A situation that occurred earlier this month in Georgia, in which a child waiting at a bus stop was nearly struck by a passing vehicle, has drawn attention to the issue of pedestrian accidents in GA and throughout the country. As children return to school and bus stops are once again crowded with students, drivers in Georgia and throughout the United States are urged to pay close attention behind the wheel and avoid being involved in a devastating pedestrian accident. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a pedestrian accident in Atlanta, Marietta, or elsewhere in Georgia, contact our personal injury lawyers at Rechtman & Spevak today for legal help. Our law firm is located in Atlanta, and our legal team has years of experience protecting the rights of pedestrian accident victims throughout Georgia.
GA Ranked First for School Bus Fatalities
The near-accident in Georgia earlier this month involved a man on his way to work and a child waiting at a bus stop near the intersection of Highways 183 and 53. “If I had been distracted for half a second, I may have hit that child,” explained the driver, who said the child was wearing all black and standing close to the white line on the road. Unfortunately, these types of pedestrian accidents are not uncommon in the state of Georgia, which ranks first in the country for school bus fatalities. Now that the school year is in full swing, drivers throughout the state should avoid being distracted behind the wheel and make a conscious effort to look out for children at bus stops and in school zones. And for their part, parents should remind children to stay at least 12 feet from the road when waiting for the school bus.
Preventing Georgia Pedestrian Accidents
Unfortunately, students aren’t the only ones at risk of being involved in a pedestrian accident. According to information provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a pedestrian is killed by a motor vehicle every two hours in the United States, and one is injured every eight minutes. Georgia, in particular, has experienced an increase in pedestrian fatalities during the past decade, with 168 pedestrian deaths reported in 2010 – a rate 25% higher than the national average. In light of this danger, the NHTSA has issued the following tips to keep pedestrians safe:
- Pedestrians should walk on sidewalks if possible, or on the left side of the road facing traffic
- Pedestrians should wear bright clothing and try to make eye contact with approaching drivers to ensure that they are seen
- Drivers should always obey the speed limit and be alert for pedestrians at crosswalks and around school zones and neighborhoods
- Drivers should stop far behind a crosswalk so other vehicles can see the pedestrians as well
- Drivers should never attempt to pass another vehicle stopped at a crosswalk
Contact Our Legal Team Today
When a pedestrian is struck by a passenger car or truck, the results can be devastating for the victim and his or her family, especially if the accident is fatal. If you have been injured in a Georgia pedestrian accident, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal accident, consult our knowledgeable attorneys at Rechtman & Spevak to discuss your options for legal recourse. With our lawyers on your side, you may be able to file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault driver, in order to pursue financial compensation for your losses.
