Pedestrians are incredibly vulnerable when they cross Atlanta-area streets, and statistics show the problem is getting worse.
Fatal pedestrian accident in Brookhaven
Recently, a pedestrian was killed while apparently crossing a street in the Atlanta suburb of Brookhaven. The accident occurred in the middle of the night, and the driver fled the scene. Responders to the scene tried to save the pedestrian’s life, but he died from his injuries, according to news reports. At the time of this writing, the authorities had not yet officially identified the victim, saying they had not yet contacted the man’s family.
Police later searched through traffic cameras and used license-plate-recognition technology to identify a suspect in the case. Several days after the accident, they announced they had arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with the accident. He now faces multiple charges, including vehicular homicide.
Growing problem in Atlanta area
Pedestrians have been increasingly at risk in the Atlanta area in recent years. One study found that the annual number of pedestrian deaths in Georgia more than doubled between 2014 and 2022. In fact, in 2022, Georgia ranked sixth among the states for pedestrian traffic deaths.
Local authorities have announced various plans to improve pedestrian safety. Unfortunately, state legislators recently canceled plans to create a new panel dedicated to the issue.
Legal action
After a fatal pedestrian accident, criminal charges can hold a careless driver accountable. Government actions can help make streets safer for pedestrians and prevent more similar accidents in the future. While these are good responses to a tragedy, they don’t necessarily do anything for the family of a person killed in a pedestrian accident.
After losing a loved one in an accident, family members can be put into not only emotional trauma, but also extreme financial hardship. A wrongful death lawsuit can help them to recover compensation for the lost income and other damages they suffer after a negligent driver takes away the life of their loved one.