Georgia Pedestrian Accident Statistics

Walking is a healthy choice for the body and for the earth’s ecosystem. In Georgia’s year-round mild weather, it’s also a viable option for running local errands or walking to work or school. Georgia’s tourist districts like historical Savannah or sunny St. Simons Island offer some of the best walking destinations in the southern United States, but when something goes awry and a pedestrian and a 4,000-pound vehicle collide, the results can be grave for the vulnerable pedestrian.

Despite Georgia’s pedestrian-friendly urban centers and small communities, pedestrian accidents remain a significant problem for both tourists and locals, with accident numbers trending on the rise year after year. Pedestrian accidents comprise about 10% of traffic accidents in Georgia but our Atlanta personal injury attorneys know they result in a higher percentage of fatalities.

Statistics Show Pedestrian Accidents Are on The Rise

Traffic data in Georgia shows a significant increase in pedestrian accidents with fatalities increasing in the last decade from 167 in 2012 to 306 in 2021. In a five-year period between 2011 and 2015, Georgia’s pedestrian deaths spiked dramatically upward by 58%. In 2020, Georgia’s pedestrian accident rate was 2.62 deaths for every 100,000 pedestrians. That rate rose to 3.22 fatalities per 100,000 in 2021. Sadly, this upward trend parallels an increase in speeding tickets issued, showing a likely correlation between speeding vehicles and pedestrian accidents.

Though pedestrians aren’t perfect and could share fault in some accidents by failing to use crosswalks or disregarding traffic signals, in the majority of cases, drivers are at-fault in pedestrian accidents.

Common Causes of Pedestrian Accidents in Georgia

Our Atlanta truck accident lawyers understand that drivers almost always bear liability in pedestrian accidents in Georgia by making the following errors, which leave them liable for damages according to Georgia’s fault-based insurance law. Some common causes of pedestrian accidents include:

• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Drivers making a right turn and focusing on oncoming traffic from the left and then pull forward without checking for pedestrians approaching from the right—or drivers making a right turn who fail to see pedestrians approaching from the left
• Failure to yield at a crosswalk
• Intoxicated driving (31% of pedestrian deaths in 2020 were caused by drunk drivers)
• Speeding through school zones
• Failing to adjust speed to inclement weather
• Drowsy driving
• Passing a stopped bus or vehicle on the left while passengers exit the vehicle and cross in front

Georgia has a “Stop and Stay Law” that compels drivers to come to a complete stop at crosswalks and remain stopped while pedestrians cross rather than only yielding to pedestrians before moving forward, none-the-less, pedestrian accidents continue to increase in both urban and rural communities in Georgia.

Liability in Pedestrian Accidents in Georgia

Pedestrian deaths have increased in Georgia at a faster rate than other traffic accident deaths, but not every pedestrian accident ends in a fatality. Often, pedestrians are left with serious injuries and significant financial damages. When a driver’s act of negligence results in injuries, they are liable for damages including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Seeking legal advice from an experienced Atlanta pedestrian accident attorney can help you hold the negligent party liable for your injuries.