to bear any fruits, your attorney will prepare your case for trial. An experienced pedestrian accident attorney is familiar with all the parties and procedures involved with the local court system. An attorney offers you the best chances of success in your case.
How Long Do I Have to File Pedestrian Injury Claim in Georgia?
In the state of Georgia, you only have two years from the date of the accident to file a pedestrian accident personal injury case. It is, however, recommended that you take action as soon as possible after the accident. This gives you and your attorney the best chances of success in your case.
How Much Will a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Cost?
Understandably, you might be concerned about how much hiring an attorney will cost you. After all, you don’t want to end up in a worse financial situation. Fortunately, when dealing with a pedestrian accident personal injury case, hiring an attorney might prove to be the best financial decision.
This is because our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you don’t have to pay us anything until we’ve secured a favorable settlement or verdict for you. We will only deduct a percentage from your compensation as our payment.
Get in Touch With an Experienced Tucker Pedestrian Accident Lawyer!
A pedestrian accident can leave you devastated and dealing with a wide range of problems including expensive medical bills. Fortunately, our team of experienced Tucker personal injury attorneys can help quickly get you on the path to recovery and financial stability. You don’t have to bear the burden of someone else’s mistakes on your own.
At The Hurt Boss, we have been representing accident victims in Tucker for over 20 years and have helped past clients recover millions in compensation. Get in touch with us today at 678-806-7715 to schedule a free appointment.
