Sandy Springs Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
If a negligent driver hits you while you are running, jogging, or walking along the road, you may be entitled to compensation. Often when these accidents happen, it is because the driver’s full attention is not on the road. It only takes a moment of distraction or inattention to cause an accident that may severely impact the lives of those who are injured. Pedestrian accidents happen all too often. If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, a Sandy Springs pedestrian accident lawyer could help you understand your options. By working with a detail-oriented personal injury attorney, you can make sure you have the resources you need to recover fully.
Pedestrian Accidents and Injuries
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 129,000 pedestrians sought emergency medical treatment for injuries related to a crash in 2015. Many factors contribute to this alarming number of accident-related pedestrian injuries, including:
- Driver distraction;
- Alcohol or drug use;
- Road or weather conditions;
- Speeding; and
- Failure to yield.
A pedestrian accident can result in a wide array of injuries. Soft tissue injuries, such as strains and sprains of the neck and back, are common. Brain and spinal cord injuries may also occur and can be debilitating. These injuries tend to affect a person’s movement and cognitive function, and the effects can be permanent in some cases.
An individual who has just been hit by a vehicle should seek medical attention, even if they are not experiencing any pain or discomfort. Not all injuries are visible or even symptomatic immediately following an accident. Further, adrenaline can also mask the effects of an injury.
Medical professionals may use diagnostic tools such as CT scans, MRI, and x-rays to detect injuries that might not have been discovered otherwise. A person injured in a pedestrian accident may also wish to seek the advice of a Sandy Springs pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible. An accomplished attorney could help guide the person to avoid having the driver’s insurance company take advantage of them.
Duties of Sandy Springs Drivers and Pedestrians
Drivers and pedestrians have legal duties to others on the roadways. Under the Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 40-6-93, drivers have a duty to exercise ordinary care to avoid collisions with anyone they encounter on the roadway. This includes pedestrians. Failure to exercise ordinary care may be the basis of a negligence action if such failure causes bodily injury.
Pedestrians have a duty to exercise reasonable care concerning their own safety on the roadways as well. For example, pedestrians should remain on the sidewalks or shoulders of a roadway where practicable and cross safely by staying in crosswalks and following the applicable signals.
If pedestrians, fail to remain a safe distance from traffic or fail to obey pedestrian traffic signals, the negligent driver could try to claim they contributed to their own injuries. If successful, this argument could result in a reduction of the damages that the injured party can recover. A pedestrian accident lawyer in Sandy Springs could provide additional information regarding the duties that drivers owe to pedestrians and how an injured pedestrian may seek recovery.
Speak with a Sandy Springs Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Pedestrian accidents are often preventable. If drivers remain attentive and alert to other drivers and pedestrians on the roadways, these incidents are less likely to occur. However, if you were injured in a pedestrian accident the next steps that you take are vital to your recovery. Call a Sandy Springs pedestrian accident lawyer to learn more about your rights and determine your next steps.
