Getting around and about on foot is good for your physical and mental health, but also puts you at considerable risk of being injured in a pedestrian accident. When you are on foot, nothing comes between you and the immense impact of a traffic accident, and the injuries you experience as a result can be life-threatening. If a motorist’s negligence causes you to be injured in a pedestrian accident, consulting with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Marietta is always to your advantage.
Your Rights as a Pedestrian in Georgia
The State of Georgia recognizes the risks you face as a pedestrian and, as a result, affords considerable rights designed to help protect you. These include having the right of way whenever you cross the street at a crosswalk, whether it is marked or not
When You Are on the Same Side of the Road
When crossing the road and are on the same half that a driver is traveling on, they must stop and let you pass. In such a situation, it is illegal for the driver to attempt to squeeze by you or to drive around you, even if they have room to do so.
This goes beyond yielding the right of way. Motorists are required to stop and allow you to pass. Further, when a driver stops to allow a pedestrian’s safe passage, anyone approaching from the rear must stop.
Yielding the Right of Way
If you choose to cross a roadway at a spot with a pedestrian tunnel or crossing available to you, you’re required to yield the right-of-way to all traffic on the road. The same is true if you cross a roadway anywhere other than a crosswalk – unless you’d already entered the roadway under safe conditions. Ultimately, crossing the road outside an intersection is legal if you yield the right-of-way to traffic. As a pedestrian, you’re advised always to exercise immense caution whenever you cross the road.
Driver Negligence
Any form of driver negligence makes our roadways far more dangerous for pedestrians, including all the following:
- Distraction
- Exhaustion
- Excess speed
- Failure to follow the rules of the road
- Impairment
Injuries Common to Pedestrian Accidents
You can suffer virtually any kind of serious injury in a pedestrian accident, but some of the most common include all the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Broken bones
- Serious cuts, abrasions, and burns
- Internal injuries
Talk to a Skilled Marietta Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
At Essa, Janho & Associates, LLC, our experienced Marietta pedestrian accident attorneys are ready to handle every aspect of your case and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us online or call 770-955-8322 to get started.