Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle on I-85 in Atlanta, Georgia

A pedestrian was hit by a motor vehicle on I-85 in Atlanta, just north of Cleveland Avenue on Wednesday. The highway patrol indicated the man was still breathing following the collision but no further information is known at this time. Pedestrian accidents like this one are all too common with a pedestrian being hit and injured by a motor vehicle every 8 minutes in the U.S. Because the human body is no match for thousands of pounds of metal moving at high rates of speed, these accidents frequently result in catastrophic injuries and death for pedestrians.

A pedestrian is killed in a pedestrian accident involving a car about every hour and one-half. Each year pedestrian accidents account for 5,000 deaths and over 60,000 injuries. As with this accident, pedestrian accidents are far more common in urban areas where there is more congestion involving both motor vehicles and pedestrians. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been representing pedestrians who are seriously injured throughout Georgia for over 39 years.

Pedestrian accidents can result from many causes, but the negligence of those operating motor vehicles is the most common cause. Examples of the type of negligence of drivers that cause pedestrian accidents includes the following:

• Failure to yield at crosswalks
• Not obeying traffic signals or other traffic controls
• Excessive speed
• Distracted driving (e.g. texting, talking on a cell phone)
• DUI (driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol)

Most people who are hit by a motor vehicle are injured by the force of the initial impact. However, many pedestrian accident victims are also injured when their bodies collide with the ground after being hit. A pedestrian’s injuries may also be caused by impact with unknown objects or being run over after being struck by a car. Any of these causes may result in catastrophic injuries including paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, coma, internal organ damage and even death.

While both pedestrians and drivers have a duty to exercise ordinary care, the amount of care required of a driver is greater because a vehicle on a public highway is capable of inflicting injury or death. A driver of a motor vehicle must be alertly conscious of the fact that they are in charge of a machine capable of inflicting great injury. A driver must also anticipate the presence of pedestrians. The driver of a motor vehicle cannot presume the road is clear but is instead expected to anticipate the presence of pedestrians. This means that a driver must maintain a vigilant lookout and anticipate the danger of injury to a pedestrian may arise from their presence on the roadway. It is not enough for a driver to simply be driving lawfully.

Our experienced Georgia pedestrian auto accident attorneys are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia and the Southeast, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. No matter where you are located we are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you. Call us 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24 hour Live Online Chat.

Our attorneys and staff will work hard to protect your interests and get you the compensation you deserve.