Sadly, every year in Georgia, pedestrians are killed or seriously injured by the negligence and careless driving of motorists.
For example, in Tifton, about 100 miles south of Macon, a man crossing the street was violently struck by a motorist and died the next day.
According to the accident report, a female witness said she was traveling eastbound in the right lane on U.S. Highway 82 behind a white Chevrolet Silverado, which was being driven by a 26-year-old man, when they stopped for a red light at U.S. Highway 41.
The man started to make a right turn when he struck a pedestrian, a 31-year-old man, with the front fender, forcefully knocking him down.
The witness said she got out of her car and started to render first aid. A local police officer was driving nearby at the time, waiting to make a left turn onto U.S. Highway 41.
According to the report, the 26-year-old said he stopped at the red light then looked both directions before accelerating and striking the man with his front fender.
An investigation revealed that the pedestrian was within the crossing boundaries while heading north, crossing U.S. Highway 82, with a proper pedestrian signal when he was struck.
The pedestrian sustained head trauma and was taken by helicopter to the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon. He was pronounced dead the next day.
The driver was arrested the next week and charged with second degree homicide by vehicle and the lesser charge of failure to yield.
What Drivers Must Remember When Pedestrians Are Present
- Always stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk when the pedestrian is anywhere on your side of the road.
- Always stop for a pedestrian in a crosswalk when the pedestrian is walking up to it and in the lane next to your side of the road.
- Before turning at a green light, stop for pedestrians as they have the right of way.
- Never pass a car stopped at a crosswalk because a pedestrian may be crossing and out of your view. Stop far behind the crosswalk when stopping for a pedestrian so that other drivers can see the pedestrian crossing.
At McArthur Law Firm in Macon, we have a proven record of fighting for our car accident clients until the insurance company makes a fair offer, or we will take them to court. If you were a pedestrian injured in an accident or a driver injured in a car accident in Georgia, call 478-238-6600 (Macon, GA) or 404-565-1621 (Atlanta, GA) to discuss your situation with an attorney today.
