What to Do If You Were Hit by a Car in a Crosswalk in Georgia
Your Legal Rights After a Crosswalk Collision and How to Protect Them
You were doing everything right—walking with the light, inside the marked crosswalk—and then everything changed. A driver didn’t stop. Now you’re in pain, confused about your next steps, and facing growing medical bills. At the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, our Georgia pedestrian accident lawyers know how devastating a crosswalk crash can be for victims and their families.
These are not minor accidents. Injuries are often severe, the legal process can get complicated, and insurance companies will do everything possible to shift blame. If you were hit by a car in a Georgia crosswalk, you have rights—and we’re here to help you protect them.
Crosswalks Don’t Always Keep Pedestrians Safe
Crosswalks exist to protect pedestrians, but that doesn’t mean drivers always obey the law. In Georgia, drivers are legally required to stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks and yield the right-of-way when appropriate. Unfortunately, distracted driving, speeding, and aggressive behavior often result in devastating crashes.
Crosswalk accidents are common at:
- Intersections with poor signal timing
- Unmarked or faded crosswalks in urban areas
- School zones and residential streets
- Multi-lane roads with heavy traffic
Even with clear pedestrian signals, drivers may claim they “didn’t see” the person walking or try to blame the victim. That’s why it’s important to act quickly after a crash to protect your legal interests.
What to Do Immediately After a Crosswalk Crash
The moments after being hit are overwhelming—but what you do next can make a difference in your recovery and your case.
Steps to take include:
- Seek immediate medical attention, even if injuries seem minor at first.
- Call 911 so the police can document the crash.
- Get witness information, if possible.
- Take photos of the scene, vehicle, injuries, and the crosswalk itself.
- Avoid making statements about fault to the driver or insurer.
- Speak to a lawyer before talking to the insurance company.
These steps help preserve crucial evidence, establish liability, and strengthen your future claim for compensation.
Why Fault in Crosswalk Crashes Isn’t Always Clear-Cut
Pedestrians often assume they’ll automatically be protected under the law—but insurance companies don’t treat these cases that way. In Georgia, the insurance company may try to argue that the pedestrian wasn’t paying attention, crossed outside the signal, or acted negligently.
At our firm, we work to prove:
- The pedestrian had the legal right-of-way
- The driver failed to stop or yield
- Distraction, impairment, or speeding contributed to the crash
- The crosswalk was marked and visible
Even if there is partial fault, Georgia’s comparative negligence laws may still allow the injured pedestrian to recover compensation—as long as they were less than 50% at fault.
Injuries in Crosswalk Collisions Are Often Life-Changing
Crosswalk accidents typically involve a direct impact to the pedestrian’s body, often resulting in catastrophic injuries. Unlike car occupants, pedestrians have no protection from the force of a moving vehicle.
Common injuries include:
- Broken bones and fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal bleeding or organ damage
- Road rash and facial trauma
- Long-term disability or chronic pain
These injuries may require surgery, rehabilitation, in-home care, or permanent medical support. Many victims are left unable to work or enjoy their previous quality of life.
When Children Are Hit in Crosswalks
Some of the most heartbreaking cases we handle involve children hit while walking to school, crossing with a parent, or navigating a neighborhood crosswalk. These crashes are often preventable—and the consequences can change a child’s life forever.
Common factors in child crosswalk accidents include:
- Drivers ignoring school zone speed limits
- Failing to stop for crossing guards or buses
- Distracted or aggressive driving during drop-off and pickup hours
- Poorly marked or unsupervised crosswalks near playgrounds or parks
When a child is injured, the impact goes beyond medical bills. Parents may need to take time off work, rearrange their lives for long-term care, and manage the emotional trauma their child is facing. Our firm handles these cases with urgency, compassion, and a clear legal strategy designed to protect the entire family’s future.
What Compensation Can You Pursue After a Georgia Crosswalk Accident?
A personal injury claim is about more than just reimbursing hospital bills. If a negligent driver hit you in a crosswalk, you may be entitled to full compensation for the long-term consequences of your injury.
That includes:
- Emergency medical care and ongoing treatment
- Prescription medication and therapy
- Lost income and future lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement or permanent disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Our attorneys calculate the total impact of your injury—both now and in the future—and fight for the maximum financial recovery under Georgia law.
Why You Should Never Trust the Driver’s Insurance Company
No matter how friendly the adjuster seems, their job is to reduce your payout. In crosswalk accident cases, insurance companies often deny fault, delay payments, or try to get you to settle quickly for less than your case is worth.
They may:
- Downplay the seriousness of your injuries
- Question your version of the crash
- Blame you for being “distracted”
- Argue that the crosswalk wasn’t visible
Our legal team pushes back with evidence. We use medical records, police reports, expert testimony, and witness statements to prove exactly what happened—and who should be held responsible.
Crosswalk Hit-and-Runs Require Aggressive Legal Action
When a driver hits a pedestrian and leaves the scene, the situation becomes even more devastating. Hit-and-run crosswalk crashes are especially common at night, in busy intersections, or near bar districts where drivers may be impaired.
If you were the victim of a hit-and-run:
- Call 911 immediately and request police assistance.
- Provide any details about the fleeing vehicle, including make, color, or partial plate.
- Look for surveillance cameras from nearby homes or businesses.
- Contact an attorney quickly to begin an investigation.
Even if the driver is never located, you may still have legal options. Our attorneys pursue claims through your own uninsured motorist (UM) coverage, if available, or explore other sources of liability—such as a bar that overserved the driver or an employer if the vehicle was work-related.
We work with investigators, review surveillance footage, and coordinate with law enforcement to hold hit-and-run drivers accountable whenever possible.
How a Georgia Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Can Help
The sooner you contact a lawyer, the better positioned you’ll be to protect your rights. At Gary Martin Hays & Associates, we’ve recovered more than $1 billion for injured Georgians, including pedestrians hit by reckless or careless drivers.
We help clients by:
- Investigating the crash and preserving evidence
- Documenting all injuries and future treatment needs
- Handling all communication with the insurance company
- Pursuing full compensation in negotiations or at trial
We know the tricks insurers use—and we won’t let them get away with undervaluing your case.
Don’t Wait to Take Legal Action After a Crosswalk Crash
There’s a time limit to file a pedestrian injury claim in Georgia. In most cases, you have two years from the date of the accident—but waiting can make it harder to get the evidence and expert support you need.
The longer you wait, the more likely it is that:
- Video footage disappears
- Witnesses forget details
- The insurance company gains an advantage
- The best time to call is right now.
Talk to a Georgia Pedestrian Injury Lawyer Today
If you were hit by a car in a crosswalk, don’t assume the insurance company will treat you fairly. Let the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates fight for the full compensation you’re entitled to. We offer free consultations, and there’s no fee unless we win your case.
Let Georgia’s Power Law Firm go to work for you.
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