Georgia Injury Law Blog
At some point, in our day, we are all pedestrians. Negligence by pedestrians places them at risk of being involved in an auto accident, not just when a the person is walking on the road, but also when he or she is exiting their car, jogging, leaving an office building or engaging in other activities. There can be no safety for motorists unless there is safety for pedestrians.
Next month, the Department of Transportation celebrates National Pedestrian Safety Month, and transportation safety organizations as well as pedestrian safety advocates around the country will focus on raising awareness about the rights of pedestrians and ways of keeping them safer. The Halloween holiday towards the end of October also increases the overall risk of auto accidents for pedestrians, especially children, which makes the month of October an even better time for safety organizations to raise awareness about the car accident risks facing pedestrians.
The need to spread awareness about the rights of pedestrians has become even more dire in 2024, with a steady increase in the number of pedestrians being killed in car accidents recorded over the past 2 years. Pedestrian wrongful deaths now account for some of the highest numbers of wrongful deaths in car accidents nationwide. In 2022, according to statistics by the United States Department of Transportation, there were more than 7,500 pedestrian accident wrongful deaths. That translated into an average of 21 pedestrians dying daily in auto accidents. It also means that an average of 70 pedestrians were killed in auto accidents every minute in the United States that year. Pedestrians accounted for 18% of all traffic accident wrongful deaths in 2022.
Above all, motorists need to care about pedestrian safety simply because pedestrians have as much right to use the roads as they do. As a motorist, you should make the effort to become aware of pedestrians around you. Make sure you yield to them in areas where they have right of way. Look out for them, especially in pedestrian-heavy areas like college towns or beach areas. Not spotting a pedestrian is not enough of an excuse for you to avoid liability when you are presented with a claim for damages after an auto accident. Drive even more carefully when you are driving at high-risk times like night time or in bad weather when visibility may be low. Never pass a vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians. Always yield to pedestrians at crosswalks.
The Atlanta car accident lawyers at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across the state of Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to a lawyer at our firm and discuss your legal options for a claim for damages. You may qualify for compensation that includes medical costs, lost income and other forms of damages. Talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your case. Initial consultations are free.