Intersection Pedestrian Accident Lawyers in Georgia & South Carolina
Intersections are the most dangerous locations for pedestrians. The complex interaction of turning vehicles, through-traffic, traffic signals, and pedestrian crossings creates numerous conflict points where a momentary lapse in attention can have catastrophic consequences. According to the NHTSA, a significant percentage of pedestrian fatalities occur at or near intersections, where turning vehicles and right-of-way confusion pose the greatest risks.
At Roden Law, our pedestrian accident lawyers handle intersection crash cases throughout Georgia and South Carolina. We investigate the specific circumstances of each collision — signal timing, turning movements, sight lines, and driver behavior — to establish clear liability and pursue maximum compensation.
How Intersection Pedestrian Accidents Happen
Intersection pedestrian crashes occur in several common patterns:
- Left-turning vehicles: Drivers focused on finding gaps in oncoming traffic often fail to check the crosswalk for pedestrians before completing their turn. This is the leading cause of intersection pedestrian crashes.
- Right-turning vehicles: Drivers turning right on green or right on red frequently look left for oncoming traffic and fail to look right where pedestrians are crossing
- Red-light runners: Drivers who enter the intersection after the signal has changed, striking pedestrians who have begun crossing on their walk signal. Drunk drivers are disproportionately likely to run red lights.
- Permissive left turns: At intersections without a protected left-turn signal, drivers turning left may not see a pedestrian entering the crosswalk
- Multiple-threat scenarios: A vehicle in one lane stops for a pedestrian, but a vehicle in the adjacent lane passes and strikes the pedestrian they cannot see
- Channelized right turns: High-speed right-turn lanes that encourage drivers to focus on merging rather than watching for pedestrians
Intersection Design and Government Liability
Poor intersection design can significantly increase pedestrian crash risk. Factors include inadequate pedestrian signal timing (not enough time to cross), missing or faded crosswalk markings, lack of pedestrian refuge islands on wide roads, absence of leading pedestrian intervals (giving walkers a head start before vehicles get a green), and poor sight lines due to vegetation, signage, or parked vehicles.
When deficient intersection design contributes to a pedestrian crash, the government entity responsible for the intersection may share liability. Georgia’s Tort Claims Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-21-20 et seq.) and South Carolina’s Tort Claims Act (S.C. Code § 15-78-10 et seq.) allow negligence claims against government entities for dangerous road conditions, subject to specific notice requirements.
Proving Liability at Intersections
Our attorneys use every available tool to establish fault in intersection pedestrian cases:
- Traffic camera footage: Many Georgia and South Carolina intersections have cameras that capture signal timing and vehicle movements
- Pedestrian signal data: Records showing whether the walk signal was active when the pedestrian entered the crosswalk
- Witness testimony: Other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians who observed the crash
- Accident reconstruction: Expert analysis of vehicle speed, pedestrian position, and driver sight lines
Both Georgia (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-91) and South Carolina law require drivers to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Violating these statutes creates a strong presumption of negligence in the driver.