Georgia Pedestrian Traffic Fatalities Increase in 2021

Pedestrian traffic fatalities are on the rise in Georgia. A recent report by the Governors Highway Safety Association showed that Georgia saw a 76% increase from the year before in pedestrian fatalities caused by getting hit by a vehicle. Georgia saw 109 pedestrian traffic fatalities in the first six months of 2019, 103 in the same period 2020, and 182 in the first six months of 2021. That is a dramatic increase.

According to the same study, Georgia and South Carolina both saw an increase of 79 pedestrian traffic fatalities in the first six months of 2021. Only Florida saw more. This statistic may seem like an outlier, but when you look closer at the data, you will see that there has been a 46% increase in pedestrian traffic fatalities nationwide from 2011 through 2020.

We are seeing an increase in pedestrian injuries as a result of negligent drivers within our own practice. In Savannah alone, an average of 11 pedestrians are hit by drivers each month. Gwinnett County reported 17 pedestrian traffic fatalities in 2021 and the City of Atlanta reported 29 deaths, nearly double the year before.

The injuries someone suffers from being hit by a car are often catastrophic and life-changing. The injuries usually include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and serious spinal injuries. They often require long term and expensive medical care. When presented with these types of injuries and treatment needs, injured victims will often find difficulty paying for their care. It is important that you obtain the services of a Georgia injury attorney with experience handling pedestrian traffic injury and fatality cases to ensure the insurance available is found and used.

Much can be done to make our roadways safer. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center is a great resource to see what can be done and what is being done to make our roadways safer for pedestrians. In our experience, the most important safety measure we can take is to be focused while driving and looking out for pedestrians on the roadway. When drivers are negligent, there must be accountability. Our attorneys aggressively pursue justice on behalf of our clients. If you or a family member has been injured after being struck by a motor vehicle, complete this free case evaluation form and speak with one our attorneys today. All consultations are free.