A person crossing a street at a crosswalk. A separate group of people is crossing in the opposite direction.

Were You Hit by a Car While Walking?

Getting hit by a car as a pedestrian can lead to serious injuries, unexpected medical expenses, and time away from work. If a driver’s careless or reckless actions caused your injuries, you may have the right to pursue compensation. But getting the recovery you could deserve isn’t always simple—especially when insurance companies try to shift the blame. At The McMahan Law Firm, our Dalton pedestrian accident lawyers are here to help. We know Georgia’s pedestrian laws and how to hold negligent drivers accountable.

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When a pedestrian is struck by a car, the injuries are often life-altering, and the legal aftermath is often just as overwhelming. Georgia law provides injured pedestrians with a path to financial recovery, but pursuing a claim requires proving fault, calculating damages, and navigating deadlines. That’s not something most people should take on alone while trying to heal.

The McMahan Law Firm has helped countless injured people in Georgia understand their legal options after serious accidents. Our Dalton pedestrian accident lawyers can help you gather evidence, identify liable parties, and deal with insurance companies that may try to delay or underpay your claim. We offer free case reviews, and there’s no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

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We Make It Simple

Our law firm strives to make getting help as simple as possible. One call and our team will start revieweing your claim right away. With our help, finding out your legal options has never been easier.

You Deserve Compensation

Insurance companies will always try to pay as little as possible, and they use tactics to trick claimants into accepting less. We’re here to help make sure you get every dollar you could be owed.

No Fees Unless We Win

Because our attorneys work on contingency, you will never pay any upfront fees. In fact, you don’t pay at all unless we win compensation for you.

Compensation for Pedestrian Accidents in Georgia

If you were hit by a car while walking, the financial impact can be devastating—especially when you’re facing medical bills, time off work, and long-term recovery. Georgia law allows injured pedestrians to pursue compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance, but the amount you may recover depends on the details of your case.

Compensation in a pedestrian accident claim may include:

  • Medical expenses: hospital bills, surgeries, physical therapy, medications, and ongoing care
  • Lost income: missed paychecks, reduced earning capacity, and time away from work
  • Pain and suffering: physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life
  • Permanent disability or disfigurement: compensation for lasting injuries that affect daily living
  • Property damage: personal belongings damaged in the accident, such as phones, glasses, or clothing

Every case is different. The value of your claim may depend on the severity of your injuries, available insurance coverage, and whether fault is disputed. An experienced attorney at our office can help you evaluate your options and pursue the full compensation you could be entitled to under Georgia law.

Our Results Speak For Themselves!

Motorcycle Accident

$1,250,000.00

Workers’ Comp/Third-Party

$8,000,000.00+

Motorcycle Accident

$1,000,000.00

Brain Injury

$950,000.00

Truck Accident

$850,000.00

Motorcycle Accident

$800,000.00

Truck Accident

$500,000.00

Motorcycle Accident

$500,000.00

Car Accident

$230,000.00

Workers’ Comp

$225,000.00

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Injuries Caused by Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians in Dalton, GA have little to protect them in a crash, which means even low-speed collisions can cause serious, sometimes life-changing injuries. The physical and emotional effects often extend far beyond the initial impact, and recovery can take weeks, months, or longer.

Common injuries seen in pedestrian accident cases include:

  • Broken bones: legs, arms, ribs, and pelvis are especially vulnerable on impact
  • Head and brain injuries: including concussions, skull fractures, and traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
  • Spinal cord injuries: which can lead to limited mobility or, in severe cases, paralysis
  • Internal injuries: damage to organs or internal bleeding that may not show symptoms right away
  • Soft tissue injuries: sprains, bruising, or torn ligaments that affect movement and daily function
  • Emotional trauma: including anxiety, depression, or PTSD, especially in children or older adults

Some injuries may heal over time, while others require ongoing treatment or lead to permanent disability. An experienced pedestrian accident attorney can help document the full extent of your injuries and build a case for the compensation you may be entitled to.

How Pedestrian Accidents Happen

Pedestrian accidents often occur in places where drivers and walkers share the same space, like crosswalks, intersections, parking lots, and neighborhood streets. While every case is different, many incidents can be traced back to driver negligence, distraction, or failure to follow traffic laws.

Some of the most common causes of pedestrian accidents in Georgia include:

  • Distracted driving: texting, eating, or using a GPS while behind the wheel
  • Failure to yield: not stopping at crosswalks or ignoring pedestrian right-of-way
  • Speeding: reducing reaction time and increasing the severity of impact
  • Driving under the influence: alcohol or drug use impairs judgment and slows reflexes
  • Low visibility: nighttime or poor weather conditions that make pedestrians harder to see
  • Left-hand turns: where drivers may focus on oncoming traffic and miss someone crossing

In some cases, hazardous road conditions, broken sidewalks, or poor signage may also contribute to a crash. A pedestrian accident attorney can help investigate the circumstances of the collision and determine who may be held liable.

Proving Pedestrian Accident Liability

To recover compensation after a pedestrian accident, you must show that someone else’s negligence caused your injuries. In Georgia, this typically means proving that the driver failed to act with reasonable care, such as yielding at a crosswalk or staying attentive behind the wheel.

Establishing liability in a pedestrian injury claim often involves:

  • Police reports: documenting the scene, statements from both parties, and any citations issued
  • Witness testimony: accounts from people who saw the accident happen
  • Video or photo evidence: including traffic cameras, security footage, or pictures taken at the scene
  • Expert analysis: accident reconstruction or medical expert testimony that connects the crash to your injuries
  • Medical records: proving that your injuries were caused by the accident and showing the extent of your damages

Georgia also follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means your compensation may be reduced if you are found partially at fault. However, you can still recover damages as long as you are less than 50% responsible for the accident.

A pedestrian accident lawyer can help you collect evidence, counter blame-shifting by insurance companies, and present a strong case that supports your potential right to compensation.

What Our Clients Are Saying About Us

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There Is Limited Time to File a Claim

If you’ve been hit by a car while walking, it’s important to act quickly. In Georgia, the statute of limitations for most pedestrian accident claims is 2 years from the date of the injury. That means if you wait too long to file a claim, you may lose your right to pursue compensation—even if the driver was clearly at fault.

Some cases have even shorter deadlines. For example, if a government vehicle was involved or your injuries occurred on public property, you may need to file a notice within months, not years.

To protect your rights, it’s best to speak with a pedestrian accident lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can help you understand the deadlines that apply to your case and make sure everything is filed on time.

Other Georgia Pedestrian Laws

Georgia law outlines specific rules designed to protect pedestrians and define when drivers—or walkers—may be held accountable. Some key laws include:

  • Right of way at crosswalks: Drivers must stop and remain stopped for pedestrians in marked crosswalks when they are on the same side of the road or approaching from the opposite side within one lane.
  • Jaywalking: Pedestrians are expected to use marked crosswalks when available. Crossing outside of a crosswalk may affect your ability to recover full compensation under Georgia’s comparative fault rules.
  • Sidewalk use: When sidewalks are provided, pedestrians are required to use them. Walking in the roadway when a sidewalk is available may be considered a violation of traffic law.

Understanding how these laws apply to your situation can make a major difference in determining who is liable and how much compensation you may pursue.

Choose Board Certified – Not Billboard

Just because it’s on a billboard doesn’t mean it’s the best option. Lawyers who shell out all that money for billboard ads are all talk and no substance. You and your family deserve the legal aid only a board-certified attorney can give you. Attorneys Jay, Brent, and Herbert at The McMahan Law Firm are Board Certified Civil Trial Specialists by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. We have the knowledge and experience you can trust to help you seek maximum compensation for your losses.

Dalton Pedestrian Accident FAQs

There’s no fixed amount for pedestrian accident settlements. The value of a case depends on the severity of your injuries, how much time you missed from work, your medical costs, and whether future care is needed.

Cases involving permanent injuries or disability tend to result in higher compensation, but every claim is different. A lawyer can help you calculate what your specific case may be worth based on the available evidence.

Some cases settle in a few months, while others may take over a year. The timeline often depends on how long it takes to complete medical treatment, investigate the accident, and negotiate with the insurance company. If the claim goes to trial, it may take longer. An attorney can help move your case forward and keep things on track.

Most personal injury lawyers, including our pedestrian accident attorneys, work on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t pay anything upfront. Instead, the attorney only collects a fee if they recover compensation for you. The specific percentage is usually discussed during your free consultation, so you’ll know what to expect before making a decision.

Work With Our Experienced Attorneys

If you were injured by a car while walking in Dalton or the surrounding area, you don’t have to figure out your next steps alone. At The McMahan Law Firm, we help injured pedestrians understand their rights and pursue the compensation they need to move forward.

Our team handles everything, from dealing with insurance companies to investigating who’s at fault so you can focus on your recovery. We offer free case reviews, and you won’t owe us anything unless we recover compensation for you.

Reach out today to talk with a Dalton pedestrian accident lawyer and take the first step toward your recovery.

Our Dalton Pedestrian Accident Attorney