If you get into an Atlanta pedestrian accident, you can always call your Atlanta personal injury attorney to the rescue. They’ll do everything they can to get justice for you. However, more than having a reliable attorney, it’s best to ensure that you’re on the right side of the law. By strictly adhering to Atlanta’s pedestrian laws, you can increase your chances of winning your personal injury claims.
Obeying Atlanta’s pedestrian laws isn’t an assurance that you’ll never get in a traffic crash. That’s because you can not guarantee that every other road user will be careful on the highway. However, it can significantly help to minimize the severity of your injuries in an accident.
That is important because injuries from pedestrian accidents can be very severe and fatal. According to a report, Georgia is one of the top twelve states with the most pedestrian deaths in the U.S. So, in this article, we’ll discuss all you need to know about Atlanta’s pedestrian laws. We’ll also let you in on the best practices to employ after someone else’s negligence caused your pedestrian accident.
Atlanta’s Jaywalking Laws
Jaywalking happens when you cross the road in places without marked intersections or crosswalks. In other words, jaywalking means that you’re crossing the street in an unsafe manner. When you jaywalk, you’re catching the motorists off guard. That’s because they may not expect anyone to cross the road at that time and place.
While jaywalking is illegal in many U.S. cities, it’s not an offense to jaywalk in Atlanta. That’s especially in places where there are no crosswalks or marked intersections. However, Georgia’s traffic laws expect you to exercise caution and prioritize road safety as you jaywalk. That means that you must yield the right of way to oncoming vehicles where necessary.
Atlanta’s Crosswalk and Sidewalk Laws
A crosswalk or pedestrian/zebra crossing is a designated area on the road for pedestrians to cross. On the other hand, a sidewalk is a pavement on both sides of the road for pedestrians to walk. Both crosswalks and sidewalks aim at keeping pedestrians safe and avoiding collisions on the highway.
At crosswalks, the pedestrian always has the right of way. It means that oncoming vehicles must stop at any zebra crossing to allow pedestrians to cross before they continue driving. So, many times, when there is an accident on a crosswalk, the driver is almost always the liable party.
Drivers must also do the following when approaching a crosswalk:
- Try not to block the crosswalk
- Stop for a while even after a pedestrian has crossed the road
- Refuse to overtake the vehicles in front of them that stop at a crosswalk
Atlanta’s pedestrian laws mandate non-drivers to remain on sidewalks while walking on the road. They must also walk against traffic to enable them to get a clear view of incoming traffic. Where there are no sidewalks, they must walk as far away from the roadway as possible.
What Other Pedestrian Laws and Best Practices Must I Observe in Atlanta?
There are numerous pedestrian safety tips you can observe to avoid unnecessary accidents on the highway. We’ve discussed the most important ones below:
- Avoid distracted walking. Never walk on the road when using headphones and other electronic devices. Also, it’s essential not to walk on the highway when you’re under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Exercise extra caution when walking on the road at night or in the dark. Also, it’s essential for you that you’re visible to motorists as you move at night. So, wear reflective or bright-colored clothing in the dark. To be extra careful, you can shine a flashlight in front of you as you walk.
- If you’re jaywalking, turn left and right and watch out for vehicles in all paths before you cross. Also, look for the brightest parts of the road to jaywalk, especially at night.
Speak With an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney in Atlanta Immediately!
It’s pretty devastating to get involved in a pedestrian accident in Atlanta. Apart from the bodily injuries and resulting financial losses, you may also need to survive the emotional trauma that follows. Sometimes, the pain is worse if you were hit, even when observing all the road safety rules.
While winning a personal injury case can’t turn back the clock, getting justice can help you return to life before the accident. When you visit our Atlanta injury lawyers at The Weinstein Firm, you can be sure that we’ll make the fault party pay for your hurt. So, schedule a free consultation today.
