Georgia’s warm climate and the abundance of resources within the urban areas of Decatur and Atlanta make walking to local destinations a healthy choice for the body and an eco-friendly option for the environment. However, pedestrians are highly vulnerable to grave injuries when involved in traffic accidents.
Both pedestrians and motorists have to follow relevant traffic laws to stay safe, and both can be liable, or partly at fault in an accident. But when a pedestrian is seriously injured due to a driver’s negligence or recklessness, they have the right to seek compensation for their injuries. An unprotected pedestrian faces serious risks in a collision with a 4,000-pound vehicle. If you or your family member was seriously injured in a pedestrian accident, call the Decatur pedestrian accident lawyers at Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers today for a free evaluation of your personal injury case so you can take the first step toward maximizing your recovery.
How Does Fault Work in a Pedestrian Accident?
Georgia’s traffic laws include rules for both motorists and foot traffic, intended to protect vulnerable pedestrians. The law states that pedestrians in Decatur and throughout Georgia’s urban areas must remain on the sidewalk wherever one is provided for foot traffic. Pedestrians crossing a street mid-block must yield the right of way to traffic and wait until it’s safe to cross. At a marked crosswalk or unmarked crosswalk on sidewalks ending in intersections, pedestrians have the right of way but must use traffic signal devices where present.
Motorists in Georgia are tasked with practicing due diligence to protect all pedestrians and must yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk.
When a motorist’s act of negligence, recklessness, or wrongdoing such as drunk driving, causes a pedestrian accident, they must pay compensation for damages according to the state’s comparative fault system. If the pedestrian is partly at fault for the accident, their compensation is reduced by the percentage of their fault. Sadly, insurance companies often try to manipulate the comparative fault system and use additional tactics to minimize, undervalue, or deny a claim. A skilled Decatur pedestrian accident attorney understands how to counteract these tactics with fact-based evidence proving liability.
Steps to Take After a Pedestrian Accident
Once you’ve been seriously injured in a pedestrian accident, you may be able to do little more than wait for emergency services and contact an attorney later. However, if you can use your phone, or ask someone else to use your phone, it can be your greatest tool for protecting your physical and financial future. Use your smartphone after a pedestrian accident for the following:
- Call 911 to report the accident
- Take photos of the involved vehicles, your injuries, and the accident scene
- Collect contact information for involved drivers and eyewitnesses
After you go to the hospital, get a very thorough examination and tell your medical providers about every symptom. Ask for a detailed report with information about your injuries, treatment recommendations, and prognosis. Later, take this report, the police report, and your medical bills and contact a Decatur pedestrian accident attorney before dealing with insurance representatives.
What Can I Get for My Pedestrian Accident Claim in Decatur?
When an accident wasn’t your fault, the liable party must compensate you for your damages according to the terms of their insurance policy. Damages can include:
- Medical bills
- Future medical expenses for further treatment
- Lost pay and future wage loss including lowered earning capacity if you are disabled from the accident
- Pain and suffering
- Other non-economic damages such as loss of enjoyment of life, loss of limb, disfigurement, and PTSD
You are entitled to compensation when you’re hurt due to someone’s negligent actions. Once you have the compensation you’re due you can better focus on healing from your injuries.
Why Choose Us for Your Decatur Pedestrian Accident Case?
When a walk ends in serious injuries, your life can change dramatically. At Bowen Painter Injury Lawyers we understand the devastating impacts of a pedestrian accident. One of our lawyers will advocate for your interests through every stage of the process from investigating liability and filing a timely claim, to negotiating with insurance companies, and all the way to a courtroom if needed. Call our Decatur pedestrian accident lawyers today for a free evaluation of your pedestrian accident case or contact us here. We don’t get paid until we secure your financial compensation so our attorneys are both compassionate and highly motivated.
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