Did a careless or reckless driver hit you while you were walking in Atlanta? If so, you may be able to file an insurance claim against them. But getting the insurer to pay you fairly is easier said than done. That’s why you need an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side to demand the insurance company pay you fairly for what you’ve suffered.
Bayuk Pratt is standing by to offer you the help you need during this difficult time. Contact us today for a free initial claim evaluation with an Atlanta pedestrian accident attorney. We’ll tell you how we can pursue compensation for your medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering — all at no upfront cost to you.
Benefits of Hiring an Atlanta Pedestrian Accident Attorney
If a pedestrian accident has left you with catastrophic injuries, you deserve to have the time and space to focus on treating your injuries and healing. By hiring an Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyer, you give yourself an advocate who can prepare your case and pursue your legal claims while you devote your time and energy to your medical care.
Let the pedestrian accident law firm of Bayuk Pratt fight to recover the compensation you need and deserve by:
- Investigating the accident to obtain evidence of fault for the collision, such as police accident reports, accident scene photos, eyewitness testimony, and surveillance/traffic camera footage
- Reviewing the evidence and working with accident reconstruction experts as necessary to build a compelling case to show liability for your injuries
- Documenting your injuries and losses to determine what compensation you’re entitled to recover
- Evaluating your options for financial recovery, including identifying applicable insurance coverage
- Communicating with insurance adjusters or defense lawyers on your behalf to take the stress of the claims process off your shoulders
- Aggressively pursuing maximum compensation, whether through a settlement or by advocating on your behalf in court and at trial, to demand justice for your harm and loss
With over 50 years of combined legal experience, the attorneys at Bayuk Pratt have built a proven record of success that includes more than $300 million recovered in settlements and verdicts for our clients.
Firm founders Frank Bayuk and Bradley Pratt know how to take on insurance companies because they’ve seen how they work from the inside. As former senior partners in two of the U.S.’s most prestigious defense law firms, they know first-hand how insurers and corporations defend against injury claims. They founded Bayuk Pratt to leverage their knowledge and insight to help pedestrian accident victims beat the insurance companies at their game and obtain the fair compensation they deserve.
What to Do After a Pedestrian Accident
Taking prompt action after a pedestrian can preserve your right to seek full compensation for your injuries and losses.
Steps you should take to prepare for your pedestrian accident case include:
- Report the crash to law enforcement if officers did not respond to the accident scene. Remember to request a copy of the police accident report from the law enforcement agency that responded to the scene or received notice of the accident.
- Seek prompt medical attention to diagnose and document your injuries. Follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations or recovery instructions. Do not put off treatment or rehab. Request copies of medical records of your treatment and rehabilitation.
- Notify your auto insurance provider to check if you have applicable coverage for your injuries in your policy, such as med pay or uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.
- Keep any bills, invoices, or receipts for medical treatment/rehab and other expenses you incur during your injury recovery.
- Gather your pay stubs or income statements to calculate your ongoing lost wages or lost future earning capacity if your injuries affect your ability to work.
- Avoid discussing the accident or your injuries on social media. Do not post photos or videos of yourself engaging in activities while undergoing treatment and rehab for your accident injuries. Insurers sometimes monitor social media accounts for posts that may undermine an accident victim’s injury claims.
Finally, contact a pedestrian accident lawyer in Atlanta as soon as possible to discuss your legal options for pursuing compensation. The team at Bayuk Pratt is standing by to answer your questions and protect your rights.
Who Can Be Held Liable for a Pedestrian Accident?
Your first option for pursuing compensation is likely by filing a pedestrian accident claim against the driver who hit you. However, other parties may also bear liability for the injuries and losses you’ve suffered. For example, if the driver who hit you was on the job at the time, you could hold the driver’s employer liable for the accident under an employer liability claim.
The owner of the driver’s vehicle may also bear liability for a pedestrian accident if they negligently entrusted their vehicle to the driver. Negligent entrustment can occur when a vehicle owner lends their car to someone they know or should know poses a substantial risk of causing an accident, such as lending a car to an unlicensed and inexperienced driver or a visibly intoxicated person.
Under Georgia’s dram shop law, a bar, restaurant, or other establishment might bear liability for a pedestrian accident if the establishment served alcohol to a person under 21 or a visibly intoxicated person when the establishment knew the person would soon drive a vehicle.
Finally, a county or state agency might bear liability for the accident if it occurred due to a defective or dangerously designed crosswalk or intersection. However, governments typically enjoy broad immunity from liability for injuries that occur in road accidents.
How Long Do I Have to File a Pedestrian Accident Lawsuit in Georgia?
Under Georgia’s statute of limitations on injury claims, you typically have two years to file a pedestrian accident lawsuit. Although you may have longer to file your claim under certain circumstances, talk to an Atlanta pedestrian accident lawyer from Bayuk Pratt as soon as possible to protect your rights. Our firm can help you file your compensation claims before the deadlines expire so you can take advantage of the opportunity to obtain a financial recovery.
Beyond these tight deadlines, there are other reasons to start work on your claim immediately. The longer you wait, the harder it might be to recover the evidence you’ll need to build a strong case. The sooner you get in touch with a Bayuk Pratt pedestrian accident lawyer, the better positioned we will be to pursue maximum compensation.
How Many Pedestrians Are Killed in Atlanta and Georgia Each Year?
According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, Georgia had nearly 350 pedestrian fatalities statewide in one recent year, an increase of over 45 percent from pedestrian fatality numbers in the previous year. In addition, Propel ATL, a bicyclist/pedestrian safety advocacy group, reported that Atlanta alone had 38 pedestrian deaths in one recent year, an increase of seven over the previous year.
