Young depresses man sitting inside car very upset and stressed after car accident outdoors
An unfortunate reality of modern transportation is that there exists a heightened risk for pedestrians who use public roads. In fact, pedestrian-car collisions are the number one cause of injury-related fatalities in Georgia. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, these accidents involve car drivers who either fail to stop at crosswalks or don’t have time to do so, drive too fast around pedestrians in deference zones and unprotected areas, or disobey traffic signals.
You can learn more about pedestrian accidents and their aftermath by speaking to an attorney. An attorney will help you understand what legal issues could be present and what is the scope of compensation for those injured in the accidents.
For now, we will see into common driver negligence that can lead to pedestrian accidents in Georgia.
- Distracted driving
Distracted driving is a growing concern because of the availability of handheld and hands-free devices like cell phones, smartphones, and tablets. Drivers can be distracted by these technologies in any number of ways, including talking on their cellphones or texting. Other common types of distracted driving include eating, grooming, and playing with hand-held devices.
- Driving under influence
Driving while intoxicated is another common cause of pedestrian accidents. Georgia law states that driving while intoxicated is illegal and a violation of the law. In fact, it’s been proven that drivers who have consumed alcohol are three times more likely to crash into a car or pedestrian.
- Speeding
Speeding is another common cause of pedestrian accidents. When a car is going too fast, the driver often doesn’t see the pedestrian before the accident occurs. Speeding is not only a cause of pedestrian accidents, but it’s also a factor in many other types of car accidents, including rollovers and rear-end collisions.
- Failure to yield to pedestrian right-of-way
If a driver fails to yield to a pedestrian who is crossing the street, the driver has no right to expect the pedestrian to move. In some cases, a driver may even fail to see a pedestrian and could strike him or her while going around a blind corner.
- Fatigued driving
Driving for long periods of time can be extremely fatiguing and dangerous. A driver who has been driving for hours and then gets behind the wheel will have to be wary of crashes. For example, the driver may fall asleep at the wheel. Falling asleep at the wheel can cause a car to veer off of the road or not to stop before hitting a pedestrian.
