Traveling in high-traffic metropolitan areas, like Atlanta, puts you at greater risk for accident or injury. Although each commuting method brings risk, pedestrians often get caught in the crossfire when it comes to accidents and accident compensation. What’s more, the city’s sometimes limited sidewalks and mediocre public transportation system can make it frustrating and often dangerous for pedestrians to get around.
At Henningsen Injury Attorneys, P.C., we offer a free consultation to discuss your case.
Call 404-882-6810 today to discuss your case for free. No charge until you win!
Pedestrian Accidents: The Facts
The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety reports that while the number of motor vehicle traffic-related deaths has declined in recent years, the number of pedestrian deaths has increased. Specifically, the number of pedestrian accidents in Atlanta has increased by 60% over the last five years. According to the CDC, nationally, nearly 8,000 pedestrians were killed in crashes involving a motor vehicle in 2021, which is about one death every 66 minutes.
More than three-fourths of all pedestrian accidents occur in bigger metropolitan areas like Atlanta. Additionally, Georgia is ranked among the top five states with the most pedestrian deaths including California, Texas, Florida, and Arizona. These states account for nearly 50% of the pedestrian deaths occurring nationally.
Negligence In a Pedestrian Accident
If you are injured in an accident as a pedestrian, you may be able to file a claim for your injuries and resulting expenses. However, you must be able prove that the driver involved acted negligently. This means that the other party failed to take reasonable care in minimizing the risk of injury to others, which resulted in your injury.
In most cases, negligence is fairly obvious. For instance, drivers are supposed to yield at a crosswalk. If they fail to do so, this would be considered “negligence per se.” This means that the law presumes the driver was negligent without any further evidence because they broke the law.
However, negligent behavior alone is not enough to win your case. You, the victim, are charged with the burden to prove that the behavior of the negligent driver caused your injury. This is why it’s important to hire an experienced personal injury attorney who understands the law and little nuances involved in pedestrian cases.
While, as a general rule, drivers are supposed to do everything in their power to avoid colliding with a pedestrian under any circumstance, pedestrians do not always have the right of way. For example, you should always yield to cars when not in a crosswalk. And, even if you are at a crosswalk, if the “do not walk” signal is displayed, you should never cross.
Shared Responsibility In A Pedestrian Accident
Sometimes, both the driver and the pedestrian share fault for an accident. However, in Georgia, the pedestrian could still be successful in a lawsuit against the driver as long as they’re not more than 50% at fault.
Allocating fault in a negligence case is not always easy, but everything comes down to the reasonableness of each individual’s actions under the circumstances and whether or not they adhered to their duty of care.
So, for example, if you were wearing dark clothes while jogging at night, then those actions could be deemed unreasonable behavior for failure to follow adequate safety precautions. In that case, your damages may be reduced based on your degree of fault.
Common Pedestrian Accident Causes
Approximately 75% of fatal accidents involving pedestrians occur at night and 60% occur on local streets and state highways, as opposed to interstate or county roads. While there are many different causes of pedestrian accidents, the following are some of the most common:
- Unmarked crosswalks
- Left-hand turns
- Use of electronic devices by the pedestrian or driver
- Distracted driving
- Quiet electric vehicles
- Alcohol or drug use
If you’re injured as a pedestrian in a car accident, a personal injury attorney can provide a variety of legal services to help protect your rights. From negotiating with insurance companies to filing a lawsuit, your attorney will help you hold the negligent party accountable for their actions and ensure that you get the financial compensation you deserve.
Common Pedestrian Accident Injuries
These accidents can be serious and oftentimes result in significant medical costs, substantial time spent in rehabilitative therapy, and even lifelong nursing care. Common injuries include:
- Broken bones
- Coma
- Head and neck injuries
- Herniated discs
- Internal organ damage
- Paraplegia
- Quadriplegia
- Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
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Outstanding service. We got our settlement. LaShanda is very professional and took care of our family. She assured that our questions were answered and we had a full understanding. She... read more assured the maximum settlement amount. Would recommend them to anyone looking for the maximum settlement
Melanthia Maddox
March 27, 2018Excellent customer service. Very responsive. Great outcome. I was in a major car accident and while it could have been worse, I was not in the situation to deal with... read more insurance, hospital calls, etc. on my own. My experience with Henningsen was very positive. Carmen (my main contact) was very responsive, broke down complicated literature for me, and always had my best interest at heart. If I had anything relating to the accident - I just forwarded it her way and I knew it was taken care of. I would recommend them again and again!
Cherlee Ajudua
March 27, 2018If I ever (god forbid) have any other personal injury or know someone who does I will refer them to this firm. I cannot thank Tammy, Carmen and Mr. Henningsen... read more enough for working tirelessly and being so patient through my case. The hospitals were not competent enough to process the claims despite hours of calls, escalations and restating the policy information, but Tammy was so patient with them and me. I always felt that I had a choice in the matter and I was always given the options on how to move forward. Carmen put my mind at ease when the accident initially happened and educated me on the initial process. Thereafter Tammy was my contact and Mr. Henningsen handled things so well that I had to go and meet Tammy in person (although I could have completed things remotely). I wanted to shake her hand and look her in the eye for helping me through this. I had just missed Mr. Henningsen, but I wanted to do the same with them. He is definitely reflected in his team and they are all wonderful!
Jasmine Philpot
March 27, 2020 -
Currently working with Todd, have been a client for the past 8 months. He and his firm are awesome about updating and keeping in contact. Very professional, great work and... read more has gotten me a great settlement. He is a very hard worker, knows his stuff inside & out, and is extremely well with explaining each piece to understand each part of the process. Will definitely recommend!
Faith Kohl
August 29, 2012TODD IS THE BEST HE IS HELPFUL AND UNDERSTANDING AND GETS TO THE POINT ANY CASE I EVER HAVE I WILL GO TO TODD HENNINGSENS LAW FIRM BUT THE ONLY... read more THING I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IS THAT WHEN I CALL TO INQUIRE OR WANT TO SPEAK TO A LAWYER THEY ARE NEVER AVAILABLE THE LADY THATS HELPING DOES NOT RETURN MY CALLS I ONLY WANT TO KNOW JUST A LITTLE BIT OF DETAILS OTHER THAN THAT NO PROBLEM.
regina dent
October 27, 2022Henningsen Attorneys handled a auto accident on behalf of my husband. The accident resulted in a hospital stay and the total loss of his automobile. The firm handled everything for... read more us from the very beginning. Excellent, clear advice with constant communication. Compassion and commitment as they guided us through a lengthy legal process. I recommend them to all my friends and family. Thank you to the dedicated team of Henningsen Attorneys! Lanice Sudduth
Virgil Lanice Sudduth
March 27, 2022 -
LaShanda is the GOAT (greatest of all time). Very personable and easy to talk to which is important in a stressful situation. I got hit by an uninsured motorist which... read more totaled my new car. I found Henningsen on google and was impressed with the reviews. I called and someone came to meet me at work within the week. I received frequent updates via email and phone calls. I would highly recommend. Hopefully l won’t need legal counsel anytime soon, but if I do I know where to go.
Raven M.
March 27, 2019My Son was hit by at truck while attending college. Fortunately he was not critically injured, but he suffered physical and emotional trauma. Todd Henningsen took on our case and... read more was able to get a settlement that fairly compensated my son, not only the medical bills, but for the entire traumatic experience. Todd and his staff, particularly Carmen, patiently guided us through the entire process and we felt we were in good and capable hands from the beginning. If you are looking for an injury attorney, it's because someone you love has been injured or perhaps worse. This is when you need to feel the utmost confidence in the people that are representing you, taking the stress out of an already difficult time. I highly recommend Henningsen Injury Attorneys, PC .
Tim Steele
December 27, 2022Karen was amazing to work with and I loved that she ALWAYS replied to me in a timely, courteous, professional manner. She never left me wondering and I appreciate that.... read more Responsiveness is very important to me and I feel it shows professionalism which i’m thankful Henningsen Injury Attorneys have in abundance.
Aliha Madrid
March 27, 2022 -
Highly compassionate, helpful and attentive to my legal information needs. They were very quick to respond to my inquiries. Mr. Henningsen and his team are among the best law firms... read more in the area. My entire experience with Mr. Henningsen and his paralegals was very pleasant. I will definitely recommend them to all friends and family!!
Jocelyn Hallenbeck
March 27, 2018I really appreciated and enjoyed the hassle-free experience of working with Henningsen Injury Attorneys. My consultation with Mr. Henningsen was seamless. He answered all my questions thoroughly and... read more with ease, and was also very personable. Throughout my case, Lashanda called to update me about my case regularly and kept me abreast of where we were in the case process. The law firm had excellent communication and Lashanda returned my calls promptly. Hennigsen and Lashanda were able to settle my case promptly and favorably. I would highly recommend.
Ammee Smith
March 27, 2019I don't usually write reviews but the service I received at this firm was so exceptional. Tammy was my contact person and handled everything so professionally and fast. She took... read more care of things before I would even know something needed to be done. They were so hands on and listened to all of my concerns. I did not have to lift a finger to do anything. If you are looking for a firm that will cater to you this is the firm for you. I will never let anyone else handle any of my needs. They are the best!!!!!
natascha nichols
March 27, 2022 -
I had my first car accident Aug 2017 and did not really know what to do or who to call. I had the BEST experience with Henningsen Injury Attorneys. They... read more informed me of all my options from the beginning and did not make me feel pressured about letting them take over my case. LaShanda was a GEM and communicated with me every step of the way about where they were with things. In the end, Henningsen Injury Attorneys worked with me and ensured I was getting the most out of my case. Will definitely return if I ever need legal help in the future. Thank you Henningsen team!!
Chic Charie (Brittany's Beauty Box)
March 27, 2019I was hurt in a t-bone collision recently. Mr. Henningsen and his staff did an amazing job getting me the help that I needed. They are knowledgeable, experienced and very... read more easy to work with. I will be recommending them to my friends and family.
Michelle Sosia
March 27, 2017I have dealt with a larger firm for an accident a few years ago, but the Henningsen firm made me feel like my case was a priority. Communication is important... read more when you go through this and they were always available for questions. Linda K.
Linda Keller
April 27, 2022 -
I was introduced to Henngsen Injury Attorneys in 2019 by a friend. I have been represented by this great firm twice in the past 3 years, each time I had... read more the privilege of having the representation of Paralegal Tamera Smith and Mr. Henningsen as my attorney . If I had to describe this team in four words it would be; tenacious, brilliant, strategic, and compassionate. This team helped me achieve the highest settlement in my life time. I pray that I won't endure another collision, however in the event that it happens again I will not hesitate to call Henningsen Injury Attorneys.
Wanda Singleton
August 27, 2022Rebecca & Mr. Henningsen are a great lawyers, I recommend you check them out if you need any help with your accident!
Cortez Lester
February 27, 2023I was in a car accident and originally had representation from another law firm ( one of those famous tv firms who shall not be named) I was sooo dissatisfied... read more from the beginning. I then researched another firm for representation and I came across Henningsen. From the start they took care of everything for me, they maintain constant communication with me through out the whole process keeping me informed. They gave me expectation during our initial interaction and by the end of it all the service they provided exceeded those expectations. I highly recommend this law firm. Thank you Henningsen but specifically the case manager Tamera smith.
Abdul-Qayyum Muhammad
March 27, 2022 -
Mr. Henningsen has represented me in (3)three accidents. His staff is absolutely wonderful and attentive to their clients. From the time hired and through all of the medical treatments not... read more once did they not check up with me... Rebecca was wonderful from start to finish and Mr. Henningsen is the bomb. I have referred multiple clients based off my experience not once did I think his office wouldn’t take care of them. I give his firm an A+ in all areas I absolutely would recommend his firm for representation! Salema
Salema Dickerson
March 27, 2021I would definitely recommend Henningsen Injury Attorneys for anyone involved in an auto accident. They completely take control of the entire process and make sure that you are doing the... read more things you need to do in order to be fairly compensated for your injuries. I felt comfortable through the entire process from beginning to end and am extremely pleased with their stellar service.
Rodney Pennamon
March 27, 2022I was fortunate to be able to find the Henningsen Injury Attorneys. He and his legal team, especially LaShanda were very professional, very responsive to my needs. Although... read more working with the medical was challenging at times, their integrity came through in the end. What more could you ask ? I would surely recommend this firm to my friends and others.
Inez Floyd
August 29, 2016 -
I highly recommend Henningsen Injury Attorneys, P.C. for anyone seeking representation for an auto accident or personal injury case. Attorney Henningsen, Rebecca and the team provided phenomenal service from the... read more initiation of my case to the conclusion. They are very knowledgeable, honest and always give 100% efforts for their clients. Honestly, they deserve more than five stars.
mj
March 27, 2022A great experience with Henningsen, specifically Tammy. She was very professional, pleasant and kept me updated every step of the way. Last but not definitely least I was very pleased... read more with my settlement. I wholeheartedly recommend this practice and would surely use them again.
Rita McMillan
May 27, 2022An attorney’s office SET APART! We were so happy and confident having Tammy work for us and grateful Mr. Henningsen chose to represent us. A bad experience led... read more to a pleasant one. I appreciate what was achieved on my behalf. Thank you, Tammy! Thank you, Todd Henningsen!
A S
February 27, 2023 -
I am very satisfied with the assistance I received from Mr. Henningsen and his paralegal Carmen. If I had not gone to see him I would still be suffering from... read more severe neck pain after being t-boned while driving on the interstate. The cost of the care and treatment was beyond what I otherwise would have been able to afford. The practitioners he referred me to were topnotch and the physical therapy treatments have restored me to a good level of functioning. Thank-you Todd and Carmen.
Linda Hoffman
March 27, 2016My experience with the Henningsen Firm was amazing! I'd been injured in two other car accidents in my life and the paralegals who worked the cases were hard to reach... read more and not very helpful. Also, it took almost two years for my previous cases to be settled so you can imagine my surprise when LaShanda called me and told me my offer from the insurance company was in after only 5 months?! Case was settled totally a month later. I can't say enough great things about this firm. I'm so thankful!
Nicole Golson
March 27, 2017I would recommend to anyone! I’ve heard horror stories about various law firms and I was very skeptical in the beginning. However, I am so grateful for my experience with... read more the Henningsen Law Firm. This is actually a late review. My first experience with them was in 2018. Mrs. Tammy was my case manager and she is A1! She is very professional. Mrs. Tammy communicates thoroughly and timely which is really important when going through an emergency situation. Any time I had a question, Mrs. Tammy answered me with clear and direct answers! I had never been in an accident prior to my incident in 2018 and she gave me so much peace throughout my case. I am so glad I found them. During that time, I didn’t have any medical insurance, my car was a total loss, and suddenly it was a domino effect of unfortunate events for me such as losing my job, housing, etc...My attorney group still made sure I had the best medical care and transportation. I’d also like to mention that my settlement was reached pretty quickly compared to what I’ve been told is the norm; and it was more than enough for me to get my life back together, even after the medical bills, etc...I truly felt as if they fought for me! I’ve recently been in another accident. I didn’t even think twice before calling them again and I asked for Mrs. Tammy, lol. No offense to any other case managers because if you work with this firm, I’m sure you’re great. However, my grandma always told me “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”! I love Mrs. Tammy💚. I have no worries about anything. Anytime someone I know gets in an accident, I refer them to Todd Henningsen because I know they will be taken care of all the way around. He is considered a “Super Lawyer” for a reason! You would think I was on their payroll the way I talk about my experience with this firm, but it’s only because I mean it and I want to help someone else make the best decision for themselves as well! If you have any doubt, let Henningsen see you out! God bless
Queen Merlz
March 27, 2021