One of the most common reasons why pedestrian accidents occur is negligent, reckless, and careless driving. When motor vehicle drivers do not operate their vehicles safely and carefully, they may miss a pedestrian who is standing or walking nearby, striking them and causing the pedestrian to sustain a severe injury. However, driver negligence is not the only cause of pedestrian accidents that occur in and around Duluth.
Some common causes of pedestrian accidents include:
- Failing to follow traffic rules – The primary purpose of traffic rules and laws is to prevent serious accidents—including pedestrian accidents—from occurring in the first place. When drivers follow these rules, they decrease their chances of bringing about a serious accident. However, when a driver runs a red light, fails to use their turn signal, or backs out of a parking space without using their rearview and side-view mirrors, they increase their chance of striking a pedestrian at a traffic intersection, parking lot, parking garage, or other location with pedestrians present. When drivers exceed the speed limits in these areas, and a collision with a pedestrian occurs, the pedestrian is very likely to die or receive great bodily harm.
- Distracted motor vehicle operation – There are many types of devices (and sometimes people) that may distract individuals when they operate motor vehicles. Cell phones, tablets, and other electronic devices are sources of distraction for drivers. An individual cannot possibly safely operate their vehicle when they are sending text or email messages while behind the wheel. When a driver takes their eyes off the road for just a second or two, that can be enough time for a collision with a pedestrian to take place.
- Intoxicated driving – Intoxicated motor vehicle operation can also lead to collisions with pedestrians. In Georgia, the legal limit for safe motor vehicle operation is a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent. This limit is lower for commercial vehicle operators, and there is a near-zero tolerance (0.02 percent BAC) for minor drivers (drivers who are under 21 years of age). Alcohol and drugs impact a driver’s depth perception and reaction time. Consequently, a driver who is under the influence may not see a pedestrian in time to avoid them, resulting in a serious impact and injuries.
- Sidewalk and roadway defects – In some cases, pedestrian accidents are not the fault of poor drivers. Instead, these accidents occur because of defects to the roadway, sidewalk, or parking garage floor. Those defects can include concrete spalling, potholes, and other serious flaws to the surface where the pedestrian is walking. Property owners are responsible for taking ordinary and reasonable measures to maintain their property. If there are known hazards, the owners must either correct the dangers or provide sufficient warnings. When property owners and maintainers fail to do so, the law holds them responsible when pedestrians injure themselves on the property.
If you or someone you love has sustained an injury in a pedestrian accident that occurred under one of these circumstances, the knowledgeable Duluth pedestrian accident attorneys at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC can assist you with filing a claim or lawsuit against the person (or in some cases, the legal entity) that was responsible for your accident. We can then assist you with pursuing the monetary compensation that you need from the party or parties at fault.
