At Van Sant Law, our Fayetteville pedestrian accident lawyers represent injured pedestrians across Georgia. Our attorneys investigate how the collision happened, gather evidence supporting the claim, and deal with insurance companies that may try to reduce or deny payment.
Our firm has served Georgia injury victims since 2003. If you were hit by a vehicle, contact our Fayetteville personal injury lawyers for a free consultation.
What Makes Pedestrian Accidents So Serious
Pedestrians have little protection in a collision with a car, SUV, or truck. Even crashes at moderate speeds can lead to life-altering injuries.
These accidents frequently happen in places people use every day, including intersections, crosswalks, parking lots, and school zones. A driver in these areas who looks away from the road for only a few seconds may not have enough time to stop before impact.
Many injured pedestrians require emergency treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, or ongoing care after the collision. Some injuries permanently affect mobility, independence, or the ability to return to work.
Common Causes of Pedestrian Crashes in Fayetteville
Many pedestrian accidents involve drivers who fail to pay attention to people walking near traffic. In Fayetteville, crashes often happen near busy intersections, retail areas, and roads with heavy commuter traffic.
Common causes of pedestrian accidents include:
- Failing to yield at crosswalks.
- Distracted driving involving phones or in-vehicle systems.
- Speeding through intersections or residential streets.
- Turning without checking for pedestrians.
- Backing out of parking spaces without a clear view.
Some cases involve several contributing factors at once. A driver may be speeding while also ignoring traffic signals or driving in poor visibility conditions.
Injuries Commonly Seen in Pedestrian Accident Claims
Pedestrian injuries are often more severe than injuries in ordinary car accidents because the body absorbs the force of the impact directly.
These cases may involve:
- Broken bones and fractures.
- Traumatic brain injuries.
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Internal organ damage.
- Facial injuries and scarring.
- Severe soft tissue injuries.
Medical treatment can continue long after the initial hospital visit. Some people require physical therapy, mobility assistance, pain management, or future surgeries.
When our pedestrian accident attorneys in Fayetteville evaluate a claim, we look at both current losses and the long-term effects the injury may have on your health and ability to work.
Who May Be Liable for Your Losses
Many claims focus on the driver who caused the crash, but liability is not always limited to one person. Depending on the facts, another party may also share fault.
A case may involve:
- A negligent driver who failed to yield.
- An employer whose worker caused the crash on the job.
- A rideshare driver or delivery driver in active service.
- A property owner with unsafe traffic flow in a private lot.
- Another party whose actions contributed to the collision.
Georgia law allows injured people to seek compensation from the parties legally responsible for their losses. Identifying all possible sources of recovery can affect the value of your case.
What You Do After the Collision Can Affect the Claim
The period after a pedestrian accident is often overwhelming. Between medical treatment and insurance calls, it can be difficult to know what steps to take first.
Seek Medical Care Immediately
Prompt treatment protects your health and creates records connecting the injuries to the collision.
Preserve What You Can
Photographs of the vehicle, road conditions, traffic signals, visible injuries, and the surrounding area may later help establish how the crash happened.
Be Careful With Insurance Conversations
Insurance adjusters may contact you quickly and ask questions designed to limit liability or reduce the value of the claim. Statements made early in the process can later be used against you.
How Our Fayetteville Pedestrian Accident Lawyers Prepare Your Claim
Building a pedestrian accident case requires evidence showing both fault and the full impact of the injuries.
Depending on the circumstances, our firm may review the following pieces of evidence:
- Police reports
- Witness statements
- Medical records
- Surveillance or traffic camera footage
- Vehicle damage evidence
- Cell phone records
- Wage loss documentation
Some claims may also require accident reconstruction analysis or medical opinions regarding future treatment needs.
Insurance Companies Often Try to Shift Blame
Insurance companies frequently defend pedestrian accident claims by arguing that the injured person caused or contributed to the collision.
For example, an insurer may claim the pedestrian crossed outside a marked crosswalk, entered traffic unexpectedly, or was difficult to see at night.
Georgia follows a modified comparative negligence rule. That means compensation may be reduced if the injured person is found partly responsible for the accident. Because of this, details involving traffic signals, speed, visibility, and right-of-way can become very important in these cases.
Compensation Available in a Pedestrian Accident Case
A pedestrian injury claim may involve both financial losses and the physical and emotional effects of the collision.
Depending on your individual situation, compensation could include:
- Emergency medical care.
- Future treatment expenses.
- Lost wages.
- Reduced earning capacity.
- Physical pain and limitations.
- Emotional distress.
- Wrongful death damages in fatal accident cases.
The value of the case often depends on the seriousness of the injuries, the available insurance coverage, and how the injuries affect your daily life moving forward.
Georgia Filing Deadlines
Pedestrian accident claims are subject to Georgia statutes of limitation. In most injury and wrongful death cases, a lawsuit must be filed within two years of the date of the collision. Missing that deadline can prevent you from pursuing compensation through the courts.
Certain situations can change how much time is available. Claims involving city, county, or state vehicles may require formal notice much earlier than a standard injury case. Cases involving minors or unresolved criminal proceedings can also affect timing under Georgia law.
Delays can also hurt the factual side of a claim. Businesses may not keep surveillance footage for long, accident scenes change quickly, and witness recollections often become less reliable over time. Early investigation gives your attorney more opportunity to secure records and preserve evidence tied to the collision.
Speak With a Fayetteville Pedestrian Accident Attorney at Van Sant Law About Your Case
At Van Sant Law, we help injured people and families pursue claims supported by evidence, medical documentation, and a detailed review of how the collision occurred. Our firm also offers electronic case sign-up and can arrange in-home consultations when needed.
If you were hit by a vehicle, contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case with a Fayetteville pedestrian accident attorney.
