It can be good for your health and the environment to walk to places around Suwanee instead of driving. However, because there are so many others operating vehicles on the road, it can be all too easy to fall victim to a pedestrian accident.
A Suwanee pedestrian accident lawyer could help in many ways if you or a loved one were injured while walking in the area. An attorney could investigate to determine the cause of the accident and parties who may be liable.
In addition to working to help you recover compensation for your injuries, a personal injury lawyer could handle questions and paperwork from insurance companies and others. This allows you to focus on healing and could prevent you from inadvertently saying or doing something that could be used against you later to deny liability for the accident.
Pedestrian Laws
While drivers are required to study rules of the road before gaining permission to drive legally, there is no such test for pedestrians. However, state law establishes many responsibilities for pedestrians.
Examples of Pedestrian Laws
Article 5 of Chapter 6 in the Title 40 traffic laws of the state code explains the rights and duties of pedestrians. For example, Ga. Code. Ann. §40-6-90 specifies that pedestrians must obey traffic signals unless directed otherwise by a police officer. Ga. Code Ann. §40-6-92 requires pedestrians crossing someplace other than a marked crosswalk to yield to vehicles that are already on the roadway.
However, the pedestrian laws delineate obligations for motorists, too. For instance, Ga. Code Ann. §40-6-91 requires drivers to stop for pedestrians crossing in a crosswalk and prohibits other vehicles from passing cars stopped for pedestrians.
Effect of a Violation
The driver of a vehicle involved in a pedestrian collision could claim that the pedestrian violated an applicable law and therefore, should be entitled to recover compensation. However, the state’s comparative negligence law allows pedestrians to receive compensation from other responsible parties even if their own conduct was partly to blame for the accident.
As long as the injured pedestrian is less than 50 percent at fault, they may recover. The amount they receive will be reduced by an amount proportionate to their share of responsibility. A Suwanee pedestrian accident attorney could seek evidence to show that any rule violation by a pedestrian played no more than a minor role in the causation of injuries.
Negligence and Recovery in Pedestrian Accident Cases
To recover compensation for a pedestrian accident, the injured pedestrian must demonstrate that the collision was caused by the negligence, recklessness, or deliberate wrongful actions of another. Negligence occurs when someone owes a duty of care to others, they fail to fulfill that duty, and the failure results in harm.
A pedestrian accident lawyer in Suwanee may use expert testimony to show how a motorist’s’ failure to exercise reasonable care caused the accident and injuries. Once liability is established, the pedestrian may be entitled to receive compensation for effects such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Hospital and doctors’ bills
- Emotional distress
- Future medical care
- Loss of enjoyment of favorite activities
- Reduced future earnings
Amounts may be provided for each applicable factor regardless of whether a case proceeds to trial or settles in advance.
Work with an Experienced Suwanee Pedestrian Accident Attorney
If you suffered injuries as a pedestrian, an experienced accident attorney could calculate the value of your losses to determine a reasonable amount of compensation. This provides a guideline to evaluate the fairness of any settlement offers received.
When someone causes an accident due to their irresponsible behavior, it is only fair to hold them accountable for the harm that results. To talk to a Suwanee pedestrian accident lawyer about the benefits that could be provided in your situation, call today to schedule a consultation.