Under Georgia law, pedestrians must use crosswalks when available and drivers must stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. Unfortunately, accidents involving pedestrians in Georgia are still far too common and are often the result of:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Failure to yield
- Driving under the influence
- Poor visibility
improper crossing defense
The insurance company will often argue that the pedestrian was atually at fault because they either did not cross at a cross walk at all while crossing the street, or they used the crosswalk but walked against a "Do Not Walk" sign.
Under the right circumstances, this can be an effective defense agasint paying for damages. However, it is important to point out that unless the pedestrian directly runs out in front of an oncoming vehicle, jaywalking can reduce your compensation but it generally does not void your claim.
Additionally, as long as a pedestrian enters a crosswalk pursuant to a "Walk" signal, they have a right to continue through the crosswalk once the signal switches to "Do Not Walk".