Pedestrian accidents often lead to catastrophic injuries. Victims can endure immense financial hardship, physical pain, and emotional anguish. Unfortunately, many such accidents occur because of drivers’ negligent behavior.
Our Atlanta pedestrian accident attorneys can help victims recover compensation from at-fault motorists. The monetary damages available through pedestrian accident lawsuits can provide crucial support to plaintiffs during troubling times.
If you suffered injuries because of a pedestrian accident in Atlanta, get help obtaining the payment you deserve. Get in touch with our Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyers by calling Howe Law at (888) 559-7612. Our experienced attorneys can review your case for free.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrian accidents can occur due to various reasons, including:
- Distracted Driving: Drivers who are texting, talking on the phone, or eating while driving can fail to notice pedestrians, leading to accidents.
- Speeding: Excessive speeding can reduce a driver’s reaction time, making it difficult to stop in time to avoid hitting a pedestrian.
- Failure to Yield: Drivers who fail to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks or intersections can cause serious accidents.
- Poor Road Design: Roads with inadequate lighting, poor visibility, or lack of pedestrian infrastructure can increase the risk of pedestrian accidents.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Atlanta
Determining the cause of your collision is a crucial step toward recovering compensation for the harm you incurred. Atlanta pedestrian accident injuries often involve complex legal and insurance challenges, making it essential to hire experienced attorneys. There are multiple forms of negligent behavior that can lead to pedestrian accidents. Our Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyers can investigate whether your accident stems from one of the following causes:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a very common cause of pedestrian accidents in Atlanta. Distracted drivers will have trouble controlling their vehicles and obeying traffic signals. Many accidents caused by distracted drivers occur at intersections during periods of high pedestrian traffic.
There are three forms of distraction that can occur. Drivers can become manually, visually, or cognitively distracted. The following are examples of activities that frequently distract drivers in Atlanta:
- Texting
- Talking on the phone
- Entering information into a GPS
- Eating or drinking
- Talking with other passengers
- Viewing social media on a mobile device
- Choosing music for the stereo
Certain activities like texting involve all three forms of distraction. Fortunately, if you were injured because of a pedestrian accident caused by a distracted driver, you may be entitled to monetary damages. Our attorneys can help gather evidence to support your claim and determine the liability of the at-fault driver.
Speeding
Speeding is another cause of many pedestrian accidents in Atlanta. Speeding drivers will have difficulty handling their vehicles and noticing pedestrians crossing the roadway. Furthermore, collisions that happen at high speeds have a higher propensity to cause serious injuries. Our experienced Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyers can help hold speeding motorists accountable for crashes they cause.
Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is also a cause of many pedestrian accidents. Drunk motorists will exhibit poor vision, careless decision-making abilities, and delayed reaction times. Collisions caused by drunk drivers often occur at night but can happen at any time of day. Our team can help victims build their cases against drunk motorists. Victims may also seek compensation for pain and suffering resulting from such incidents.
Improper Left Turns
Furthermore, many pedestrian accidents happen because drivers commit improper left turns. Drivers who fail to yield the right-of-way before making left turns at intersections can cause devastating collisions. Fortunately, such drivers can be sued for pedestrian accidents they cause.
Running Red Lights
Lastly, drivers who run red lights are also a common cause of pedestrian accidents. When drivers run red lights, they can cause catastrophic crashes with pedestrians who are lawfully using crosswalks. Our Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyers can help gather evidence to prove a driver who ran a red light is at fault.
Proving Fault for a Pedestrian Accident in Atlanta
For your pedestrian accident case to succeed, you must gather evidence that shows that the defendant is at fault. There are several forms of evidence that can be used to show that a negligent driver is responsible for a pedestrian accident. Our experienced Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyers can help gather and preserve any of the following types of evidence in your case:
Accident Report
After any pedestrian accident that causes an injury, a police officer should visit the scene to draft an official accident report, which is crucial for filing a pedestrian accident claim. These reports can contain a wide range of information that points to the causes of accidents. For instance, an accident report may contain statements from parties involved in the crash, statements from witnesses to the crash, or personal notes from the drafting officer regarding the crash’s cause. Our attorneys can help recover a copy of the official accident report in your case.
Physical Evidence from the Scene
Physical evidence from the scene of a pedestrian accident can also be used to prove fault. For example, pieces of shattered glass on the scene may be matched with a defendant’s broken headlight to prove that they were the driver that hit you. Furthermore, empty beer bottles found in the defendant’s vehicle may be used to show that they were impaired at the time of the collision. Our Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyers can help preserve any relevant evidence from the scene in your case.
However, some evidence may be difficult to bring into court or otherwise preserve. Therefore, other means of evidentiary documentation are allowed.
Photos from the Scene
Photos from the scene of your accident can be useful when proving fault. Such photos can be used to prove or disprove certain allegations. For example, photo showing a badly damaged vehicle may be used to prove that a defendant was speeding at the time of their accident. Furthermore, photos showing a working traffic light may be used to disprove a defendant’s theory that a broken traffic light contributed to their crash.
Accordingly, you should always take photos at the scene of your pedestrian accident if possible. Our Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyers can help review any photos you took during your free case assessment.
Witness Statements
Lastly, witness statements are another form of evidence used to prove fault for pedestrian accidents in Atlanta. For pedestrian accident victims, witnesses can provide either oral or written testimony that explains the events that occurred before, during, and after the accident. For example, a witness to your accident may help prove fault by stating that they saw the defendant driver run a red light before running into you.
Therefore, you should always attempt to retrieve contact information for witnesses to your collision if you can. Afterward, our attorneys can offer guidance and support when reaching out for their potential cooperation.
If You Were Injured Because of a Pedestrian Accident in Atlanta, Our Attorneys Can Help
If you sustained injuries because of a pedestrian accident, seek help from our experienced Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyers by calling Howe Law at (888) 559-7612 for a free review of your case.
FAQ’s
What should I do if I am involved in a pedestrian accident?
If you are involved in a pedestrian accident, the first and most important thing to do is seek medical attention for any injuries. After that, it is crucial to gather as much evidence as possible, including witness statements and contact information, photos of the scene and your injuries, police reports, and any other relevant documentation.
How can an attorney help with my pedestrian accident case?
An experienced personal injury attorney can help by gathering evidence, negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf, and advocating for your rights in court if necessary. They can also provide guidance and support throughout the legal process and ensure that you receive fair compensation for your injuries.
Can I still file a claim if I was partially at fault for the accident?
Yes, you may still be able to file a claim even if you were partially at fault for the accident. In some states, such as California, there is a comparative negligence rule where your compensation may be reduced based on the percentage of fault assigned to you. An attorney can help determine how this rule applies to your specific case.
What types of damages can I receive compensation for in a pedestrian accident case?
You may be eligible for compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. Non-economic damages may cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life due to your injuries.
