Gwinnett County Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Since 2012, deaths due to pedestrian accidents have been on the rise in Gwinnett County. While not all pedestrian accidents result in a fatality, they typically all involve the pedestrian sustaining serious injuries that may stay with them for the rest of their lives.
Both motorists and pedestrians have an obligation to keep themselves and those around them safe while they are on the road. If they fail to do so and injure someone as a result, they could be found negligent and liable to pay compensation to injured parties. Anyone seriously injured in a pedestrian accident should speak to a compassionate injury attorney. A Gwinnett County pedestrian accident lawyer can help with analyzing, filing, and following through with their case.
Obligations of Local Drivers
Drivers always have a responsibility to drive as safely as possible when on the roads. This includes not driving at excessive speeds, not driving while impaired, and always paying attention to what is going on around them. They must also obey traffic signals and signs, including crosswalks.
When approaching a sidewalk, drivers in Gwinnett County must legally stop and remain stopped for a pedestrian that is crossing through a crosswalk. They cannot try to cut off or squeeze by the pedestrian, and other drivers may not try to overtake or pass a vehicle that is stopped in front of an occupied crosswalk.
If a driver fails to obey these laws and subsequently injures a pedestrian, a Gwinnett County pedestrian accident lawyer may be able to help prove they were negligent. If the resulting civil suit is successful, the driver of the car could be held liable for paying compensation to the injured pedestrian.
Obligations of Gwinnett County Pedestrians
Just as drivers have a responsibility to keep themselves and others on the road safe, so too do pedestrians. First and foremost, pedestrians must cross the street as safely as possible at all times. In ideal cases, they should use crosswalks to do so, but when there is no crosswalk available, pedestrians must yield to vehicles and make sure it is safe for them to cross the street before doing so.
Pedestrians cannot jump out in front of vehicles that do not have a reasonable amount of time to stop for them. However, when a pedestrian has entered the road safely and a vehicle suddenly approaches, it is the responsibility of the vehicle to stop for the pedestrian.
When a driver hits a pedestrian and causes serious injury, they sometimes try to shift the blame to the pedestrian by stating that the pedestrian was jaywalking. However, there is no law pertaining to jaywalking applicable in Gwinnett County. Because of this, pedestrians can cross the road at any point, as long as they have ensured it is safe for them to do so.
Comparative Negligence Law
Gwinnett County follows comparative negligence statutes. Under this type of law, injured parties may be held partly accountable for accidents in which they are involved. If an accident victim shares partial fault for the incident in question, the potential compensation is reduced based on their own percentage of fault.
In many cases, it can be difficult for a Gwinnett County pedestrian accident lawyer to prove they were not to blame at all for their accident. For instance, a pedestrian who enters a roadway safely and then gets hit by a negligent driver may have trouble proving that they did not jump out in front of the vehicle. However, a Gwinnett County pedestrian accident attorney could help prove a pedestrian was not at fault for the accident, even when the other party is claiming they were.
How a Gwinnett County Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Could Help
If you were seriously injured in a pedestrian accident, speak to a Gwinnett County pedestrian accident lawyer who could help. The time immediately after a serious accident should be a time for you to focus on your recovery. An experienced attorney could help you do this by reviewing your case, investigating the incident, and help you get the compensation you may be entitled to. Call now to see what could be done in your case.
