Each year over 65,000 pedestrians are struck and injured by motor vehicles in the United States. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) most of these accidents occur on public roadways in urban areas. The majority of people never imagine the possibility of being struck by a motor vehicle during their walk to work or a leisurely stroll, but the reality is that injury and death caused by a motor vehicle strike is increasingly common. The exact cause of the prevalence of such accidents is attributed to the increase of distracted driving, however, there are instances where the pedestrian may, in fact, be at fault. Regardless of the situation, if you have been struck by a motor vehicle it is critical that you immediately seek the counsel of a personal injury attorney. Your attorney will be able to answer any questions you may have and advise you on whether or not you are eligible for compensation due to the injuries you sustained.
Pedestrian Rights
In the state of Georgia, pedestrians have the right of way on all crosswalks. However, drivers are often oblivious to this rule or the existence of pedestrians on a busy street. Drivers will often try to shift the blame on pedestrians in the event that an accident occurs. In order for the pedestrian to prove that the driver was at fault, they must prove that the driver’s negligence led to the accident. In general, negligence is defined is the failure to take reasonable action to protect others from a foreseeable risk. To prove that a driver was acting negligently in an accident with a pedestrian the following must be proven: