Pedestrian Accident Claims in Georgia

A driver must stop and remain stopped to let a pedestrian cross within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is on the driver's half of the roadway or is approaching and within one lane of that half (or of the half the driver is turning onto). A pedestrian may not suddenly leave a curb or other safe place into the path of a vehicle too close to yield, and drivers may not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk for a pedestrian. A pedestrian crossing anywhere other than a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection must yield to all vehicles (unless already safely in the roadway), may cross only in a marked crosswalk between adjacent signalized intersections, and may not cross an intersection diagonally unless traffic-control devices allow it.

Modified comparative fault (50% bar). An injured person's damages are reduced by his or her percentage of fault, but a person who is 50% or more responsible for the injury recovers nothing. Fault is apportioned among all responsible persons, including non-parties in some cases, and each defendant generally pays only its own share.

Vehicle owners must carry liability insurance of at least $25,000 for injury or death of one person, $50,000 for injury or death of two or more people in one accident, and $25,000 for property damage (25/50/25).

A lawsuit for injuries to the person must be filed within two years after the right of action accrues. Injuries to reputation have one year, and loss-of-consortium claims have four years.