More people than ever are attempting to walk more and decrease their use of cars to aid the environment. Sadly, Atlanta pedestrian deaths are on the rise. A new report shows that pedestrian deaths are at their highest rate since 1990. Georgia’s Highway Safety Associate reported that 32 more pedestrians died in 2918 than in 2017. In the first half of 2018, 133 pedestrian fatalities happened, a 32% increase from the first half of 2017. The problem of pedestrian accidents is not limited to Atlanta. Pedestrian deaths increased by 4% throughout the country.
Pedestrians should be aware of their surroundings when walking, especially in light of the recent increase in death and injuries. Drivers need to become more cautious and aware of pedestrians, especially as the population of Atlanta increases. If you or a family member suffered an injury as a result of a pedestrian accident in Atlanta, you might be entitled to compensation.
In many instances, distracted or impaired drivers negligently strike pedestrians. Under Georgia law, an injured person can seek compensation when another person’s negligent actions caused his or her injury. The skilled pedestrian accident injury attorneys at Cambre and Associates fight for the rights of our clients who have suffered an injury.
Recent Atlanta Pedestrians Deaths Demonstrate a Lack of Pedestrian Safety
In February 2019, a car struck and killed an elderly pedestrian who was crossing South Marietta Parkway in Marietta, Georgia. A moving vehicle struck the victim. After the victim fell to the ground, another car could not avoid him and ran over him again. Sadly, the victim died in the hospital from his injuries. In a similar pedestrian accident that occurred in December 2018, a middle-aged man died after a vehicle struck him in Bartow County. The victim was walking northbound on his way home from work when a car attempted to turn left and hit him.
Two Recent E-Scooter Pedestrian Deaths Highlight Unsafe Pedestrian Conditions
In July 2019, a second pedestrian on an e-scooter died in Atlanta after a vehicle struck him. The victim died while on his way home. A CobblLinc bus struck the 37-year-old and pinned him beneath the bus, causing his death. This incident was the second fatality of an e-scooter rider in Atlanta. Another victim died in May after an SUV hit him near the West Lake MARTA station.
Now Atlanta City Council members are stressing the importance of better pedestrian infrastructure. Councilman Amir Farokhi publicly stated that Atlanta needs to invest in more complete streets that accommodate pedestrians as much as they accommodate cars. He added that pedestrian fatalities on Atlanta roads represent a design failure on the part of the City of Atlanta.
The Metro Atlanta Area is on the List of Deadliest Regions for Pedestrian Accidents
The state of Georgia came in sixths in a 2018 ranking of the most deadly U.S. states for pedestrians. Between 2017 and 2018, Smart Growth America reported that 1,782 pedestrians die as a result of being struck and killed by a motor vehicle in Georgia. Pedestrian deaths across the country have risen by 35% in the last 10 years, according to the report.
The metro Atlanta area uses vehicles as its primary mode of transportation, and this infrastructure likely contributes to the high percentage of pedestrian fatalities. The design of Atlanta roads is not compatible with pedestrian safety in mind. Renew Atlanta, and TSPLOST are infrastructure programs that seek to upgrade Atlanta roads to make them better accommodating to cyclists and pedestrians. Unfortunately, most of these programs have not received proper funding. Hopefully, these programs will receive the funding they need to help improve pedestrian safety in Atlanta.
A Variety of Factors Have Led to Increased Pedestrian Deaths in Georgia
Population growth, demographic changes, the weather, fuel prices, and the time of day people generally walk all factors that contribute to pedestrian death changes. Additionally, a rise in distracted driving that happens when drivers use cell phones and electronic devices has contributed to the increase in Georgia pedestrian deaths.
Richard Retting of Georgia’s Governors Highway Safety Association contends that Atlanta’s growth increase contributes to the rise in Georgia’s pedestrian fatality. He points out that suburban areas of Atlanta can be particularly dangerous for pedestrians because of the higher allowable speeds. In downtown Atlanta, drivers must obey slower speed limits. In the suburbs, however, most drive at speeds between 40 and 50 MPH, making it more difficult to avoid hitting a pedestrian.
What do I Need to Prove to Succeed in an Atlanta Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit?
As you can see, deaths from pedestrian accidents are on the rise in the city of Atlanta and its surrounding suburbs. If you or a family member have suffered a personal injury as a result of a pedestrian accident, you may be entitled to compensation. To succeed in a personal injury lawsuit, you must prove that the defendant’s negligence caused your injuries.
Pedestrian accidents can be challenging because the fault of the driver who struck you can become difficult to prove. Defendants often argue that you, as a pedestrian, were at fault because you did not follow traffic rules for pedestrians. The defense may argue that you did not stay within a designated crosswalk when the defendant struck you. They might say that you were distracted while walking.
The skilled pedestrian accident attorneys at Cambre and Associates conduct a thorough investigation of the facts surrounding the casework with our clients to produce a reconstruction of the accident scene. If necessary, we will reach out to experts who can testify as to the facts of your case. Our experienced team advocates assertively on behalf of our clients.
What Compensation is Available for Pedestrian Accident Victims?
Successful pedestrian accident plaintiffs may be entitled to several kinds of compensation. Juries can award damages that include the cost of medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have suffered an injury in an Atlanta pedestrian accident, there is no time to waste. Please contact us or call us at (770) 769-5964 to set up a consultation today.