Even while Atlanta isn’t exactly regarded as a walking city, visitors on foot should feel secure doing so. That’s regrettably not necessarily the case. Atlanta is the eighth-most dangerous city in the country for pedestrians, so understanding how to avoid unsafe areas and what to do after getting involved in a pedestrian accident is critical for safely navigating the city.

What to Do in a Pedestrian Accident

Any collision between a car or truck and a person on foot does not offer the person much hope. Injuries might be fatal or extremely serious. There are suggested actions to take after such a collision that can help assure the success of a potential future lawsuit for a pedestrian accident and hold the irresponsible motorist accountable. After getting into a pedestrian accident, follow these steps to address the incident:
  • Seek medical treatment: In most cases, one of the witnesses to an auto-pedestrian collision will dial 911 right away. Some people assume that pedestrian is okay if they are conscious and can stand or move. However, the victim will almost always need help as soon as possible. This can entail being taken by ambulance to an emergency facility, consenting to treatment on the scene of the accident, or having a friend or family member drive the wounded person directly to the hospital. Moving off the road as soon as they can, if at all feasible, is of the utmost significance.
  • Get contact information from the driver: The injured pedestrian should gather as much information as they can about the reckless driver at the scene if they can do so. Even though law enforcement will probably also do this, it is wise to personally gather the data. Ask for all necessary information, such as a name, phone number, address, email address, and car insurance information. Note the vehicle’s type, color, year, make, model, and license plate number as well. The contact information for any other passengers in the car should also be gathered by the accident victim in addition to these details. Obtain the names, badge numbers, and departments of all law enforcement personnel, as well as personal info from all witnesses.
  • Take pictures and contact a lawyer: Make sure to document the accident scene fully, then contact a lawyer to submit this information to get started on a case. All the information submitted to these lawyers can be used to effectively build a case around the driver in question, helping bring justice to the pedestrian that was struck.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics in Atlanta

The National Complete Streets Coalition is a Smart Growth America initiative that supports neighborhood planning and development that is safer and more pedestrian friendly. According to their data, there were 16 times as many pedestrian deaths in the United States from 2003 to 2012 (almost 47,000) compared to the number of people killed in extreme weather events. Although still a problem in Atlanta, making the city safer for pedestrians is not considered a newsworthy story like natural disasters tend to be. An annual fatality rate of 1.67 per 100,000 individuals died while walking here between 2003 and 2012, which is higher than the 1.56 national average. Metro Atlanta saw 839 pedestrian fatalities over the studied decade, accounting for more than half of all pedestrian fatalities in Georgia.

Finding Legal Help for a Pedestrian Accident

As soon as a pedestrian accident occurs, those involved should call the police, treat any injuries, and determine who was at fault for the collision. To get a fair payout for these accidents, the victims of these accidents must hire a personal injury attorney. At Lamar Law Office, our legal team can assist clients who have experienced significant pedestrian accidents in receiving the compensation they are due. Contact us right away to begin the claims procedure.