Pedestrian accidents happen more often than people realize in Cartersville. Anyone who is traveling on foot near roads or highways is at risk of getting hit by negligent drivers. If you or someone you love was injured as a pedestrian, it’s time to talk to an experienced Cartersville pedestrian accident lawyer.
Our lawyers have more than 20 years of experience seeking compensation for pedestrians who can become injured throughout Georgia. Working with us is risk-free because we don’t get paid unless we win you money. To get started with a FREE consultation today, call (404) 341-6555 or contact us online.
How Pedestrian Accidents Differ from Other Accidents in Cartersville
There are some distinct (and important) differences between pedestrian accidents and vehicle accidents.
Accidents Involving Pedestrians Are More Serious
Unlike someone who is in a car or truck, pedestrians do not have anything protecting them during a collision. Plus, if a motor vehicle runs into someone who is walking, the walker can sustain serious, even life-threatening damage, while the driver might not have any injuries at all.
Unfortunately, pedestrian accidents in Cartersville are often incredibly severe or result in death. Plus, the more serious a pedestrian’s injuries, the more complex their legal claim because they will have a lot of personal injury damages.
If you were hit as a pedestrian, you’ll want to get a good lawyer on your side as soon as possible to help you seek compensation for what you’ve suffered.
Proving Fault Can Be Tricky After a Pedestrian Accident
To have a valid personal injury case, you will need to prove that the other party was negligent in your injuries. This can be difficult if you did not see the car that hit you or the driver sped away after you were hurt. If you sustained very serious injuries and/or lost consciousness, you might also not remember much about the accident.
This is where having a Cartersville pedestrian accident lawyer can be so valuable. Your lawyer can help you investigate the accident and gather evidence of the driver’s negligence. They’ll use their resources to build the strongest case possible for your situation.
Your lawyer can also help protect your rights if the driver tries to blame you for the accident, such as saying that you walked out in front of them. Pedestrians are hardly ever actually at fault in this type of accident, so the law is likely on your side.
Laws on the Right of Way and Pedestrians in Cartersville
As a pedestrian in Cartersville, it’s important to know your rights and when you have the right of way on the road. Motorists and pedestrians both have responsibilities for keeping everyone safe.
Here are some points to understand when it comes to the right of way on Cartersville roads:
- Pedestrians must use sidewalks if they are available. If there is not a sidewalk where you’re walking, keep to the shoulder of the road and away from moving traffic. If you have to walk on the road, stay on the left-hand side of the road facing oncoming traffic.
- At crosswalks, pedestrians have the right of way. If you are at a crosswalk with a “walk” signal, you definitely have the right of way. At crosswalks where there is no signal, you still have the right of way once you’ve entered the crosswalk. However, you should watch for traffic before crossing.
- On the roadway, pedestrians yield to cars. On roadways is one of the few situations where cars have the right of way and pedestrians must yield.
Also, if you’re crossing a street with no crosswalk, it’s always important to look both ways for oncoming traffic. Exercising reasonable care when walking is important for protecting yourself. At the same time, drivers have a duty to drive in a way that does not put others in harm’s way.
It’s far more common for drivers to be negligent on the roads compared with pedestrians. If you were injured in a pedestrian accident, it’s likely that the driver was at fault.
Damages You Can Recover in a Pedestrian Accident
The amount of compensation you can seek in a pedestrian accident depends on your total damages. Since pedestrian accidents are often really serious, you may have a lot of damages.
Common damages in a pedestrian accident in Cartersville include:
- Doctor and hospital bills from tests, treatment of your injuries, and other medical services, including future medical costs
- Prescription medication costs
- Lost wages from work you’ve had to miss because of your injuries
- Pain and suffering damages, such as mental anguish, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death damages if you lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident
Most of the time, the driver that caused your accident will have auto insurance coverage (and, legally, they should). You can file a personal injury claim with the insurance company. Insurance companies are for-profit businesses that care most about how much they have to pay, so the insurer will probably look for ways to lowball your settlement amount.
A pedestrian accident lawyer can help you fight for the compensation you actually deserve. They will help you build a strong case that accounts for all of your damages from the accident. If the insurance company gives you trouble, your lawyer will know how to best handle the insurer’s tactics.
Get a Free Consultation with a Cartersville Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
If you were hurt in a pedestrian accident, you don’t need to suffer alone. In fact, working with a trusted lawyer is highly recommended. Our pedestrian accident lawyers in Cartersville have more than 20 years of experience helping injury victims win what they deserve, and we are not afraid to stand up to the insurance companies.
You can rest assured that we only work for injury victims, and we fight tirelessly for our clients. Our number one priority is full compensation for your damages. To get a FREE consultation today, call us at (404) 341-6555 or contact us online. We are ready to take your call and help you with your case.
