Pedestrian accidents

Published on: September 26, 2011

Three Teenagers Killed in Clayton County Pedestrian Accident

A third teenager has succumbed to his injuries after a deadly pedestrian accident in Clayton County.Two other teenage pedestrians were also killed in the car accident last Thursday. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has confirmed the death of the third teenager, a seventeen-year-old boy.The boy had suffered a serious brain injury in the accident.The boy and his two friends, aged sixteen and seventeen years old, were walking along GA 158, when they were struck by a car being driven by forty-eight-year-old Priscilla Diane Johnson.The impact left the boys with serious injuries.One of them died at the scene of the accident, while the other was rushed to Grady Memorial Hospital, and succumbed to his injuries there.The third victim died on Saturday morning.

According to police, Johnson had been talking on a cell phone at the time of the accident.She had also taken antidepressant medications just before the accident.She now faces a number of charges, including vehicular homicide, driving under the influence, and hit and run.Police also believe that she was driving under a suspended license.Additionally, she faces charges of reckless driving as well charges related to cell phone use while driving and lack of insurance. Personal injury attorneys have repeatedly warned about the dangers of distracted driving as well as driving under the influence of medications. Unfortunately, these tragedies will continue to occur until we toughen our laws in these areas.

According to one of her friends, at the time of the accident, she was on the cell phone having a quarrel with her husband.The friend has confirmed that she had taken antidepressants before she started driving, and had been impaired at the time of the accident.

Published on: September 23, 2011

Atlanta’s Pedestrian Accident Issues Spotlighted Again by Baby Stroller Death

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The metro Atlanta area is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous places for pedestrians. However, other, more sprawling parts of the state are just as susceptible. Police report that a driver was backing a 2005 Chrysler Pacifica through the parking lot at Lenora Park on Lenora Church Road when her vehicle suddenly struck a stroller being pushed by a pedestrian. The infant in the stroller died of her injuries at Children’s Healthcare at Egleston in Atlanta and the police are left with analyzing how this pedestrian accident occurred. As police attempt to determine the answer, they are on the search for witnesses who may be able to confirm that the mother was crossing in a crosswalk when the car accident occurred near Snellville, Georgia.

For personal injury attorneys in Atlanta, Georgia, this incident is eerily similar to another high-profile jaywalking case that garnered national media attention this summer. Raquel Nelson is an Atlanta mother who was charged and convicted with vehicular homicide when her son was killed while crossing a street with her – out of the crosswalk. The case galvanized the country, and finally resulted in Nelson being awarded the option for a new trial. The trial is slated to begin October 25, 2011.

In Nelson’s case, the driver had a previous record, was blind in one eye and had questionable blood alcohol content. In this most recent incident, the incident report indicates that while the driver’s vehicle held six occupants, alcohol was not a contributing factor. The website for WBS radio indicates that one witness told authorities the mother pushed the stroller from between two legally parked vehicles and into the path of the SUV. The story of other witnesses may differ.

Published on: August 20, 2011

Metro Atlanta Region One of the Most Dangerous for Pedestrians

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A new report titled Dangerous by Designby Transportation for America has bad news for Atlanta pedestrians and accident lawyers here. The report places the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta region at number eleven on the list of the deadliest cities for pedestrians in the United States. In addition to wrongful deaths, pedestrian accidents often result in the most severe injuries of any type of accident.

For Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyers, a look at the list suggests that nothing much has changed since Transportation for America came out with its pedestrian safety report last year.The Atlanta region continues to be fraught with pedestrian accident risks, a situation that is only likely to get worse as more pedestrians choose to walk.

According to the list, the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta region had a Pedestrian Danger Index of 119.3.The Transportation for America researchers arrived at the Pedestrian Danger Index for each region by calculating the number of pedestrian accident deaths for the region, relative to the amount of actual walking being done in that area.The researchers accounted for the fact that regions that have more pedestrians are likely to see more numbers of pedestrian accidents.The Pedestrian Danger Index allowed the researchers to compare diverse regions with varying pedestrian safety factors.

Published on: August 10, 2011

Feds Mull Rules to Prevent Pedestrian Accidents Involving Hybrid Cars

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will soon propose a rule requiring automakers to install noisemaking devices in their electric and hybrid cars to alert pedestrians.Pedestrians, especially those with visual challenges, may not be able to hear an approaching electric or hybrid car, because of the low levels of noise that these vehicles emit. As a recent study indicates, the result is an increase in car accidents involving pedestrians and these vehicles.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has now posted a notice on its website, as the first step towards rules that will mandate manufacturers of electric and hybrid cars to install noisemaking devices in their vehicles.The rule will cover not just cars, but also motorcycles, buses and trucks.Hybrid vehicles can be a pedestrian safety threat, because they emit very low levels of noise.They make much lower noise than internal combustion engines, and as a result, pedestrians may not hear an approaching vehicle.

Some pedestrians may be at a higher risk of being involved in an accident with an electric car.For instance, visually impaired pedestrians who rely very heavily on their sense of hearing to detect accident hazards, may be at a special risk of being involved in a car accident with an ultra quiet electric car.Children, whose senses are not developed fully, may also be at high risk when they fail to hear an approaching car.It is the safety of these pedestrians that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration wants to address.

Published on: July 27, 2011

Georgia Mother at Trial after Son Killed by Drunk Driver

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Auto accident attorneys in know car accidents often have far-reaching effects that extend far beyond the reach of initial injuries. Sometimes, the dust never really settles. This will never end for me,” said a recent auto accident victim. The 30-year-old Georgia woman had been convicted of second degree vehicular homicide, reckless conduct and failure to use a crosswalk one year after her four-year-old son was struck and killed by a motorist as he crossed the street. The kicker? She could have actually served a longer sentence than the hit-and-run driver.

The family had been using public transportation to shop all day and the bus had just dropped the family off at the bus stop. The nearest crosswalk was half a mile away, it was getting dark, and the mother made a decision that would forever alter her life. She and her three children were hurrying across the four-lane highway, when a driver plowed through the family in his van.

The driver, who had previously been convicted of two separate hit-and-run incidents, was also blind in one eye and confessed to consuming alcohol and painkillers on the day of the April 2010 incident. He has already completed his six month sentence and is now serving five years probation, reports the New York Daily News. The mother, who has not yet had a chance to grieve her loss or heal from her own wounds, faced up to three years in prison and the additional loss of her two surviving daughters, prior to a July 26 sentencing that assigned her one year’s probation or gave her the option of a new trial. She chose a new trial.

Published on: June 12, 2011

Lack of Street Planning Exposes Atlanta Elders to Pedestrian Accidents, Injuries

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Elderly pedestrians account for just 13% of the American population, but comprise 22% of all pedestrian accident deaths here.It doesn’t take an Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyerto understand that these pedestrians are simply at a higher risk of being fatally injured in accidents.However, the situation could get worse.As the nation’s baby boomers step into their mid-60s, transportation safety advocates expect these pedestrian safety problems to explode.

Not only are seniors living much longer, but they are also living healthier lives.A 65-year-old American today probably lives independently, and walks a lot for leisure for health.Unfortunately, these persons are likely walking on streets that have not been designed with their safest interests in mind.

Many of the streets were designed decades ago, when there were fewer numbers of pedestrians on the street, let alone elderly pedestrians.In those days, streets were designed for automobiles only.An elderly person is slower than most people for who our crosswalks were designed.That’s a fact of life, and street planning has not taken this into consideration.

Published on: June 6, 2011

Woman Critically Injured in Acworth, Georgia Pedestrian Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

A 19-year-old woman, who was injured when she was struck by a pickup truck as she walked on a crosswalk, continues to remain in a critical condition in the hospital.The man who was driving the pickup truck that struck her has been arrested. As an Atlanta personal injury lawyer, often the worst cases I see involve pedestrians. Motorists must remember that whenever they approach an intersection, they need to slow down to protect pedestrians.

The woman was walking on the crosswalk when she was hit by the truck driven by 19-year-old Dalton Mason.He was arrested by police a little while later at his home in Acworth.He has been charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian, failure to stop at a stop sign and other charges.Preliminary investigations seem to suggest that the pedestrian had the right-of-way here.

Preventing pedestrian accidents in Atlanta is going to be even more challenging in the summer with more pedestrians on the street.Besides, rising gas prices have already meant more pedestrians choosing to walk to work than drive.These pedestrians are likely to be at risk from motorists who fail to respect even a pedestrian’s most basic rights.

Published on: June 5, 2011

18 Car Accident Deaths on Georgia Streets over Holiday Weekend

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Georgia police are reporting an increase in auto accident deaths over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.This year, a total of 18 people were killed in car accidents and motorcycle accidents over the holiday weekend, an increase from five deaths in 2010. Of course, there were many more persons injured this past holiday weekend. As an Atlanta personal injury lawyer, I always note a significant increase in accidents over every holiday.

According to the Georgia Department of Public Safety, most of those deaths occurred on Atlanta streets.Out of the 18 deaths, 11 occurred in Atlanta.At least some of those accidents also involved motorcycle deaths and pedestrian accidents resulting in deaths.In Atlanta, a student at Georgia Tech was killed in a motorcycle accident when his motorcycle was struck by a drunk driver.Another motorcycle accident was recorded in Lilburn over the weekend.

Heavy traffic and motorists rushing to get to their destination during the holiday were responsible for many of the fatalities.In one accident, a 19-year-old motorist escaped injuries when his car flipped over.As he was standing outside the car checking out the damage, he was struck by a passing vehicle.He died at the scene.

Published on: June 4, 2011

Two Children Injured in Atlanta Car Accident

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Two children were left seriously injured in a pedestrian accident in southwest Atlanta last week.The accident occurred near Donnelly Avenue, and involved a stolen car. As an Atlanta injury attorney, I have too often seen stolen vehicles involved in auto accidents involving serious injuries. We need to continue to work hard to reduce the number of vehicle thefts which in turn will reduce the number of these accidents.

According to Atlanta Police, a group of four young men seem to have stolen a Dodge Intrepid.The two children, aged seven and nine were walking on a sidewalk with their mother.The nine-year-old child suffered from cerebral palsy, and was in a wheelchair.The child was thrown out of the wheelchair when the car struck, and was slammed on the pavement.The younger child suffered a broken arm.The mother also suffered injuries.

According to several witnesses, the car had been traveling erratically down the road just before the accident.The four young men got out of the car and fled the scene of the accident.The police are still looking for these men as investigations continue.

Published on: April 25, 2011

Georgia Needs to Work on Preventing Bicycle Accidents and Pedestrian Accidents this summer

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Georgia has some of the lowest rates of bicycling in the US.That probably has something to do with the fact that this is one of the most dangerous states for bicyclists in the country.In fact, Georgia ranks at number eight nationwide for the number of bicycle accident deaths and, of course, these means there are also a significant number of injuries.As any Atlanta injury attorney will tell you, the state is not much safer for pedestrians either.According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Metro Atlanta region is the 10th most dangerous metropolitan area for pedestrians in the country.This summer, the Georgia Department of Transportation needs to focus on how to reduce pedestrian accident and bicycle accident deaths.

There’s no doubt that a pedestrian in Atlanta is at serious risk of injuries in an accident.For example in Georgia, pedestrian accidents make up just 1% of all traffic accidents, but these deaths account for 10% of all traffic accident fatalities every year.

Few cities in the country have the kind of congested traffic that Atlanta has, and pedestrians and bicyclists have a big role to play in relieving some of this traffic.It’s the reason why Atlanta bicycle accident lawyers believe in the need to encourage bicycling and walking as sustainable, efficient, and most importantly, safe means of transportation.However, encouraging biking in Georgia has been an upward climb, because of the high risk of injuries to bicyclists here.