[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/who-is-liable-if-a-pedestrian-is-hit-in-a-crosswalk-in-georgia\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/who-is-liable-if-a-pedestrian-is-hit-in-a-crosswalk-in-georgia\/","headline":"Who Is Liable If a Pedestrian Gets Hit in a Crosswalk?","name":"Who Is Liable If a Pedestrian Gets Hit in a Crosswalk?","description":"In Georgia, drivers are required to exercise due care and yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. So, when intersection accidents involve pedestrians, the driver typically is at fault. However, pedestrians can also cause crashes by crossing against the \u201cdon\u2019t walk\u201d light or darting into traffic.\u00a0 If a driver...","datePublished":"2026-08-28","dateModified":"2026-09-02","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/author\/johnsherrod\/#Person","name":"John Sherrod","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/author\/johnsherrod\/","identifier":8,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/63ed235ae61137a2e8dec557ea4cd48dee882e0dc0bbcf9da6642f47d925925d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/63ed235ae61137a2e8dec557ea4cd48dee882e0dc0bbcf9da6642f47d925925d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Sherrod & Bernard, P.C.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/SB-Logo-1.png","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/SB-Logo-1.png","width":300,"height":109}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mother-son-crossing.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mother-son-crossing.jpg","height":750,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/who-is-liable-if-a-pedestrian-is-hit-in-a-crosswalk-in-georgia\/","about":["Pedestrian Accidents"],"wordCount":1058,"articleBody":"In Georgia, drivers are required to exercise due care and yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk. So, when intersection accidents involve pedestrians, the driver typically is at fault. However, pedestrians can also cause crashes by crossing against the \u201cdon\u2019t walk\u201d light or darting into traffic.\u00a0If a driver hit you while you were in an intersection, a Georgia pedestrian accident lawyer at Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., can take steps to preserve, collect, and analyze the evidence to determine who was at fault and help you pursue the compensation you deserve.What Qualifies as a Legal Crosswalk in Georgia?Georgia law defines a crosswalk as the part of the roadway at an intersection that connects the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway. A crosswalk is also any portion of a roadway at an intersection that has lines or other markings that indicate it is a pedestrian crossing.A marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection is \u201clegal\u201d in that drivers must stop and remain stopped when a pedestrian is in the half of the crosswalk on the roadway in which the driver\u2019s vehicle is located. \u201cHalf of the roadway\u201d means all the traffic lanes going in the same direction.What Are the Pedestrian Right-of-Way Laws in Georgia?Pedestrians have the right of way at any intersection. Drivers must wait until the pedestrian has finished crossing the road before moving on. Pedestrians are required to obey all traffic lights and signals when crossing.Who Can Be Held Liable When a Pedestrian Gets Hit in a Crosswalk?Numerous parties could be liable in a pedestrian accident, such as the following:A driver could be liable if they failed to obey traffic signals or ignored right-of-way laws.A pedestrian could be liable if they crossed against a signal or entered suddenly or unsafely into traffic.A municipality could be liable if malfunctioning traffic signals or poorly designed or maintained roadways caused the crash.What Are Common Causes of Crosswalk Pedestrian Accidents?Pedestrian accidents have many causes. Frequently, they result from the careless and reckless actions of drivers, such as the\u00a0 following:SpeedingDriving while distractedFailing to yieldIgnoring a stop sign or traffic signalDriving while impaired by alcohol or drugsWhat Common Injuries Do Pedestrians Suffer in Crosswalk Accidents?When negligent drivers hit pedestrians in crosswalk accidents, it can result in severe, life-changing injuries, including the following:Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)Spinal cord injuriesParalysisFacial and dental injuriesBroken bonesInternal organ damageInternal bleedingAmputationPTSDAnxietyEmotional distressCould the Driver and the Pedestrian Share Fault for the Accident?In some situations, the pedestrian and the driver may share fault. For example, if a pedestrian steps into the roadway just before the \u201cwalk\u201d light turns on, and the driver speeds through a yellow light that turns red, each party could be at fault for the accident.In Georgia, comparative negligence rules apply to pedestrian accidents. Under comparative negligence law, a person can recover compensation for their injuries from the other parties to the accident if the injured person was less than 50 percent to blame.If the court assigns the injured party less than 50 percent of the blame, any compensation the court awards will be reduced in proportion to their percentage of fault. For example, if the court finds the pedestrian was 20 percent at fault for the accident and awards $100,000 in compensation, the pedestrian could collect only $80,000.An experienced Georgia pedestrian accident attorney will know how to protect your rights after a crosswalk accident. The vehicle driver\u2019s insurance company will attempt to shift blame onto the pedestrian to reduce the amount they must pay. A lawyer can recognize these insurance company tactics and counter them to pursue the compensation you deserve.What Evidence Can Help to Prove Liability in Georgia Crosswalk Accident Cases?If you\u2019ve been hurt in a pedestrian accident in Georgia, you will need evidence to prove that the vehicle driver caused the accident that injured you. The different types of evidence that may play a role in the case include:Police reports and citationsTraffic camera and dashcam footageWitness statementsReports from accident reconstructionistsCell phone logsWhat Compensation Can Injured Pedestrians Seek After Crosswalk Accidents?Pedestrian accident compensation in Georgia is obtained by filing a claim to seek money for the costs associated with the accident. The compensation is as follows:Economic damages \u2013 These damages serve as compensation for the financial costs that you incur due to the accident. Economic losses can include medical expenses, lost wages, lost future earnings, and property repair or replacement, such as glasses, laptops, or cell phones.Non-economic damages \u2013 These damages reflect the personal, intangible costs of the accident. These losses include pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, anxiety, PTSD, depression related to the accident, and scarring or disfigurement.Punitive damages \u2013 These damages do not compensate the injured person. Instead, they are meant to punish the at-fault party for their misconduct and deter similar conduct in the future, such as driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.Wrongful death damages \u2013 If a pedestrian dies as a result of a pedestrian accident, their surviving family members could bring a claim or lawsuit for wrongful death. They can pursue compensation for funeral costs, medical expenses, lost income, loss of benefits, loss of companionship, and emotional distress the survivors experience.Contact a Georgia Personal Injury LawyerIf a driver injured you while you were walking, you could be entitled to compensation. Don\u2019t try to deal with the at-fault party\u2019s insurance company on your own. You need an experienced and dedicated pedestrian accident lawyer at your side, like those at Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., to handle your pedestrian accident lawsuit or claim for you.At Sherrod & Bernard, P.C., we have more than 85 years of combined legal experience to serve you. We\u2019ve been serving injured people for more than 30 years, and in that time, we\u2019ve obtained millions of dollars in awards and settlements for our clients. We\u2019re humbled by the generous praise our clients have given for their experiences working with us.When you\u2019re ready to seek the compensation you deserve after someone injured you in a pedestrian accident, call our office or contact us online for your free consultation."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Who Is Liable If a Pedestrian Gets Hit in a Crosswalk?","item":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/who-is-liable-if-a-pedestrian-is-hit-in-a-crosswalk-in-georgia\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]